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Sony SCD-XA5400ES-Best SACD for under $10,000

This Sony player supplanted my Ayre C5-XE 3, which I still have, months ago. I paid $6000 for the Ayre after determining that it was the best-sounding unit for under $10,000. The Sony blows it away!!!
A unit costing $1500 besting all others under $10,000? That is exactly what it does!
For reference, I am using Audio Research electronics and Vandersteen speakers and subwoofers (about $30,000); a similar system has repeatedly been lauded as "best of show" at CES, so we are NOT talking second-rate stuff here.
This Sony is the only SACD/Cd player I have EVER heard that puts a classical piano live in my living room; nothing I ever had before even comes close.
This unit is a small miracle. I would have gladly paid $8000 for it, but if they want to give the thing away for $1500, who am I to argue?
This unit is going to send the engineers at Audio Research, Luxman, Esoteric, and Ayre back to the drawing board; their current units at 4 to 5 times the price are not even close. Some engineer at Sony is a freaking genius!!!
wa6itd

Showing 1 response by blackscorpio

blackscorpio
1 posts
 
Hello.

I have Sony Xa9000ES for 5 years, and until now I was very happy..the only strange thing that I discover was that the sound from the analog outputs are worse than from the digital outputs.. I also open it, and took off the i-link cable, and still the sound from the digital outputs are still more real..much much better.

Anyone have XA5400ES and XA9000ES and can compare them, using the digital outputs on the XA9000ES?

I am buying XA5400ES anyway..but just to be sure.

Thanks,

Joao
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