Sony SACD Player SCD-XA5400ES; YAY or NAY?

Bought mine back in 2017 for $970 from Audiogone with Furutech IEC and damping upgrade. No issues so far and just love it every time I play my CDs and SACDs.

 

cdd

which unit are you asking about? the Sony xa5400es does hybrids.

you can look up any unit and find the answer. I find lots of info on Crutchfield's site, they maintain info on discontinued models

 

 

Can it play hybrid SACD?

Someone recently said CD’s were making a comeback. What a funny thought. Certainly my intention and final result after my search, all my existing and ’new to me’ cd’s have come alive like never before.

My first find about what they are doing:

"Internally, Marantz has a unique way to handle the digital signal. Marantz calls their technology Marantz Musical Mastering (MMM) which replaces a conventional DAC. The MMM circuit converts PCM (CD 44.1 kHz) to DSD 11.2 MHz and uses two system clocks to provide what Marantz calls the most accurate sampling possible, up to 384 kHz."

The Sony xa5400es is upscaling CD PCM by 8x, I don’t fully understand the numbers, but it certainly sounds better to me than the other 8 I tried.

Sony has made one ’filtering’ decision. Marantz evidently has ’optional filtering’.

"The sound of the Marantz is tunable, from the designers’ warm and mellow sound to a drier, more analytical sound."

Someday I’ll get to listen to the Marantz, and let’s hope more competition comes back into the CD/SACD world.

Two sets of Outputs: Fixed and Variable. My first Onkyo DX-7500 had this, simultaneous outputs: you could go straight to your amp(s) with one set; thru your preamp with the other. Marantz may be either/or, or both, not sure.

http://www.hifi-classic.net/review/onkyo-dx-7500-430.html

 

Or you could consider an SACD/CD player with streaming capability such as the Marantz SACD 30N so you can have your cake and eat it too!

mountainsong

 

Are you still enjoying Luxman and Sony ES players?

 

Happy Listening!

I'm all the way in Mo.so I couldn'nt make the meetings too easily!

One thing I noticed with my 999Es is the improvement in sound I hear. I wonder if it was ever used much as a CD player or even much at all and if it was ever properly burned in. I've put over 100 hours of CD play thru it to date and am sure I hear improvement thru the DAC.

will3

live anywhere near 07062. I've become friends with some nearby members, we might make a small listening group if gatherings are ever comfortable, now it's 2 at a time mostly here.

I think the upgrade bug has been caged. I'm living vicariously thru  research and helping friends with their upgrades, and I'm selling again. SME 3009 II just sold, Fisher 500c brass knobs polished, last step prior to sale. 

My friend brought his beloved DAC, we tried using the xa5400es for transport into his DAC, the Sony clearly beat it, that DAC went home with it's tail between it's legs. He's researching another DAC now.

Oh, I did just buy something didn't I. A NOS AT14sa cartridge body from here, and a NOS shibata stylus for it from there. 

I really like how analog the Schiit Gungnir Multibit A2 dac sounds using a Sony DVP-NS999ES as a cd transport.

Sound quality is DIRECTLY comparable to a Thorens TD125 MkII with Shure V15 IV/Jico HE; a Sony PS-X75 with various Audio Technica beryllium styli/carts; a Sony TCK-777 cassette deck, and streaming using HD and Ultra HD files from Amazon Unlimited thru an HP audio-centric I7 laptop over Google Fiber. Every one of these is great on there own and can sound as good or better than any of the others in my system depending on the recorded quality of the media / production ect.

I did quite a bit of research on the XA5400ES, XA9000Es, and some of the older ES players as cd transports, and decided to try the DVP999ES/Gungnir combo for the same price as a used XA5400ES. The Schiit dac takes the already excellent Sony DVP to another level. I hear their Yggdrasil dac is a solid upgrade over this one and competes with 5-10k dacs for just 1000 dollars more than the Gungnir (which I have no desire to change right now).

 I’ve never heard an XA5400ES before, but I can wholeheartedly recommend trying a Schiit Gungnir or Yggdrasil dac when (if) the upgrade bug bites you.

 

anybody know about hifido? buy at $635 usd, add _____?

https://www.hifido.co.jp/22-35583-38042-00.html?KW=&G=0407&P1=&P2=&A=10&N=&Y=&CT=0&M=0&LNG=E&OD=0&O=0&L=50&SD1=0&SD2=0&SD3=0

"Not just a CD, a better CD"

I came across a Sony Insert when SACD/DSD was introduced.

Direct Stream Digital (DSD): 1 bit, 2,822,400 samples per second. Dynamic range of CD 96db is extended to 120 db.

