Sony SCD-XA5400ES output: hdmi or analog?


I've decided to replace my aging wadia 850 by a sony 5400es. As the wadia could be directly connected to an amplifier, in my case a ML336, i didn't use a pre-amplifier. Has anybody had any listening experience comparing the analog output of the Sony to a high quality line stage vs. it's HDMI-output to an A/V processor?
hitv
Hi Hitv, I sold my Marantz 11S with the intention to buy the 11 S2 but then I got the Stereophile revieuw of the Sony 5400 es by Kal Rubinson.So I bouhgt the Sony instead.
No regrets;an fantastic CD,SACD. Better then my Marantz. But I am using only the (balanced) analog uitput to my Emitter Exclusive.The Sony looks (much) cheaper then the Marantz but sounds much better.I am not interested in HDMI so I am sorry about that.
Regards,
Multichannel is available only via HDMI. All formats are available via analog. Only CD is available via S/PDIF.

Kal