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

You simply spent way too much effort trying to appear intelligent.You would have made a lousy teacher. You could have just said; "IN MY SUBJECTIVE OPINION".
Now wasn't that much easier and everybody(and I do mean everybody) understood it.

Besides, unless you are running controlled experiments for a living there are simply way way too many variables for any audiophile to claim otherwise.
So remember; when you are thinking along those lines there is no need to type up such a long winded explanation which is full of holes.
Instead, just say " in my opinion" and your ass is covered. That one's free....

I wonder the same thing about the Sony 5400ES player I own as to what it would take to better the Sony. I wish I could just compare different players in my system. I know the Sony keeps up with my improving and maturing sytem. I do not feel like it is the week link in my stereo system. I may be crazy but I am currently using an Elrod power cord and a pair of Purist Dominus Praesto interconnects. This is the best sound I have heard from the Sony. The bass is much fuller and the midrange is very nice. The treble seems now to float in the air. I am liking what I hear very much.

hi coxhaus:

perhaps your experience with the sony is due in part to the cables you have mentioned that are part of your stereo system.

take the sony and place it in another stero system, and the impression of another listener may be different from yours.

from the posts i have read on the virtues of the sony, i discern differences of opinion--obviously different ears and different stereo systems.

i am considering the sony but wwill not be able to audition it before buying, so if i decide to purchase , i will try to pay as little as possible, so that i would minimize my loss, if i sold it.

i think the sony scd 1 and the second of sony's sacd player, retailing at $3500, would be competitive with the current sony, especially playing redbook.

the marantz 11 series and 7 series has also been mentioned as worthy competitirs of the sony. the more expensive marantz exceeds $4000, as does the ayre c5 xe.

I own the Sony. If your budget extends to 4k, you should be able to do a lot better

My XA5400ES outputs via HDMI to a Cary Cinema 11a. A well recorded CD or SACD sounds superb, smooth yet detailed with nice frequency extension, and a DSD surround can sound glorious. The Arts recording of Corelli violin sonatas is a case in point. So I don't care if it's the best; it's the best I've heard.

db