"Even the SACD’s 16 bit CD layer can sound better if it’s based on a Direct Stream Digital studio master. The Super Bit Mapping Direct process can be used to downconvert to the 16 bit CD format, which enables you to hear more of the original master."

 

 

Keep going back to my Sony fb940r amp- OK not high end but still surprises me with sound and build quality- fed up of supposedly better modern stuff (especially Denon and Pioneer) letting me down

Right now I'm enjoying the heck out of a DG CD of a Mozart's Requiem I just fished out of my collection. DG, Herbie the K at the controls. A bit hashy when everyone is yelling and screaming, but considering its curriculum vitae, it's sounding mighty good. Performance, of course, is an unmitigated treat.

It's a SALAD, not just a DAC,

it's how many DAC's? Over-Sampling; Re-Clocking; Anti-Jitter physical and software; Filters; Shaping, OEM proprietary tricks, .....

How the bejesus can you say 'ANY MODERN DAC?' 

 

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.

I can confirm that the XA5400ES outputs DSD from an SACD. CD playback is NOT DSD but PCM at the standard 44.1 kHz sampling rate. 
 

How do I know that? I’m using the HDMI output of my XA5400ES, connected to the HDMI 4 input on a Bryston BDA-3. (The BDA-3 has four HDMI inputs. Only input 4 is HDCD 2.2 compliant and I found that it was the port I needed to use.j

The BDA-3 uses LEDs on the faceplate to identify the sample rate of the incoming signal and to identify an incoming DSD signal, if that’s what the source device is sending it.
With CD playback, the 44.1 kHz LED lights but the DSD LED doesn’t. 

update:

I just ordered this 4 CD set

 

before this player, no way would I buy CD’s unless LP version didn’t exist. Now, preference is based on price, not format.

3 systems: what I did: Main: xa5400ES is my single SACD/CD player.

 

sony 6 disc carousel put back in for continuous play, i.e. Christmas CD’s; Parties ... It is the most compact, handles 6 discs, even though the Yamaha and Onkyo Integra are preferred sound. Garage/Shop: Onkyo Integra CDC-3.4 II (don’t need SACD there). Bigger than the Yamaha, but prefer smaller remote. Yamaha DVD-C961 I restored: just sold for a decent profit.

 

Office: CD Player in Computer good enough, very rarely used, primarily to make copies.

...but my wife might kill me ....

It is a disease that save you from other maladies.....

it is at least a non-fatal disease.

Just stumbled across this thread, very timely for me. 5400 owner for almost 12 years now, always been very happy with the sound and performance of this player.Smooth, quiet, glitch free operation since day one. Unfortunately, audiophile nervosa has reared its ugly head and I find myself wondering if a more modern processor might be even better.  The new 110 anniversary Denon looks interesting as does the Yamaha 2100. Im looking for disc player only, no dac/streaming. Probably be my last one as I'm getting old!  Not in a hurry to replace the Sony, but this damn disease is relentless....

Another 2 weeks of love for the xa5400es. I'm buying used CDs like I was buying used LP's, gives my TT a break.

sent my cartridge to AT, by instinct (I haven't hours played log) I thought, and they agreed, stylus worn just enough to wisely replace, so they sold me a replacement new cartridge for less than half price. Arrived yesterday, I'm away, will get it from my neighbor Sat. am, now gonna keep a log of hours played.

Then, repeat CD/LP comparison after a bit of play. Get some other ears over hear.

elliottbnewcombjr

 

Good to read that you are enjoying the Sony ES. 

 

Happy Listening!

I can't stop listening to this CD player. Started buying some used CD's.

This sounds outstanding

 

everything that is outstanding content is better than ever!!! crap is outstandingly crappy.

Oh baby did this sound better than ever on this player!

I'm listening, thinking whoever recorded this sure knew what the hell they were doing. Checked, Rudy Gelder, his place, just terrific.

Max Roach solos (several) get center to full right, cymbals to cymbals everything in between

btw, the Burr Brown 1796 DAC data sheet shows 8 X oversampling filter

https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/dsd1796.pdf

LP/CD Comparison: after two: Zackly-Idenstical-Zimla.

1. Friday Night in San Francisco, 3 magnificent guitarists

First, the CD's imaging of the 3 guitarists helped me refine my anti-skate a smidge for identical placement of John's center guitar. Other improvements to imaging always follow proper center balance. Also, everything that follows when a stylus properly contacts the groove's bottom and both sides.

After that: no way I could tell them apart. I couldn't fool myself which was playing, but I believe anyone else could have. 

