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

hi mystang:

dan told me he brought both modded players to the 2010 rocky mountain audio show, and said some preferred the modded oppo while others preferred the modded sony. he did not quantify the difference in warmth but suggested that i would not like the sony because it might be too resolving for my taste. he said the oppo was warmer. as you said he did not quantify the difference between the two.

i have two concerns:

1) based upon your observations, warmer may not be enough to achieve a tubey sound and if the difference is small, i probably won't like either.

2) he uses the modern tungsol 6sn7, which i have owned and find them lacking warmth. i wonder how much difference replacing the tungsol, with some nos sylvania, or rca might change the sound.

it may not pay to buy either. i may have to look else where for a more traditional tube sounding unit.

thanks for your observations. you may have saved me from making a mistake.

i probably would prefer an old sony like the scd 1.

Thanks for the follow-up with Dan Wright Mr. Tennis. I think this focuses this whole better/best matter into a more realistic perspective. I too was strongly considering the Sony after what I read but like you could not find unamious concensus on it and since I've owned 2 sony digital products from the past and not really being a fan of a certain "smoothness" that I have found with their products I was apprehensive. This is not to say that I may not have turned out to like the Sony but I just didn't want to take the chance on springing 1100.00 and finding out ultimately it wasn't to my taste.

My Modwrighted 5400 was not overly detailed or hyper resolving in the least. It did have warmth, palpability, dynamics, killer bass and sweet extended highs. It was the fine balance of sound it struck that won me over.

I've had the ModWright 5400es now for two weeks and have done extensive listening to redbook CDs and SACDs. My comparison is my previous Sony SCD-XA777es, my PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC and Bridge, and my vinyl front end (Clearaudio Innovation Wood with Graham Phantom B44 and Benz LP-S through Herron phono preamp). Since I jumped back into vinyl, I listen to albums 80 percent of the time and digital 20 percent of the time.

I purchased the ModWright 5400 in order to keep a player that would allow me to play my SACD collection, which I found to be much more pleasurable and analogue-sounding than listening to CDs.

I am amazed and over-the-top satisfied with the Modwright 5400 player. In fact, I'm almost alarmed how good it sounds (given what I've spent on other source components). I did not hear the stock 5400es (I had a new unit shipped directly to Dan at Modwright for his truth mods).

This is the one component in my system that marries the yin with the yang wonferfully. It is very detailed, transparent and open. At the same time isn't abrasive or etchy but is very musical and sweet and fluid (moreso with Transparent Audio Reference power cords installed on power supply and unit). It offers simultaneous access to last bit of inner detail, layering, dynamics, transients, punch. And, it is coherent...meaning I'm not sitting analyzing what I'm hearing but get lost in the music easier than usual, so it delivers to me a great pace, timing, holistic sound. There are many moments when I'm thinking how much I enjoy the ease of listening coupled with what sounds like all veils or grunge or opaqueness has been removed.

The biggest surprise....I have never heard standard CDs sound this good, through any system. In fact, I sent a note to Dan at Modwright telling him that I actually think some of my well recorded CDs sound better than many of my SACDs. This has confused me, and I have listened to a lot of CDs to see if it was a true pattern or not. Something about the Modwright 5400es makes the standard redbook CD sound amazing -- I'd say it matches or beats hi-rez files played through my DAC. I was burning all my CDs to my hard drive for playback solely through my PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC. Now, I'm looking for a way to organize my CDs to I can play them in my 5400es.

I've also done cable comparisons on the 5400es. Comparing Harmonic Technology Magic Link 2 to Cardas Golden Reference. I prefer the HT as it has a slightly "bigger" sound/soundstage, and is a bit more open on top. I wouldn't call myself a detail freak, but I do like a fast, transparent sound, but am quickly fatigued by sibilance and etch/glare.

In any regard, I remain amazed at how wonderful the ModWright 5400es sounds (even if I had paid 2-3x the price for it). The fact it was $3,400 with mods makes it one of the best purchases I've made in the last decade in any category (other comparison would be a Volkswagen R32 I bought 7 years ago which bested any car I drove up to 2x the price, which I enjoy as much/more today as when I bought it, and which I will never sell). I'm so pleased with the ModWright 5400es, I have thought I should buy a second as a backup -- keep it stored in a safe place somewhere.

I went into great detail here because I firmly believe in and appreciate the value and performance of what I bought.

Podeschi, welcome to the modright sony 5400ES family. When you put 200 hours on it you will like it even better. I agree with you on the Cardas, as I am using Siltech and like them better. Have you purchased Dan's new Umbilical wire that goes between power supply and unit, if not you may want to. Your review hits the nail right on the head. The player is transparent but not digital or grainy sounding at all. Enjoy