Sony XA-5400ES

[deepak]

I'm not sure why deepak's post confused you. It seemed completely devoid of content.

Yes it was. As I understood Dusty's comment- it only did DSD through the HDMI output. Which isn't the case

And yes I don't know why I got the idea they were converting to PCM for the analog outs.

[EdipisReks]

In 2009 no digital input = FAIL.

yup

[Fungi]

In 2009 no digital input = FAIL. I will not be auditioning any one box units that do not have at least one digital input. If I'm paying for a great DAC I want to be able to use it for other transports (and yes I am talking about the PCM DACs).

Could one possibly mod it to include such?

[kevin gilmore]

You might want to wait till the sucessor of the 9es proc/preamp comes out. It will be
balanced out, and use those new dac chips. Of course it will come with lots
of other stuff you don't probably want, but that is going to be the future like it
or not.

There is the new sacd portable coming out in the next few months. I doubt it is
going to have a digital input. There would be no reason to do so.

scd1 << krell sacd standard < 5400 !

[penger]

Could one possibly mod it to include such?

Ask Dan Wright?

[morphsci]

Could one possibly mod it to include such?

I do not know about this specific model but if I recall correctly, APL used to have a digital input option on the 3910 mod. However, I think they pretty much ripped a good chunk of the original electronics out and replaced them anyway. Anyway, I'm sure it is possible.

[postjack]

I do not know about this specific model but if I recall correctly, APL used to have a digital input option on the 3910 mod. However, I think they pretty much ripped a good chunk of the original electronics out and replaced them anyway. Anyway, I'm sure it is possible.

Yeah, I think they were able to do the digital input because they were using all new DACs in their units. I once asked Matt Anker at sacdmods.com about the possibility of doing a digital input on the 3910, and he said it would just be way way to difficult for him to consider. So its probably pretty tough if not impossible to get an input into a unit's native DAC.

For a while now I've wanted an SACD player with a digital input in the $1000-1500 price range.

[kevin gilmore]

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.

So many of the single box very expensive sacd players have el-crapo mech's that
it makes sense to buy something cheap that sounds great, and when it breaks you
throw it out and get a new piece of mechanics. The D/A lives on.

The new oppo blu-ray play everything machine for $500 is one really good example.

The only reason you would want an input to a player would be to hook up some kind
of computer based device. For $.25 or less burn a RW and use that instead.

[Dusty Chalk]

You can't burn YouTube to a RW.

[aardvark baguette]

The only reason you would want an input to a player would be to hook up some kind
of computer based device. For $.25 or less burn a RW and use that instead.

Thats probably what I will do, its just that I think alot of the twenty-somethings here at HC are used to computer-based playback, and disc-only based playback is such a fundamentally abstract concept in some ways.

I wouldn't call it a deal breaker, especially at the price, and when you consider the prices Emm Labs charges for their special DACs & algorithms and whatnot. I'd still call it a no-brainer, I think.

I'm trying to think of a reason not to get two of these, to use one in the office.

[kevin gilmore]

I expect that you will see the sony parts show up in the emm labs stuff sooner or
later at silly pricing.

I'll continue to use the krell for 5.1 audio output till an appropriate proc/preamp comes
along. Then i'll get another sony.

I figure for upstairs the perfect personal system is a 5400es and a bhse.

[spritzer]

Just for your info I got the newest HFN this morning and there is a review of the Sony. I just glanced through it but they quite liked it and the measured performance is very good indeed.

[purk]

I might have to check out the 5400ES based on your praise KG. I will likely buy it used on Audiogon for some discount. The last one went for around $800.

[Dreadhead]

Thats probably what I will do, its just that I think alot of the twenty-somethings here at HC are used to computer-based playback, and disc-only based playback is such a fundamentally abstract concept in some ways.

I wouldn't call it a deal breaker, especially at the price, and when you consider the prices Emm Labs charges for their special DACs & algorithms and whatnot. I'd still call it a no-brainer, I think.

I'm trying to think of a reason not to get two of these, to use one in the office.

It's not fundementally abstract for me but I certainly prefer to be able to switch albums at the drop of a hat. I await the sony processor with digital in. This could prove to an amazing setup for a relatively low price?

[purk]

It's not fundementally abstract for me but I certainly prefer to be able to switch albums at the drop of a hat. I await the sony processor with digital in. This could prove to an amazing setup for a relatively low price?

Sony with digital in? It took year for them to adopt the MP3 format. I don't think they will have such player any time soon.

[Dreadhead]

Sony with digital in? It took year for them to adopt the MP3 format. I don't think they will have such player any time soon.

Processor/Pre-amp....

[Hopstretch]

I think alot of the twenty-somethings here at HC are used to computer-based playback, and disc-only based playback is such a fundamentally abstract concept in some ways.

Dude, I'm nearly a forty-something and I'm never going back to physical media for music storage. OK, maybe vinyl someday, but that's a different story.

[grawk]

My goal is to eventually digitize all my vinyl too. My music listening opened up hugely once I got itunes. I listen to more of my music more often now than at any point in my life. Random is awesome. I can still listen to cds and lps when I feel the urge, but being able to just hit party shuffle and go is a godsend.

And I'm going to be 39 in 2 weeks.

(Sorry about editting the wrong post before)

[aardvark baguette]

Thats what I meant by abstract; that digital is so convenient/quick, why would one go back to one disc at a time.

[Hopstretch]

And I'm gonna be 39 in 2 weeks.

You or me, G-rock?