The Ultimate SACD Machine

Paul - I just posted this comment on another thread "to SACD or not" but I will repeat it here.
Crawl over broken glass to get hold of a Sony XA5400ES SACD and then have it upgraded by Modwright. Read all the reviews on here and on the Modwright site. Buy for about $1100 and upgrade for $2000 - suggested to be the best SACD/CD under $20,000. I love mine - it has taken several months to break in and just keeps getting better. It blew away my Musical Fidelity kw SACD which (when it works) is reviewed as very good.
This would be the best investment you could make - top dollar will not beat this unit - it sings
Peter from Perth in Western Australia
Yes I am a long way off - I research Audiogon and over forums very carefully before I buy unheard. Love the Sony !

I bought mine from American Theatre and they were true to their word. because I was so far off I did not get the chance to hear it before it was modded. You can. For about $1100 you can hear it and see if you like it (very little risk - you could sell it again easily).
Then DO send it to Modwright. Their work is outstanding, and their service is terrific. They kept me informed all during the wait list and sent it smoothly around the world.
Try the Sony

hi paul:

you commented in another thread about the sony 5400 and that in audio there is no "best" anything.

thus, i suggest you listen to as many as possible. you might want to include the ayre, although it exceeds your price point at retail price. i'm not sure about its price used.

I have a Luxman D06, great machine, detailed but sweet, natural sound (not clinical, not hyper-analitic but not warm at all...neutral and uncoloured with no harshness or edges in the high frequencies), it allows to chose DSD or PCM for the SACDs (many SACD, recorded in PCM, sound better in PCM), it has coaxial and optical digital inputs to be used as an external DAC.

I bought D06 to match with Luxman 509u amp and found one of the best (complete, neutral, musical) digital sources in its price range (5/6k), someone say it is better than equal or most priced Accuphase players; there are two nice reviews on the net.

I think the EMM sound on the SACDs I own is just plain awesome. I am really sorry SACD never caught on (like,
unfortunately, MP3). (I have the CDSA and the DCC2/CDSD SE pair.)

I have some SACDs from Cindy Lauper and the Stones and Boston that produce such a joyful sound I wouldn't change a thing. I just sit in wonderment at how musical it is, with full impact and detail but with no abrasiveness or glare.

I am amazed how this technology could pull so much out of this music I have been listening to for 20,30,40 years.
It really provides amazing sound for a relatively small investment in a high-end system. When listening to these great SACDs, I don't think about turntables or upgrading; I just listen and love it.

Hey dumb question. Lots of discussion and such on ripping CD and playing bit perfect to DAC and such. What about SACD? Can this approach be used with SACD or is it locked up?