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sony scd-777 dac vs PS Audio DLIII DAC

I have the sony scd-777es (without mods) which i want to improve... I am getting a great price on a new PS Audio Digital Link III. Does it make any sense to use the sony as a transport connected to the PS Audio DLIII? In other words, is the DAC in the 777es better than the PS Audio DAC?

If the sony's inbuilt dac is not better, then would level 2 mods on the sony be a better use for the money than the PS Audio? The sony's slowness doesnt bother me, I am only interested in improving the sound. thanks
aarif
waynefia
156 posts
 
Dave sure does seem to like that Sony, and based on everything he has owned, I won't argue with him ! I agree on all the mods and DACS, and have never went there myself either. I am currently happy with my NAD M5 Master Series SACD/CD, seems to work well for the level of performance I need. If I was going to look at anything more expensive then the NAD M5, I would certainly think about the new Sony, which is quite a bit cheaper then the NAD new.
aarif OP
28 posts
 
So what my pals on Audiogon advise for a guy who has an SCD777es and wants to spend $650 to improve his front end, is the following:
1. Get the new Sony SCD-XA5400es. Problem is I cannot find a single proper review or comparison of this player from an unbiased source.
2. Get a power conditioner: Problem is I am not sufficiently educated in the art of audiophilia to know what the power conditioner does or is :-( Can someone explain?
3. any other ideas guys??
Incidentally, I have a tube amp from Audiovalve in Germany and have the Asa pro grande speakers from France (see photo link below in French but some of the stuff is in English as well).
http://www.asa.fr/pagesProduits/gd_monitor_pro.php
My speaker cables and interconnects are crap (the most expensive monster cable).
aarif OP
28 posts
 
In English about my beloved speakers:
http://web.lerelaisinternet.com/asa.fr/pagesEng/aProposAsa.php

anyway looking forward to your advice on my 650 bucks and the front end!
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
Techradar has a full review of the Sony XA5400ES:O) Good luck!
mrthunder
7 posts
 
Just bought a Sony XA5400ES. Listened to alot of high end SACD players. My demo disc must have been in $300,000 worth of hardware.
The XA5400SA is a good deal for the price. Out of the box it had great mid/low range with good punch on drums. Sounded a bit metallic in the upper ranges which is softening up as I add hours. Real PIA to break this thing in on both RB and SACD and balanced/unbalanced outputs.
The RB is close to my Benchmark DAC-1 when the Sony is used as transport.
Will probably sell mine when I get some dough for an Esoteric P-03/D-03 or EMM. Heard he new EMM TSD1 DAC2 at CES. It sounded so much better than the CDSA SE that I couldn't consider the one box player (which is great).

So for low money I can't see what can beat the XA5400SE on SACD with good RB to boot.
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