Hi-Rez Highway

New high resolution SACD releases, players and technology.

Return to Hi-Rez Highway

Sony 5400 Report.. Simaudio Andromeda Eclipse compared.

98.111.69.234
Posted on October 17, 2009 at 16:27:49
billeames
Audiophile

Posts: 154
Location: Seattle Area
Joined: October 31, 2002
 Hello,

I listened to the 5400 last night along with Sim Andromeda, and Eclipse. Music was solely classical. In summary, 5400 although good, does not compete with the above Simaudio products. Dave, a former music major and part time composer, was with me. In all below samples, Andromeda was the best, Eclipse second, and 5400 third. This is no surprise, as it is in order of price, high to low. Eclipse lacked lushness of 5400 but had a great measure of frequency response, top to bottom. The good thing about the 5400, it seems to have an intimacy (good midrange lushness that the Eclipse lacks, but Eclipse and esp. Andromeda has the full blooded sound 5400 lacks). 5400 had lushness, but some of it may be smearing of sound; I am not sure.


I will describe qualitative characteristics to the best of my ability.
Beethoven Missa Solemnis, Bernstein DG: Andromeda was the best; full power of music. It does the complete frequency spectrum as far as we can tell.

Beethoven 9 Fricsay DG Originals: Andromeda had the harmonics, body, quality of sound. Eclipse as above (frequency high to low but lesser extent than Andromeda, lacked lushness of 5400..I could say this for all the samples.

Brahms 1 Ozawa BSO NLA (no longer available Japanese DG): Andromeda solid, Eclipse had harmonics, 5400 close knit sound.

Mahler 8 Gergiev (LSO) CD layer: Andromeda had individual instruments, Eclipse little less individual instruments than Andromeda, 5400 instruments do not stand out as well as other CD players here.

Beethoven: Spring Sonata, Kempff, Menuhin DG 2CD: Andromeda piano sounds like Steinway?....Eclipse like a Yamaha..5400 like an upright.. Violin good on all CD players.

Mendelssohn Elijah, de Burgos EMI: Andromeda: Coherent voices, dynamic, very articulate. Eclipse more nebulous than Andromeda, 5400lacks power and clarity. May seem harsh here, but that’s how Dave saw it, me too but I am less articulate than Dave.

Berlioz Requiem Munch BSO RCA hybrid SACD; played CD layer, but also SACD layer with the 5400. Andromeda: Best compared to all players for both SACD or CD. It had power, fullness of sound, timbre; like being in the hall. Eclipse: less defined than Andromeda but still had power. 5400 CD layer: less articulate than any. 5400 SACD layer: Close to Andromeda in clarity and power, but not as powerful as Andromeda. The 5400 on SACD a stellar value, as it is 11% of Andromeda price.

This is my impression of 5400. Its on trial. Will I keep it? Maybe, it has good intimacy (midrange lushness. You see it’s like a Siren; it lets me forget about reality, I do like the non-reality it gives me sometimes. 5400 may not be best choice for bombastic orchestral works, buts it's good for all music I think. Worth the money and more: yes. A screaming deal?: probably not, unless you listen to SACD, then yes.

Thanks for reading. Owners of 5400, Marantz 11s1, 11s2, and 7s1 please chime in, as well as Simaudio owners. Simaudio is not mentioned a lot on AA (digital), I'd like to har more, but it would be on the Digital forum. Lots of comments welcome. I do not post a lot on AA.

I listed this in SACD thread as 5400 can play SACD, but I did most comparisons on CD, oh well.

Thanks for reading.

Bill
RE: Sony 5400 Report.. Simaudio Andromeda Eclipse compared., posted on November 4, 2009 at 11:38:20
Disbeliever
 Best performance from the XA5400ES is with HDMI connection to the DA6400ES receiver with HATS enabled for lowest jitter. Better performance if you have a very good amplifier for front speakers. amplifier should be connected the pre-outs of the receiver which should be used for centre channel & rear speakers.Excellentg performance for both RB CD & SACD competes with any high end separates.

In your VERY limited experience., posted on November 4, 2009 at 15:06:30
Allen Wright
Manufacturer

Posts: 4729
Location: Schaffhausen
Joined: January 31, 2002
 You have never heard any of my Upgraded units so you have NO comparison, yet you yap on like you know it all.

Have I done something to upset you directly? Ripped you off with a bad product, killed your cat, stolen your parking spot?

Your opinion is WORTHLESS until you have some experience about twhat you are complaining about.

Regards, Allen (vacuum State)

Disposition, posted on October 30, 2009 at 21:28:32
billeames
Audiophile

Posts: 154
Location: Seattle Area
Joined: October 31, 2002
 I like this player. I am returning it to Crutchfield due its not sonically anywhere near the Simaudio Eclipse and Andromeda in palpability, dynamics, life, etc. The 5400 lushness is compelling, but not enough to make my keep it. Its a personal preference. Of course the 5400 has nice tone, just lacking the lows, and did not have the liveliness I seem to want. I am open to a 11s2 but I have to get nerve to put out the $3600. some people say its better than Marantz..thats hard to believe from my standpoint. I have poor audio memory, but 11s1 sounded great a few years ago I borrowed it, but lacked the bass, and was not as 'raucous' as Sim Eclipse. I almost bought 11s1.

