It's the Sony XA5400ES the best CDP under 4k


Wondering if this unit its the best sounding piece or its just my ears.
a big wow,
ill appreciate your inputs.
thanks
128x128junglern
Hello Mrtennis
First let me say that the 5400 is an excellent machine . The posters question was, is there a better player under $4000 . I think there is , ( in my opinion). I won't comment on which ones I like , as I know it will bring on an onslaught of angry Audiogoner's . As far as your second question , yes I did find it a little bit thin . In fact most Sony CD players Iv'e owned had that feel , Iv'e heard players with more bass slam too . But overall its a fine player . I did not mean to offend anyone . Its only my two cents worth , and weather my opinion is worth that much is debatable . Happy listening .
Does your XA5400ES sound thin compared to what other CD player? I can't imagine anyone describing XA5400ES to sound thin, although I can understand the incorrect generalization that Sony CD players could all sound thin.
No thinness in my Sony 5400 either, with a robust yet integrated and articulate bass, especially with a good powercord. I use Shunyata Python CX and will try soon Anaconda CX and Furutech Powerflux. Using these cords there is no turning back to the stock cord. IMO of course.
hi jylee:

thinness and other audiophile terms are both quantitative and qualittative.

that is the perception of thinness is a threshold variable and then there is the degree of thinness once one perceives it.

i don't believe that thinness or other similar variables are relative to the sound of other components.

thus when someone useses the term it is often based upon exceeding a level of treble response that has been exceeded independent of other components.

thus, if i walk into a room the judgments i make about a stereo system are not relative to other stereo systems but rather a comment on a particular stereo system, which depends upon one's criteria of judgment.

i think you may be commenting upon the quantitative aspect rather than the qualitive aspect which is inherent to the component in question.

i don't think the term was used in the comparative sense.

i apologize for being so didactic but i have observed occasional lapses in communication because there is a difference in orientation between one speaker and another , where one's basisis is qualittative (e.g., he/she is thin) or he /she is thin relative to someone else.