Sony SACD Player SCD-XA5400ES; YAY or NAY?

Happy New Year All,

Sony SACD Player SCD-XA5400ES; YAY or NAY? (around $1,000. usd used)

6 dacs, 3 left/3 right

sends SACD’s DSD out RCA jacks without conversion to PCM.

Upscales CD’s 8x to SACD #s, then out RCA

spinner traverses over fixed dual laser: one cd, one sacd

2010 model: typically 10-12 years old, I see laser assemblies for sale, indicates

a. people want to keep em going.

b. laser problematic

thanks for advice as always,

Elliott

chayro Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 3,031 posts 01-04-2022 at 01:37am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Substantial piece of hardware with good SACD sound, but CD sound that is inoffensive, but was far bettered by a $750 Bel Canto dac. You might consider it if you have a lot of SACDs, but otherwise I would pass unless you are willing to add a dac for CDs. Then again, others seem to think the CD sound is adequate, so you might think it's fine.
chayro Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 3,031 posts 05-18-2022 at 11:08am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete IMO, any decent dac in the $1000-$2000 range will far exceed the Sony. I owned both the 5400 and it’s more- expensive predecessor, and found them well-built and non-offensive, but lacking in portraying instrumental textures and realism. Keep the Sony for a transport and SACDs. People seem to be thrilled with the Denefrips Aries, which is under $1000. Or if you want to play around, try a Topping DX3Pro+ from Amazon for $200. I bought one to use as a headphone amp and it is stupidly good. Using it with a $10 Amazon Basics optical cable, BTW. I was never a fan of budget gear, but the Topping is really good.