Review: Sony SCD-XA5400ES CD Player

Thank you for that clarification, Roxy. I was not looking for a $ 100 audio mod, just a voltage fix. I do appreciate your note though.

Hello All!

First time posting here. I just bought my 5400 last night and it replaced my SCD-C5555es, which was my love for almost a decade. I decided that after a decade of service, it was time to move on to something, so I went out and got it's youger, and lither sibling, the 5400. My friend actually liked the sound of the 555 better. I told him it had 15 minutes on the clock, and that it needed some time. The 555 had 10 years on the clock! Anyhow, I have been burning it in for the last 24 hours, and I can say that this machine sounds more like music. The timbre is much better, but I do see how this macine will need some time to open up. The soundstage is congested, with little depth, but it is very wide. The unit has an upper midrange hump (to my ears) and is less bright than my 555. The 555 overall sounds like a great piece of hi fi gear, the 5400 sounds like the real thing. Still, there are some attributes that until the 5400 is broken in, the 555 is still preferred. We took the stock power cord and threw it across the room. I had no other cords layeing around, so I made a temp one with some rat shack 14 gauge mega cable fitted to iec connections and it sounds much better than that garbage that came with it. The cord indeed limits the player to such a degree, that I can understand someone who is not keen on wiring, would return it. The power cord is THAT bad. I am waiting on something a friend of mine is brewing up in the meantime. I am very happy with my purchase so far and once the sound blossoms, I think I will be very happy. For now, it has it's pros over the 555, as well as cons, but after break in, I have a feeling it will wipe the floor with my 555.

The XA5400ES sounds best via HDMI into the Sony DA6400ES receiver with H.A.T.S. enabled for lowest jitter. Some with more money than commonsense are spending more than the cost of this player to fit it with antique tubes, & external power supply, there is one born every minute the XA5400ES does take a long time to burn in. I agree that the supplied power cord is a disgrace but a so-called audiophile cable is not necessary, just use the heaviest duty cable you can find that will fit the connector.

I have the modright modded cd player that you are knocking and I can tell you it sounds fabulous and worth every penny of the upgrade.

Good for you,