Marantz SA-11 S1 vs Sony XA-5400es

teamed with the right pre/power amp. the Marantz is miles and miles and miles ahead of the Sony. The Marantz is a warmer player so I would not team it with any tubes. : )

i owned the marantz 11s2. this is the current model. forgive the diversion. i found the marantz ruthlessly revealing of source material, using a tube amp.

i have not heard the sony player.

Thank you, all. I bought the Marantz.

I have the Marantz SA-11S2 with the Level 2 Underwood Modifications.

Never have I enjoyed music at this level, of total

enjoyment.

It sounds like a "Master Tape Player" with the dynamics

of Digital.

Simply must be heard to be enjoyed!

My Sony XA-7ES with the Benchmark Dac-1 was real good,

but the Marantz goes to another league!

The newer Sony models never really made "Music".

I LOVE MY MUSIC!

Food for thought re: the Marantz:
In his Stereophile review M Fremer refers to it as
"reasonably detailed ".
Mr Tennis describes it as "ruthlessly revealing"
Sounds like you need to hear it in your own system...