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XA5400ES owners - what are you using now?

I am one of many who bought Sony's best 10 years ago, in no small part due to the huge thread here about this player. Well I am ready for a newer player now and I would like something with external DAC inputs. I am considering Yamaha CDS2100\3000, McIntosh MCD500\550, Marantz SA10 and a few Esoteric units. I want to stay with a mainstream brand for service and parts issues down the road. 

I'd love to hear what you are using now and how it compares to the 5400.
128x128anotherjblnut
kot
132 posts
 
French Neodio Origine S2 Cd player has the digital input and is perhaps  the best stand alone cd player extant today..Granted, its about 13 grand , and only sold direct from France, but well worth it .....
kot
132 posts
 
Rega top of the line cd player is also quite good I d say.... And its a major brand with no lack of  service issues down the road ....
kot
132 posts
 
Having said that, depending on how  "high resolution" your system is, a top of the line Sony Blu ray player used as a transport and used with great coaxial cable (Cardas, Ensemble) and any good DAC will give these run for their money ....
mahler123
3,088 posts
 
The OP didn’t mention two issues 
1) Does he listen to SACDs? Does he need Blu Ray?2) Budget 

I use my Sony as a transport into a Bryston DAC3, which accepts HDMI.  For SACD, the DSD is outputted from the Sony.  If your budget can stretch that far, then you can use the Sony as a transport.  The Bryston has 4 HDMI inputs so you can add a cheap Sony Blu Ray if you wish, or you could sell the 5400 and just the the Blu Ray as your transport for all silver discs 
  
anotherjblnut's avatar
anotherjblnut OP
19 posts
 
Yes I listen to SACD as well as CD, and want a unit whose internal DAC can be externally accessed for DSD streams. No need for Blu Ray as this is 2-channel audio only and I have none of those. Budget would cover any of the units I already mentioned (target $3-4k give or take - somewhere south of dCS gear ). I am ready to move the Sony on to a new owner.
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