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SONY XA5400ES - Preliminary Observations

As I previously mentioned, I bought this from American TV on Audiogon (they are an authorized dealer for this product; I registered unit and store name came up on Sony list)almost on a lark, skeptical of the maniacal rave reviews but wondering whether just this once . . . .

I will be moving back to NYC later this year and am thinking about how I can reduce number of components to save space. I compared the SONY (on RBCD only) to my CEC TL-1X transport (modded by RAM), with balanced Stealth Sextet digicable to balanced input on my trusty Dodson 218 DAC. EPS 2S PC on transport; Valhalla PC on Dodson, both run through an Audience AR6 conditioner. The transport-cable-DAC combo-PC combos totals some $20K, when new. I am running Valhalla IC's from Sony to my Wyetech Opal Pre (the Sony sounds awful with Stealth Indras; have no idea why)and amusing a LessLoss Sig PC (which I like a lot).

The ravers raved about 500 hrs of burn-in for Sony to sound its best. I don't know if that's true, but it has improved considerably over the 150 hrs or so I have burned it in. It started off way too dark, vague and murky -- almost unlistenable -- but has loosened up, detail has improved, vocals have become clearer and more natural and bass has tightened somewhat, but still is a bit loose and muddy. The preliminary verdict (pending another 100-150 hrs of burn-in: this is an outstanding CDP that fights way way above its weight and which I enjoy listening to and could be very happy with -- and it does not suffer terribly in comparo with my usual setup. My usual combo sounds more natural and realistic, with better detail and clarity, and tighter if not deeper bass than the Sony. Highs are airier and cleaner. The improvement, however, is not jarring; it is, however, definitely noticeable. The Sony is darker, with vocals a bit huskier and strings much warmer, perhaps too warm at this point. But as I said, if I did not switch to my usual combo, I would enjoy the Sony immensely on its own merits. It dors have a smooth, organic presentation and if it sins it is on the side of warmth rather than clinical digital detail. For what the Sony costs, anyone who was considering spending up to $5K or so on a CDP should listen to this first. I only have one SACD and will try that soon, but really cannot comment on its merits as an SACD player.

Will check in again in about a week or so to tell if there is anything to add. I would have no qualms about admitting it's as good as my combo, but remain skeptical it will ever reach those rarefied heights.

Sorry for being so long-winded, but this has been a fascinating exercise for a long-time audiophile and anyway, I am a lawyer, so what would you expect?

Neal
nglazer
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
hi richard:

are you implying that american theater sold you a defective unit ?

sldo if you are using hdmi, what cable and what dac are using as the interface ?

i am not aware of hdmi direct to pre amp or amp.

thanks.

i have ps audio pwt and pwd and prefer coax. i tried their silver hdmi. i did not like it.
chayro
2,997 posts
 
The XA9000ES was the "previous incarnation" of the 5400, not the 9100 which is a DVD player. In any case, the 5400 manual states that, when the front panel HDMI light is on, sound will come from the HDMI output, when the light is off, sound comes from the analog and digital outputs.
That sounds like it might be your problem.

Based on my experience, if it sounds unlistenable to you now, it may not be for you. While I found it to improve over the months, I never thought it sounded bad, even out of the box.
magnumpi205
504 posts
 
Have heard the Oppo se version and the modwright upgraded version of the 83. Purchased the Sony 5400. Pretty easy call. 5400 gets even better every day.
nglazer OP
846 posts
 
I now have burned in the XA5400ES for some 250-300 hrs, and feel than any further improvement will be in infinitesimal increments. (Other users may differ on further improvement.) So time to render a verdict, in comparison to my CEC TL-1X RAM-modded transport and Dodson 218 DAC, with Stealth Sextet digicable. Tried Valhalla and Stealth Indras as analog IC's from Sony to Wyetech Opal pre. Also swapped Valhalla and LessLoss Sig PC's. Used Sony only on RBCD; don't have any SACD's so no comment on its abilities on SACD.

The SONY is an outstanding CDP in absolute terms. For the money, it is a breathtaking steal. I cannot imagine it not competing head-on with $5K range CDP's and acquitting itself well. It is well built, functions smoothly, sounds full-bodied, organic, sufficiently detailed, with good soundstage, good, deep but a bit loose bass, very natural sounding. I could live happily with it. . . . .

BUT, I own what I own, and the CEC/Dodson combo is, to my ears, superior, as perhaps it should be at more than 15X what I paid for the Sony. The combo is just is more detailed, deeper, tauter bass, wider and deeper soundstage and overall sounds more realistic, abeit not as relaxing sounding as the Sony. Is it 10X better -- no, not by a long shot. Is it 25% - 33 1/3% better, yes. The comparison was extremely close on classical -- a dead heat on solo piano -- but the combo clearly (no pun intended)has the edge on jazz, folk and rock.

So I have enjoyed my time with the Sony immensely and will be putting it up for sale, but will be saying goodbye wistfully. (If anyone is interested contact me offline.) Commendable job, Sony. One doesn't need to spend that much for first class digital playback. I could have loved you were I not already committed, and I need the space back.

And Fishing716, please do not assault me!

Neal
dougmc
105 posts
 
Neal,

The XA5400ES has a digital out. By any chance, did you try the XA5400ES as a transport only feeding the Dodson 218 and compare that combination to the CEC/Dodson? I'm curious whether this unit has a particular strength in either its transport or conversion function.
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