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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 waynefia

waynefia
156 posts
 
WOW, I don't come look at the digital section here much lately. Pretty intense group. Mostly been reading at the vinyl forum. I'm trying to decide which way to go with my vinyl, or just dump it and move on, time will tell. To many hobbies and not enough time or money. But the best CD/SACD player in the world for me is my NAD Master Series M5, as it's the one I own now ! Are there better most likely, but if it's not here I don't speculate or care. I know secretly there are many people who love thier Master Series M5, so I know I am not alone in thinking it is a decent sounding machine. World beater who knows who cares.

To show I can be crazy, intense, and can add food into an audio discussion, I am going to BW3 for wings (wild sauce second hottest) and chips with cheese. And I am doing this against my and my Doctors better judgement.
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