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
Let's hear some more feedback about the Sony's Redbook performance. I know that Daveb believes that it is excellent.
Finally CD's don't sound like numbers or bits but real music/analogue.
Even though cd's vary from many factors,I have not heard one sound annoying yet.
Like when passages would get loud or complex,XA5400es somehow compensates & balance is maintained.
There is a musical 3D effect I would venture to say.
Piano music seems to "float" over the surface and it has a visceral effect on the psyche..
I'm impressed more on red book performance than SACD performance. Redbook playback is so impressive it makes you forget about SACD.