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 4 responses by rhyno

ask dan.

though FWIW when i spoke to him, he said for absolute performance the sony is superior. for all in one convenience while yielding little, get the oppo.
i've purchased the 5400, and the modwright mods.

i've since purchased the service manual and four spare laser assemblies.

i believe it will be staying a while...it replace an EMM CDSA-SE

(note: i never heard the stock unit...it went straight to MW)
i've had good luck w/ cabling from TG Audio (the new stuff), but i've had great luck w/ grey top 6sn7s and mullard 5ar4s in the unit. and do address vibration w/ a good footer.

unit responds well to tweaks...and for the $, its a friggin bargain. so detailed & musical, so antithetical to digital.
so has anyone put an upgraded fuse in the PS of the MW 5400?

i will say putting the transport on a separate dedicated line was a big winner for me...(i have 4 dedicated lines). unit loves to be isolated.