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 6 responses by mcpherson

Fc
The bass in my system became very bloated,bland,muddy...cant think of any other words; when I upgraded to the 5400 from an old multidisc changer that I was using "digital out"
Anyway I recently replaced a receiver with a good preamp and the whole sound of system changed including the bass.
More defined and punch..
I think it is tough sometimes to attribute sound to a particular component unless you are talking about A/B comparison.
What is the rest of your system?
Yep.
I was...well I am shocked at the difference the Thor ta1000 linestage made in my system.
I bought the 5400 with intentions of having the Modwright upgrades done in the future.
My next step is to try some different tubes and see where that gets me.
Gotta say I am enjoying music again more than obsessing over the sound. :)
Did your conclusion come from comparison or are you just tired of hearing about it?
I am asking this because I think you made a similar comment when I was shopping for a cd player last year. I gotta say the 5400 made a sutle difference for me... but my preamp made a HUGE difference.
So based on your strong opinion...if you had a 5400, would you upgrade it or would the $ be spent on a different player?
Wig
Are the fuse upgrades something that can be done to the stock 5400? If so is it (2) 0.8amp fuses?
Thanks Jayson