It's the Sony XA5400ES the best CDP under 4k

Hello Mrtennis
First let me say that the 5400 is an excellent machine . The posters question was, is there a better player under $4000 . I think there is , ( in my opinion). I won't comment on which ones I like , as I know it will bring on an onslaught of angry Audiogoner's . As far as your second question , yes I did find it a little bit thin . In fact most Sony CD players Iv'e owned had that feel , Iv'e heard players with more bass slam too . But overall its a fine player . I did not mean to offend anyone . Its only my two cents worth , and weather my opinion is worth that much is debatable . Happy listening .

Does your XA5400ES sound thin compared to what other CD player? I can't imagine anyone describing XA5400ES to sound thin, although I can understand the incorrect generalization that Sony CD players could all sound thin.

No thinness in my Sony 5400 either, with a robust yet integrated and articulate bass, especially with a good powercord. I use Shunyata Python CX and will try soon Anaconda CX and Furutech Powerflux. Using these cords there is no turning back to the stock cord. IMO of course.

Marantz players (SA11) have better timbre and more body at least on SACD.

hi jylee:

thinness and other audiophile terms are both quantitative and qualittative.

that is the perception of thinness is a threshold variable and then there is the degree of thinness once one perceives it.

i don't believe that thinness or other similar variables are relative to the sound of other components.

thus when someone useses the term it is often based upon exceeding a level of treble response that has been exceeded independent of other components.

thus, if i walk into a room the judgments i make about a stereo system are not relative to other stereo systems but rather a comment on a particular stereo system, which depends upon one's criteria of judgment.

i think you may be commenting upon the quantitative aspect rather than the qualitive aspect which is inherent to the component in question.

i don't think the term was used in the comparative sense.

i apologize for being so didactic but i have observed occasional lapses in communication because there is a difference in orientation between one speaker and another , where one's basisis is qualittative (e.g., he/she is thin) or he /she is thin relative to someone else.