Modwright sony xa5400 vs Modwright Oppo 95

The Sony has a slight edge in detail, not much though. The Oppo is more organic in the midrange and to me smoother all around. It comes off slightly less mechanical than the Sony. I also think the bass in the oppo is a little more controlled. I have decided finally and will be selling my Sony and keeping the Oppo. In other systems you may like the Sony better. You can change the flavor easily with tube change, rectifier tube change, power cords, isolating feet, etc. Both players are great and beat just about everything out there. Jeff

I highly recommend trying Audio Magic Liquid Air Umbilical cord, much better than the stock or upgraded umbilical!

Yo, JWM and I spent a few hours at his house last night going back and forth between both modified players and we continue to agree on most points.

The Sony is a wee bit more revealing and I think it excels at leading edge transients. I hear more air on top and more decay. To my ears, it's more exciting to listen to and I think more believable. The Oppo is somewhat forgiving of mediocre discs but I think you get more truth with the Sony. It never offends and to my ears, is superior to all digital I've heard previously, including the $15k Playback Design that JWM unloaded recently.

That said, the modified Oppo doesn't fall all that short of the Sony in terms of resolution and it really does sound very open, airy and extended. As I mentioned previously, it might be preferable with solid state gear.

Bottom line for me, I like 'em both a lot and could easily live with either one. Fortunately, like JWM, I don't have to choose. After hearing both players side by side, first at RMAF and again last night at JWM's, I'm ready to pull the trigger(is that phrase politically correct?) on the Oppo for my AV system.

Thanks Rfogel8. Really helpful. Which one out of the two gives fuller presentation... say for strings/piano? Thanks again.

The Oppo definitely gives a warmer, fuller presentation. Beyond that, they are more alike than different.