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Review: Sony SCD-XA5400ES CD Player

Category: Digital

I love natural recordings that capture the full acoustic envelope of the performances. The Shostakovich Sonatas performed by Ax and YYMa comes to mind...the Sony portrays the entire event in such an unforced and natural manner that it triggers ones acoustic memory into believing it is real. A player that offers no tone color or openness would be my worst nightmare. I replaced my BAT VK D5 24 bit CDP and was amazed at how much resolution and color was lost on the older design. The Sony re-creates the space, music and acoustic tones with overtones so completely that you start to smile and realize that you have been given a great gift...a peak into the performance as it occured at the recording session. My opinion of the Sony applies as much for the redbook section as it does for the SACD section. This player will become a classic product for digital playback....much better it does not get! It's a keeper at any price,,,for $1500 USD it is a freakin steal. This is Sony's best effort to date and manages to break new ground in the digital domain:)

Associated gear
Wilson Sophia speakers
Krell 400xi amp
Harmonic Tech Cables
MIT Oracle AC 2 power cord

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128x128dave_b
metralla
945 posts
 
04-16-10: Audioman58 writes:
Dan says it is his best sounding mod to date for cd
I'm sure he says that.

and for under $3500 total investment competes with units up to $10k that is a statement.
Are you saying that? What units have you compared?

Dave_b - Allen's been saying that for years. It's in his "Super Cables Cookbook" - they can be a bit fragile at the connector. Happy you have found something you like, but there must be more potential in your system.

Regards,
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,943 posts
 
The Sony is such a great platform to build on the worlds best commercial bit clocks and power regulation is beong done .
The clocks are the Terrafirma Lite clock. and the external version Terrafirma Uber clock .This by far has made much more of a difference than all the cap and cheap word clocks mods combined and was developed specifically for the Sony 5400.
My technician did a fantastic job and even offers over $200
off to help with the economic times for the top model ,no other tech was willing to help me out and this unit is Very close to
Analog and in some respects betters it .I am still in disbelief Finally I can listen in peace sacd or red book digital.
tino_miky
2 posts
 
I have also upgraded the XA5400ES and you can find details here:
http://digilander.libero.it/agostino.manzato/audio/DIY/sony_xa5400_mod/sony_xa5400_mod.html
Now highs are much more open and natural than before.
Tino
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,943 posts
 
How to make the Sony 5400 Much better ,
Start with taking out the garbade steel fuses the electrical resistance is 10x more than Silver the Hifi tuning fuses although expensive make a improvement across the board buy the 1a slow blow fuses x2, also Music direct sells a large sorbathane sheet to damp the transport ,also they carry 3m damping sheets for the chasis buy 2-3 1 under the hood ,and a piece for each side , then 2 pieces for the sides of the transport and anywhere metal is exposed ,also think about some good feet .I have the audio prisms that support the unit
at least a 5% improvement for $200 and change well worth it just for the inner detail alone , then when bucks are right have it modded the Terra firma clocks are the Best bar none , and Dan Modwright also has a vacuum tube mod to complement that then you have a $10+ player !!
metralla
945 posts
 
Thank you Tino_miky. Fascinating.

Regards,
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