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Unfortunately my Sony XA5400ES player has been stolen. Which is the best mch SACD player currently available. There are many stereo only ones but hardly any mch and I do not like Oppos via HDMI.
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As a previous owner of a $9k Esoteric UCDP and also a former owner of the APL 3910, the most musical differences I've ever heard between SACD and Redbook formatted music has been with my $1300 OPPO BDP-105D.
Which, by the way, once I took advantage of several OPPO features, is easily in another league over both the Esoteric and especially the APL.
Whoever told you the OPPO requires HDMI?
I use the OPPO in my 2-channel 2-component system 99% for music and 1% for video concerts and I've yet to use HDMI, except to carry the video signal to the overhead projector.
I only use HDMI connection for playing CD & SACD , I much prefer the Sony XA5400 over any Oppo ( Oppo support say all Oppos same via HDMI} I have no interest in analogue cable connection. I also find BD both sound & vision superior on Sony players.
Edits: 05/10/15
I concur- the Sony ES spinners are better.
In my 4/3/15 post I neglected to note that stereo DSD from the Sony XA9400ES seemed substantial better via balanced than single-ended output through the Parasound JC-2 BP. The balanced and single-ended outputs from the Sony differ in impedance, and that may be important for the JC-2.
I'm now using the Sony via HDMI to a Cary Cinema 12, and I'm very pleased with the sound. The sound is better with the C12 than with the C11a. So I've settled on the Ayer C-5xeMP for stereo, Sony XA5400ES for mch, and Oppo 105 for Blu-rey music. Of course, if I could have only one player I'd be the Oppo 105, the swiss-army disc player that does everything well.
db
I have 2 Sony's and love the separation on them. BD-380 and BD-480. I bought the 380 new and the 480 used. They play SACD-R's as well. They are out of print so you would have to find them used on ebay or elsewhere.
New they were 99 bucks and they also do blu-ray thru HDMI not analog tho. They do bitstream so the receiver shows pure dsd. My receiver is an Onkyo tx-nr636.
Mark S Robinson
Thanks! Mark.
Catch one quick for all ya know!
Des
I sold to a friend one of my SCD-XA9000ES and a Oppo105.
This XA9000ES has had its iLink power supply cable removed internally.
He much prefers the sound of the sony for SACDs/RBCDs and only uses the oppo for BD duties.
I still retained my the other unit of XA9000ES which I use for both stereo/m-ch occasionally when I'm not using the Meitner combo.
The XA9000ES with its iLink power cable removed internally, and earthed internally (back panel to the ground pin of iec plug) will sound way way better than the XA5400ES.
And both these XA9000ES are still going strong, even today!
Thanks! for sharing- jeromelang-
I have always wanted the XA-9000ES spinner.
Are parts still avail for this player?
I would advise avoid the Sony 9000ES its a very complex player, I had one sold it on and the guy I sold it to ,found that it failed after one year and that it was either far too expensive to repair or that spare parts were not available. Buy a better sounding 5400ES whilst still available and the matching AVR STR- DA6400ES the combo gives jitter free mch SACD sound with HATS via HDMI . I now remember that when the 9000ES appeared it got an absolute rave review in Hi-Fi News & RR but it was too expensive at £3K, a year later I bought brand new one £1.5K sold it £IK.
Edits: 04/05/15 04/05/15 04/05/15 04/05/15 04/05/15 04/06/15
Thanks! for sharing.
So it appears there is no best mch SACD player available today ? apart from the Oppos which are not so good via HDMI, I have no interest whatsoever in Stereo only SACD player.
Or Marantz 7005, or SACD player, some must be multi-ch.
You only require the more expensive 105D if using analogue out, What Hi-Fi ? review of the Oppo 5 stars but says , compared to dedicated players 105D could do with more agility and crisper rhythmic drive, bass could be tauter too. I find Marantz suffers the same lack of realism,
Edits: 04/04/15 04/04/15 04/04/15
Disbeliever, I don't understand how you could conclude that from the series of posts in this thread. Both the Oppo 105 and Sony XA 5400ES are excellent for mch via HDMI.
db
Not being interested in the Oppo 105 analogue ,I tried the 103 and preferred the Sony. Fortunately I shall soon be getting a little used 5400ES
/
I have posted many times that Oppo Support have confirmed that if using HDMI there is no difference in SQ with any of their models.
And they left the rest of your system?
Unfortunate is right, most prefer the Oppo?
I am probably one of the only few who has compared Sony 5400ES with Oppo via HDMI and I much prefer the Sony .
HDMI is not the best interface for audio. If it is usable via analog inputs and you have access to an Oppo give it a try. I have an Integra DVD universal laying around barely used that sounded excellent via HDMI but I only listened in stereo via an HDMI audio de-embedder (and it passed 176.4kHz from an SACD to a non-DSD DAC). Perhaps just get another Sony used?
I believe mch is available from the Sony XA5400ES only via HDMI.
I have an Ayre C-5xeMP, Oppo BDP-105, and Sony XA5400ES. I prefer the analog from the Ayre for stereo, especially playing CDs, but the analog output of the Sony playing DSD is close, not so close playing CDs. I'm not sure I can hear much if any difference between the sound of the Oppo and Sony playing mch via HDMI,* both are quite good. IIRC, in his Stereophile comparison of the two players, Kal Rubinson noted he didn't hear a difference via HDMI and they both sound very good. IIRC again, he wrote that he preferred analog from the Oppo.
* HDMI from the Oppo and Sony goes to a Cary Cinema 11a, stereo is passed through a Parasound JC-2 BP that is shared with the Ayre and a JC-3 phono stage.
db
Thanks! for sharing- db.
Disagree I find HDMI is best for mch SACD, BD & CD especially on Sony players, However I do agree audio is not so good on Oppo via HDMI, according to Oppo Support all their players irrespective of price are exactly the same via HDMI, furthermore latest high speed, high resolution IBRA HDMI cable is very low cost , extremely well constructed I metre only £5.49 + shipping. Avoid all high priced HDMI cables.
Edits: 04/03/15 04/03/15 04/03/15 04/03/15 04/03/15 04/03/15
which Integra model #?
I have a DPS 6.9. I believe it is HDMI version 1.2. Before I went to file playback my hi-rez was an HDMI audio de-embedder (used with a modded Oppo BDP-83) into a Bryston BDA-1. I sold the BDA-1 and got a Meitner DAC and used the Meitner with the de-embedder for a couple of weeks or so while I got a bunch of music digitized and awaited my music server.
While I do listen to multi-channel, 2 channel is my preference. The Integra sounded excellent via the de-embedder (and didn't even need a handshake. I also have a Marantz DV9600 but of course it is HDMI 1.1 and therefore can't pass DSD via HDMI.
Very nice! HighEnd. You have owned some excellent spinners.
That reasoning is precisely why we all are here- to interchange/express our impressions and ideas on all of this gear!
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