The things that this player does right allow it to have the same full body sound of the guitars and their different string types that no other CD player was able to do. As I said, I think it is improved Fundamentals and all that follows, overtones, volume and time decay, inter-relationships 

2. White Winds, Andreas Vollenweider.

https://www.discogs.com/master/82235-Andreas-Vollenweider-White-Winds-Seekers-Journey

Finally a CD player that makes the introductory wind sounds and water sounds properly, just like the LP does.  

 

Other comparisons to follow, other ears than mine to get involved soon.

elliottbnewcombjr

 

dave_b switched to all Krell gear not too long ago. Perhaps he will update his system soon?

 

Happy Listening!

is dave_b still with us?

he loved this thing way back when

evidently he ignored his advice (my take on it)

"I can't believe that SONY could deliver such an amazing player for so little with a sound so engrossing that I wish every audiophile could hear one and understand the frivolity of pursueing other, would be state of the art players...this is as good as it needs to be, period!"

later he switched to a Krell Cipher which I never want to hear!

 

 

mountainsong, others who might know:

I see lasers and lasers in mechanisms.

literature says two lasers, one for sacd, one for cd. these show 1 laser.

is it that both lasers shoot thru the same lens?

 

I have one and go nowhere.

I agree with all you said. I bought two extra lasers unit for the future.

 

If someone you let go regrettably used you as a job reference, and you get a call, you respond "I cannot say enough good things about ..."

I truly cannot say enough good things about this Sony SCD-xa5400es.

Very familiar, very revealing content, ALL CDs, all SACDs: ALL OBVIOUSLY, SURPRISINGLY BETTER. Not Preferred, BETTER!

Andreas Vollenweider’s White Winds; sounds of the Eurythmics Underground Train; Distinction of ’No More Tears’ duet by Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer; Richard Burton and the Martian Death Rays in Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds; ah, there’s a second mandolin behind Kate Wolf’s guitar; the distinction of different string types of the 3 guitars on Friday Night in San Francisco; and finally, what SACD people who have been hearing that I never heard properly until now.

FUNDAMENTALS. I think there is a tighter, firmer, more solid, ... start to the fundamental of Each and Every Note. Improved overtones, volume and time decay all follow that BETTER start. I have never heard a CD sound so good anywhere.

The 3 guitars on Friday Night in San Francisco, my favorite music to refine my cartridge’s anti-skate. I am very very familiar, love this music. I could not imagine the added degree of genuine realism this player got out of a standard CD.

I am sooooo glad I kept going on the DSD/no pcm conversion search, the unexpected big win here is the redbook cd output from it’s 8x oversampling filter.

SACD. Among others I have a series of Oscar Peterson performances, ’exclusively for my friends’. my prior listening conclusion was ’lower noise floor’, eh, I’m not spending a lot more for that. OH holy crap, first one I tried, Mellow Mood SACD, just landed in the room.

You know how a visitor says, "sounds like they are right there" and you know your system, you know it’s great, but no, right there it is not. This seemed like Oscar was playing my Uncle Johnnie’s piano right there!

I can keep slobbering, or go listen. Bye!

EVERYONE: get thee an xa5400es!!!

 

After several false starts by FEDEX (driver shortages?), the Sony arrived yesterday morning. As it happens, I had a repaired Integra CDC-3.4 II and repaired Yamaha DVD-C961 hooked up ready to compare. Stacked em, moved the same cable direct to Cayin: same input unit to unit this time rather than using different inputs. Volume outputs needed a tweak doing it this way.

The Integra and Yamaha still sound the same to me, both much better than my prior player, both under $250, functionally prefer Integra (CDs only), Yamaha big clunky remote equals it and plays SACDs. 

........................................

Sony SCD-XA5400ES is a definite step up. I paid $999. ($1,120 taxed and delivered) for this very lightly used one and have no regrets. Actually low if you see what's out there, and this was in USA.

After being disappointed by the Oppos, I half expected to re-sell it, but it is definitely staying, I will sell ..... instead. 

I started with new music I had ordered, unfamiliar, listen on the Sony first, then, after a bit familiar with the music/voices, on the Yamaha and Integra, back to the Sony.

Couple of new to me SACDs

 

 

new to me cds

 

 

then into favorite and familiar CDs: Eurythmics; Blue Nile; Kate Wolf; Ani DiFranco; Sade; Mila Drumke; Casandra Wilson.

Both SACDs and CDs, each and every one, the Sony is the keeper.

Lastly, I ran it thru my McIntosh mx110z tube tuner/preamp's aux. Like the others, I prefer this to direct to the Cayin.

