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
hi prsnccarty:

are you objecting to thinness in the redbook mode or the sacd mode ?

or are you suggesting that in both modes the player sounds thin ?

you may be saving me a purchase by voicing your comments.

then again, a modwright mod might solve your problems.
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)

(note: i never heard the stock unit...it went straight to MW)
I have never understood that.

Kal