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Review: Sony SCD-XA5400ES CD Player

Category: Digital

I love natural recordings that capture the full acoustic envelope of the performances. The Shostakovich Sonatas performed by Ax and YYMa comes to mind...the Sony portrays the entire event in such an unforced and natural manner that it triggers ones acoustic memory into believing it is real. A player that offers no tone color or openness would be my worst nightmare. I replaced my BAT VK D5 24 bit CDP and was amazed at how much resolution and color was lost on the older design. The Sony re-creates the space, music and acoustic tones with overtones so completely that you start to smile and realize that you have been given a great gift...a peak into the performance as it occured at the recording session. My opinion of the Sony applies as much for the redbook section as it does for the SACD section. This player will become a classic product for digital playback....much better it does not get! It's a keeper at any price,,,for $1500 USD it is a freakin steal. This is Sony's best effort to date and manages to break new ground in the digital domain:)

Associated gear
Wilson Sophia speakers
Krell 400xi amp
Harmonic Tech Cables
MIT Oracle AC 2 power cord

Similar products
Sony SCD-1
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ARC CD 3
128x128dave_b
plinko
256 posts
 
Aarif's comment was mildly funny. What really put me over the top in laughter was the comment about $15K products and hifi tuning fuses. :-) I suppose there was a point there, though.

All humor aside, thanks for the review and break-in reports, Dave b. Much appreciated! I'm considering this player and quite interested.
sgr's avatar
sgr
689 posts
 
Anyone compare this player to separates or SOTA one boxes like Esoteric, Levinson, Meridian, etc? Any comparisons to computer audio systems?
Thanks for commenting.
And Dave you've done a great job with the review so far!
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,691 posts
 
No Meridian player will play SACD. FWIW.

Kal
sgr's avatar
sgr
689 posts
 
Well how does fare against other top Redbook CD players, DACS, transports, and computer audio systems?
disbeliever
27 posts
 
May Stereophile 'Music in the Round' Kal Rubinson's Part 1 review of the now discontinued Sony XA5400ES is totally accurate It makes a change to find a 100% correct review. The XA5400ES takes a long while to fully burn in and then becomes the best value best sounding CD/SACD player on the market as Dave B said it is a steal. However what is going to replace this excellent player ?
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