would the Sony SCD 5400 Ex make a good transport?

Would like to update this thread as I posted 13 years ago and digital has moved on enormously since then. still have the Sony SCD 5400 ex. have upgraded the rest of my system and now I think the CD sound is a bit flat and hard.

would like to reconsider using the Sony as a transport. Has anyone been successful in using a modern DAC with the Sony to get better sound.

Digital has definitely improved since then and I would recommend going with a dedicated CD transport for Redbook CDs and using the Sony for SACD playback only. I had the Audiolab CDT6000 for many years and it outperformed my older Rotel CDP used as a transport. The CDT6000 is still available on Amazon for $480.  I have since upgraded to the Jay’s Audio CDT2 MK3 transport which has taken my CD listening to a whole new level. 

rrm

Nice thread.  The NAD 565 is a keeper, as is, Sony 5400ES.

Happy Listening!

I use my 5400 as a transport mainly for SACD.  My Bryston DAC 3 has 4 HDMI inputs and I have 2 of them connected to the Sony and an Oppo 105.  Both machines export DSD over HDMI.  I primarily use the Oppo for this since I lost the Sony remote but every now and then throw a disc in the Sony just to keep it going.  
  Sonically they sound similar.  The Sony used to reside in a surround system that has become exclusively video.  I had replaced it and the previous Blue Ray player with an Oppo 203 to reduce the box count in that surround system and the Sony moved into the 2 channel as an unwanted orphan.

  Btw couldn’t disagree more with the OPs assessment of the sound of the Sony.  If anything using its native DAC.  I thought it was soft, a sonic deep pillow.  As a transport playing DSD it’s just fine