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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
rufipennis
118 posts
 
Thanks for the reply, Kal
"I would never use that term because, in comparing among high quality components, it is totally inappropriate."
I agree. The OP stated "The Sony blows it away!!!" in reference to the Ayre. That seems not to be a credible report, so I thought maybe you could provide a second opinion.
dougmc
105 posts
 
As for the CD sound quality of the XA5400ES, consider that its op amps (2132) are not the best available. I understand that, in general, replacing op amps is one of the more easily done and cost effective modifications. Point being that CD quality might be improved relatively inexpensively.
stl114_nj
94 posts
 
How would the sony compare to the Krell standard SACD or the new Oppo SE?
fishing716
316 posts
 
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!

I am very impressed & satisafied with the XA5400 but find the above statement useless.
I neither belive this is a $10,000 player nor does it "blow away" the Ayre,etc.
My advise is to disregard the above as exaggeration.
Try to spend $1100 street & come to your own conclusions.
You will lkely agree the Sony is a gift for the investment, but it's stll a CD/SACD Player not a magic machine.
nglazer
843 posts
 
Out of curiosity, I decided to spend $1100 street price to see how this stacks up against my modded CEC TL-1X/Dodson 218 combo. Delivery tonight; will burn in over weekend and will then report to the equally curious. Will try various PC's (Valhalla, LessLoss Sig, EPS 2s, Kimber Palladium) and various IC's (Valhalla, AQ Sky, AntiCables, Stealth Indra) to see what effect. I am deeply skeptical of so-called worldbeaters but will give it a fair shot. If it is even somewhat close it will be an accomplishment for Sony and will be installed in my BR system.

Neal
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