Chase unit is out, so it's Furman ON, warm up 20 mins, everything thru mx110z, to Cayin using it's remote volume.

..................................

Why prefer Sony xa5400 you ask? I need more time to find the words, refine in my mind what I am hearing differently and responding to. Giving the ears a break until this evening. 

elliottbnewcombjr

 

how are you liking the Sony XA-5400ES ?

 

Happy Listening!

SACD/DSD ... CD/PCM

I only have about 25 Hybrid SACD’s out of 4,000 CD’s, and had no plans to buy any more unless used and inexpensive. Mine are Hybrids, so I always have the CD PCM layer and the SACD DSD layer to compare.

No one in the ’Better CD’ conversation mentioned SACD’s almost always being converted to PCM, I found out later. I read a hell of a lotta reviews, none mentioned it, until the one I wish I hadn’t read!

I realized I have never heard DSD without intermediate conversion to PCM, then conversion to Analog. After all this work, I ought to hear SACD/DSD no PCM conversion stage right?

Prior to that, my quest was done. That’s what the xa5400 is about for me.

Then, it appears that it does juice up CD’s x 8, so there is that potential difference to possible prefer.

 

SACD was kept alive, albeit barely, by Classical Music.  I have a few hundred along with a few dozen Blu Rays, both with and without Audio.  Non Classical listeners don't have much reason to go after SACD playback.

   The 5400 in my collection has gone basically unplayed during the dozen or so years of its existence.  I had added an OPPO shortly after purchasing it and the DAC was superior, one of the first ESS implementations.The OPPO also played DVD-A (I bought every one available when Tower Records had its going out of business sale) and Blu Ray.  The Sony sounds like soft haze in comparison, although I guess I could plug it in and try it out again.I had moved the Sony to a second system, rarely played it there and then added an OPPO 203 to that system when OPPO announced it was going to stop making players, and the Sony has been on the bench ever since

The remote went missing years ago.  I should probably sell it off.  I've only sold a few components in my time as I find the ordeal of listing a component and dealing with buyers and shipping pretty tiresome.  And then there is the issue of no remote, the fact that it skips the first measure of play if and SACD is played thru HDMI (it doesn't do this if the analog outputs are used, or if a rebook is played through HDMI.  At the time I googled it and a few others were having the same issue).  Given those issues, not sure what I should ask for it.  Maybe I just donate it to Goodwill and take the tax deduction.

@secretguy Sony is still making/selling combo 4K Blu-ray/SACD/etc players--see crutchfield.com  I bought the one with 800 in the model in very late 2020. Frankly, it it was not for one issue on my Blu-ray player and the growing numbers of 4K discs, I might still not own any player and SACDs

One thing that makes it tougher for me to judge this player remains the dearth of SACDs and--for those you can find on ebay, the cost can  be an issue.  So I have found my "collection" to remain small so far, making it difficult to compare a beloved CD to its SACD counterpart since SACDs are an exception and not the rule--plus I only have the one Sony player.  I cant justify buying another without having a growing library.

$40. Integra CDC-3.4 Mark II arrived: 'Mech. Error'.

Cover off, revolving tray was resistant to movement, a bit of a forced spin, it freed up, works perfectly. Less than 5 minutes!

I think someone dropped it, or carried it upside down or something. 

some fresh lube, now what?

Sony SCD-xa5400ES due Sunday.

Makes up for the humiliation of the lost Denon spring. I didn't like the sound of the Denon, but someone might have preferred it and wanted it.

 

 

Oh yeah, not to once again tout my now scorned Mytek Brooklyn Bridge, but I do get better if not earthshakingly better CD sound when I send the Sony's CD signal through the Mytek via Opto.

I have owned the 5400 for years. Bought it new back when they still made them. I've been extremely happy with the sound and have never had an issue with it. 

christian

dragged out while listening, that’s a great memory for sure.

If physical issues, drawer movement .. dried lube, new belt, some of Donna’s long hair (no cats here), I can do that myself.

I replaced a laser once successfully, just mysteriously lost a critical spring for another.

This unit, the entire laser assembly get’s replaced, but I would pay a pro. I’m near NYC, gotta be someone, and I’m gonna call my new friends Steve and Ray Leung at VAS, see if they would do that if needed.

Yesterday I replaced 2 of 3 identical belts on the Yamaha Changer I bought. It came with the ’need to manually close the drawer’ issue. Works as new now.

I don’t like the ’drawer above the buttons’ design, BUT, it is sooo easy, cover off, open drawer, all 3 identical belts exposed, simply change them, no tools or disassembly. Changers with the drawer ’below the buttons’ must be a lot more work. I’m gonna have a peek at this bottom drawer Integra on Saturday.

