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
The Sony is First rate on Redbook CD's
I don't believe an older player like a phillips could be as good.This is a very modern player
As usual, the high price of component will tell you nothing about its sound, nor its quality. The Sony is a great unit but I think the oppo 83SE will give it a run for top of the heap. The best part of this is that Sony will now be forced to try to top it. Sony has the R&D muscle to do that. Without deep pocket companies like Sony, real progress would not take place. Here comes DSD.
You may get better parts for a higher price ex.Creek Destiny CD Player or Marantz Pearl SACD Player but the sound may not improve.Sony has the insight & experience that other companies don't
i will be reviewing the oppo 83 se. perhaps its sacd playback will be a competitor opf the sony.