Sony SCD-XA5400ES-Best SACD for under $10,000

I think the most common suggestion is upgrading the power cord. I have been a skeptic of this as an upgrade, but I added a cord recommended by my audiophile friends, a cord that looks more like a garden hose than a power cord. It may have made a difference, but not the kind of difference those who rave about such things would suggest. OTOH, changing to the XA5400ES from a DVP-S900ES made a big difference.

db

I too am using a 14 gauge Belden on the MW and it sounds fantastic. I've always heard the benefits of upgrading interconnects and speaker cables but have never been impressed by power cords, and I've tried many.

Ain't no way a power cord is gonna cure what's wrong with the Playback Design. Maybe a couple hundred more hours of break-in but to suggest that swapping a power cord will somehow magically make the necessary sonic improvements strikes me as naive.

Like Dbphd, I see so many posts suggesting a power cord change to correct bad sound, it's laughable. Buy a component that sounds good in the first place and you won't have to worry about Anaconda sized power cords!

A great power cord CAN make improvements, but to what extent they effect ones perception of the sound is as unpredictable as the individual using it. An MIT power cord will address many aspects of powerline contamination, which will allow the component to deliver vastly superior performance in real world terms, such as better dynamics and dynamic contrasts, superior low level resolution and reduced distortion. Imaging and tonal accuracy are often discernible as well. Of course you don't have to believe ME...just arrange for an in home demo from Joe Abrams at Equus Audio online.

I also own the Playback Design as well as the MW 5400. I have Dan's additional mods, Nichicon Caps, Bybees, Audio Magic pulse generator as well as the latest
umbilical cord. This adds about $1300. to the 2K standard mod. I've also upgraded the tubes with a Mullard rectifier and NOS Tungsol 6NS7s (I preferred these to Sylvanias), as well as after-market power cords. I have an after-market power cord on the PD as well. The MW is very good, extremely musical....the addition of Dan's umbilical cord was a surprisingly big improvement....more dynamics and vibrancy. However the PD just exceeds it in just about every way....the best digital I've ever heard and I've owned and heard quite a few of the "best". However the PD DEFINITELY needs 500 hours of burn-in. Read Fremer's review in Stereophile....a most unusual change in sonics during those 500 hours. I went through almost an identical series of sonic upheavals during that process....which actually made me doubt my ears!

Lula, JWM and I have made the same exact "upgrades" to our MW's as you; Audio Magic, new umbilical, NOS Mullard and Tungsols(black glass) and each change made for serious sonic improvements and were all worthwhile. That said, the "stock" MW still sounds fantastic.

You may well be right about the additional break-in time needed for the PD. It really does sound pretty ordinary at the moment but JWM has it running 24/7 and we're waiting to hear what happens. One of us will no doubt report back.

Dave_b, if your MIT power cord made a significant sonic improvement, that's great but in my experience and the experience of four 'phile friends who own very expensive systems, we're all in agreement, the sonic changes made by power cords are subtle at best and often not for the better.

All but one of us have dedicated 20amp lines powering our equipment. I have four; one for each mono amp, one for digital source and one for analog source. We've all tried various cords, some quite expensive, and often, we try them in each others systems. As I said, the consensus is, the changes are subtle at best.

My suggestion to anyone considering a power cord change, upgrade your power first. What I find interesting in your case, you spent more on your MIT power cord than on most of your other components. Some might find that odd.