I like keeping good stuff going. I mostly win, lost a few. Wait till that damn Denon spring re-appears.

 

 

mahler123

$1,500. when introduced, $1,000. was a good deal for you then. It’s surprising what prices people get for them now. I just paid $999. all these years later for what seller says is very lightly used and fully tested, finds/plays many types of discs/files with no hesitation.

Prices, high to low

 

 

Sorry yours did that, mine better not cut off the beginning of songs or it’s going back. I hope to prefer it to my current Yamaha or I will sell it. It’s hard to recover fees, taxes, shipping costs, probably lose a few hundred like I did with the two Oppo’s I tried and did not prefer. I was listening to some ’new to me’ music on the Yamaha last night, simply wonderful.

I’ve got too much music, I quit smoking, spent all my tobacco money on music for 30 years, primarily CD’s in those years. if all my CD’s sound better, it’s cheap at any price, until you admit you only truly and repeatedly enjoy some, not all of them. 4,000 cds, I can wear the laser out re-discovering cd’s I won’t listen too again..

Buyer received my Integra yesterday. ’not working’ Integra arrives here today, Sony arrives here Sunday. Hope to fix the Integra fairly easily, keep/sell/give it away.

I paid around $1k for my 5400 when it was new.  I’ve barely used in over 10 years.  One  odd thing it does is on SACD it seems to cut off the first two seconds of music.

After my Denon 'lost the spring' Humiliation, Mr. Fixit goes for Redemption.

I just bought a non-working Integra CDC-3.4 Mark II for $53. delivered. (a hospital, they are unable to test things). I have the remote.

 

 

I own the Marantz SA 10 already, I cant pass the price drop. The Ruby will go to my. Second system.

Marantz Ruby sacd player at discounted at Music direct and Safe and Sound price to $2900.

You can find excellent condition used Oppo105s. A big plus is It has separate XLR outs (best sound), then go to eBay and get upgrade IEC,110/220 bypass jumper, and a Linear Power Supply for around $400: one company has step by step pictures. As a bonus, its a very good video player

hth

for what it's worth, fm service manual, an 8 oversampling digital filter is shown in the signal path, pg 39, IC202

file:///G:/23%20DOCS%202021/audio%20related/cd%20players/new%20cd%20player/sony%20scd-xa5400es/SONY_SCD-XA5400ES_Service_Manual.pdf 

 

this was back in the day, but my memory of what i thought remains pretty clear

the sony es series cd players (which played sacd’s as well) were excellent - smooth detailed liquid impactful sound

the other cdp that was also quite highly regarded in the day was the marantz cd63se, it was the reviewers' darling, making a number of best for money lists in tas, s-phile, sensible sound etc etc

i remember comparing a cd63se that belonged to a good hifi buddy at the time, and compared it to my sony scd777, which iirc was about twice as expensive, so maybe not a fair fight, but the marantz had such a great reputation among reviewers

what i recall was the marantz sounded forward and detailed in comparison, but with great bass, whereas my sony had better imaging, smoother treble, more dimensional midrange, and not as prominent (but still excellent) bass depth and control... i was glad i tried them a vs b, it made me feel glad to have my sony, it sounded more like analog to my ears

then years later i bought a top of line scd-1, went on mod trail with vsei warren gregoire and so on... partly due to that experience

Thanks Everyone,

I just bought a very lightly used Sony SCD-XA5400ES because:

1. Multiple DACs

2. Dedicated Lasers for SACD and CD

3. SACD DSD/DAC/Analog without a PCM intermediate step.

4. It MAY (no consensus) upscale CD's to SACD #s

"an 8x-oversampling filter and a noise shaper that result in a 2.8224MHz signal-sampling frequency—the same as that of DSD. "In this way, the SA-DAC presents both CD and SACD signals to the final converter stage in the identical 1-bit/64fs form."

.....................................................

 

Expectantly, it will sound better than the Yamaha DVD-C961 I found and presently like a lot, which sounds as good as the Onkyo Integra CDC-3.4 II I also like that I just sold because the Yamaha also plays SACD, Onkyo CD only.

NO ONE mentioned this xa5400 in my prior CD search. Who knows what I might have done if someone had.

IF, like the supposedly superior Oppo's I tried, it is not a preferred sound (I avoid 'better'), I will, like the Oppo, resell it. Hopefully not, then keep the Yamaha in the garage system, sell the Sony that is there currently.

Thanks for advice, ideas, YAYs mostly!!!

Elliott