Sony XA-5400ES

[Dusty Chalk]

Other choices.

But yeah, stereo is good.

[EdipisReks]

Well, the Mrs wasn’t too enamored with the idea of adding more speakers into the living room, so I’m basically back to square one (and contend with just adding a sub).

I was looking at receivers since it would’ve been most convenient for the Mrs after it had been set up (one thing to turn one, no need to remember the on/off order, remote controls everything, and etc.).

Let’s see if I can go find a nice integrated or pre with nice DAC built-in for not too much.

how much juice do you need and how much is too much?

[Salt Peanuts]

how much juice do you need and how much is too much?

The absolute max on the budget for the whole thing (i.e., if I go separates) is $2100, but less is always better. The speakers are rated for 75w to 200w at 8ohm, but closer to 200w, the better.

[EdipisReks]

if you can find an Arcam FMJ AVR600 used for under $2100, it would probably do the job, all in one box.

[Salt Peanuts]

AVR600 looks real nice, though I doubt I'll ever find one priced that low.

Now that I've looked around a bit, preamp or integrated w/ DAC that has remote control is rather lacking - at least in my budget.

[Azazel]

if someone finds an AVR600 for 2k$ I want two!!

This beast is by FAR the best integrated AV I ever had at home. And I had quite a few

A stereo setup plus subwoofer is a good route to happiness. I recently helped a friend to setup such a system and one wonders a bit why the hassle of everything else... at least if the stereo was good to start with.

Look for an used Onkyo 905 and you will be very happy with it (beware of your back when carrying it however). Excellent multichannel but very good stereo too, multiple inputs and HDMI switching, 'net' capacity.

Regards

Josep

[Knuckledragger]

I've been re-reading this thread.

I know that it is completely counter-intuitive, but if you want a dac that has the
same parts as the 5400 in it (and the same exact sound qualities) then you have
to buy the str-da6400es receiver, and use just a very small part of it.

Soon there will be a preamp/processor that is the same as the 6400 without the
power amps inside.

Does anyone know if this ever came out? If so, what is the model #? Are there any other Sony products that have the 5400's DAC section, a decent analogue output stage and a digital input?

[Salt Peanuts]

I've been re-reading this thread.



Does anyone know if this ever came out? If so, what is the model #? Are there any other Sony products that have the 5400's DAC section, a decent analogue output stage and a digital input?

As far as I know, the pre/pro hasn't come out and I couldn't find any info regarding it on Sony's website. As for what else has 5400's DAC section, no clue.

[Knuckledragger]

As far as I know, the pre/pro hasn't come out and I couldn't find any info regarding it on Sony's website. As for what else has 5400's DAC section, no clue.

Before posting in here, I did some googling and came up with jack squat. In fact, most of the meaningful results were back here on H-C. I did find this guy's Flickr page in the same search. Is that a head-caser?

(Still mining this thread.) Kevin said this a bit later:

Sony is coming out with a new $3k beast the very beginning of
next year. Also a hats balanced digital preamp, also about $3k.

I'm hazarding a wild guess that Sony hasn't released ^^that either yet.

[hYdrociTy]

you spelled it wrong

[Voltron]

you spelled it wrong

Great first post in a year, douche.

[Knuckledragger]

It wasn't my goal to resurrect hydro-idiocy along with this thread.

[Azazel]

I've been re-reading this thread.

Does anyone know if this ever came out? If so, what is the model #? Are there any other Sony products that have the 5400's DAC section, a decent analogue output stage and a digital input?

AFAIK no 'interesting' new products from Sony, not in EU at least. They upgraded the 5400 receiver to 5500: it just ads DLNA capacity, new HD-DCS sound modes (not as useful as ther classic ones btw) and everything else is exactly the same as per 5400.

I liked how the SACD and receiver sounded together (5400 units) with HDMI-HATS activated, but this looks very much like another good technology 'show' that no one else will care about. Pioneer and Denon have their own 'ways' to make HDMI connections sound better with music too, off course all different and incompatible...

The SACD 5400 by itself is a good but not great player IMO (and the balanced outs a bit of a 'fake' as I said already in this thread IIRC).

[brat]

Any new impressions on XA-5400ES?
I consider to take one for an audition today... and I hope it doesn't need much burn-in.

[jp11801]

Have you not read the Sony XA-54--ES thread where burn in was noted through am 1150 hour period with performance ranging from the sublime to terrible essentially changing radically every 48 hours

[kevin gilmore]

The Xa5400es works really well with the diy T2, so that is what i'll be
bringing to CJ. Otherwise i would bring the krell, but the sony is a bit more
sturdy and a lot cheaper to replace if it gets trashed.

[n_maher]

The Xa5400es works really well with the diy T2, so that is what i'll be
bringing to CJ. Otherwise i would bring the krell, but the sony is a bit more
sturdy and a lot cheaper to replace if it gets trashed.

I fear the Sony is not expensive enough to use with the T2.

[postjack]

I fear the Sony is not expensive enough to use with the T2.

KG could get RAM to mod it, then it would be expensive enough.

[aardvark baguette]

50/50 chance I may try out the H.A.T.S. part of the player soon, as I ordered the ES STR-DA6400ES yesterday. I've never had home theater before though, so I probably won't appreciate it enough. I guess I'll end up owning 2 5400ES's to do this, so I dont have to move the current player.

[Dusty Chalk]

I guess I'll end up owning 2 5400ES's to do this, so I dont have to move the current player.

You are awesome.