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Best DAC for SONY SCD XA5400es

Looking for recommendation as to which DAC would pair best with my SONY SCD XA5400es CD player.  I want to use SPDIF coax output to the DAC.  The rest of my system is McIntosh MA7000 integrated and B&W 802Diamonds.  I am not looking for preamp function in the DAC.  Price range $2-3k.  How would Benchmark DAC 3 B sound?

128x128l100
l100's avatar
l100 OP
4 posts
 
And how does the Bryston BDA-3 compare to Benchmark DAC-3 sonically?
clemvice's avatar
clemvice
19 posts
 
Hi,

Hello

i have a Sony XA5400es, excellent CD player ++++++

I also have Esoteric SA10 and Arcam CDS50

3 excellent CD players

but I don’t use external DAC

sorry for the bad english translated

greetings from Portugal

.
soix
9,789 posts
 
What aspects of sound and DAC performance are most important to you, and what would you like in terms of improvements?
l100's avatar
l100 OP
4 posts
 
Basically trying to go with the times, the DAC section in the SONY has seen better times and is probably very outdated.  I can hear from my 802’s (with the help of Cardas clear cables) very analogous reproduction of red book cd’s that is sometimes tiring.  Perhaps more musicality without the loss of detail.  I mentioned Benchmark DAC3 B but it might sound analogous and boring too, I don’t know.
don_c55
1,025 posts
 
The Sony 5400 was listed class A+ by Stereophile when it was current. dCS at $100k was also listed A+ at the time FYI.

I own three and love the warm analog type sound.

Could not be happier .

Still great today IMO, and can not be beat, without spending much more.

If it fails you probably can not get it repaired.

That is why I own three.

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