Its really nice that this postmodern era, we have CD players that are not irratating to listen to, that is why I rejected so many prospective units 7 years ago when I was in search of a replacement for Linn Karik Numerik.

I'm grooving now to Vivaldi Dixit Dominus RV594. Negri, ECO, Philips 420-6492. While the Sony awaits its trip to Virginia.

I am posting it as I am giving you the whole story. I wonder if this post is value added. thanks.

Bill

The Sony 5400 takes more than 2 weeks to break in !, posted on October 24, 2009 at 22:09:04
AudioTrip
Audiophile

Posts: 23
Joined: October 24, 2009
 Try the comparison again after a month and the Sony will be even better!

I own one and it takes at least a month to get up to maximum performance!

RE: The Sony 5400 takes more than 2 weeks to break in !, posted on October 24, 2009 at 22:36:37
jazz1
Audiophile

Posts: 959
Joined: October 30, 2000
 Be patient I have mine for nearly 4 months and I can confirm that it did improve all the time, it is sounding excellent now.

RE: Sony 5400 Report.. Simaudio Andromeda Eclipse compared., posted on October 19, 2009 at 13:05:02
dale88
Audiophile

Posts: 29
Location: Western Idaho
Joined: March 17, 2006
 Thanks for the report. I did have a few questions about the set-up.

Do you happen to know how long the Sony 5400 had been in use? I ask because my 5400 needed a long break-in time.

Did they use the same brand of interconnects on all three players?

Did they use the same brand of Power cords on all three players?

Which rear connectors were used -- The RCA's, the Balanced, or the Digital Out?

There is even one thing that I should have checked right out of the box, but I sheepishly admit it was a couple of weeks before I thought to check. That is, the factory setting on my Sony 5400 was set to ON for the Digital OUT. Since I am using RCA's, turning the Digital Out to OFF changed the sound. Perhaps it was a matter of loudness level, but it was a change.

On for 2 weeks, stock power cords all, Transparent RCA interconnects, posted on October 20, 2009 at 09:03:01
billeames
Audiophile

Posts: 154
Location: Seattle Area
Joined: October 31, 2002
 Hello,

I had it on for 2 weeks, other players (Eclipse and Andromeda on standby until use). I was using single ended Transparent super cables (1994) for Andromeda and Eclipse. However, the Link (2009) for Sony.


Transparent says that the 2009 cables are equivalent to 1 level upgrade from the old transparent cables. Transparent price levels are link (basic), plus, super, ultra, Reference, etc. I realize the Sony is at a slight disadvantage, as it is equivelent to the "Plus" level of cable of 1994. I was using 1 level lower (in-effect) for Sony than for the other players. Powercord for Sony, I realize is not good. Eclipse and Andromeda power cables seem nicer, but still are stock. All Transparent cables have networking boxes, Supers of 1994 metal, and link of 2009, plastic.

Transparent supers all around for other components including speaker cables (1994).

Thanks,

Bill

RE: Sony 5400 Report.. Simaudio Andromeda Eclipse compared., posted on October 20, 2009 at 07:20:43
oldmkvi
Industry Professional

Posts: 1591
Joined: April 12, 2002
 NO difference with Digital Out on, same with XA7ES.

"factory setting on my Sony 5400 was set to ON for the Digital OUT", posted on October 19, 2009 at 22:28:40
Metralla
Audiophile

Posts: 6413
Location: San Jose, California
Joined: January 30, 2001
 Yes, mine was turned on by default but I turned it off before firing it up. I haven't tested with it on to see if there is a difference I can detect.

I have the display turned off - it does this nicely, showing the display when the disc is loaded, but when you press play, it goes off - I thought this was quite neat.

Regards,
Geoff
RE: Sony 5400 Report.. Simaudio Andromeda Eclipse compared., posted on October 19, 2009 at 13:59:36
newsman
 Hmm,
I always wondered how disabling digital out could change the sound on analog board. It seems that it should take really shabby design that the sound would improve dramatically when it digital turned off. I understand the concept on theoretical level, but it's interesting that it makes an audible difference.
Similar how turning off LED supposedly improves SQ. I have a Rotel CD player that has this feature, but I was never able to heard the difference with display ON and OFF.

RE: Sony 5400 Report.. Simaudio Andromeda Eclipse compared., posted on October 17, 2009 at 23:08:21
jazz1
Audiophile

Posts: 959
Joined: October 30, 2000
 I did not do many side by side comparaison of the Sony 5400 except with the Pathos Endorphin but I heard many high end cd players in the shop where I work part time and although I can hear some differences
in many cases these are minutes, I can confirm that the 5400 has a lush midrange which suits female vocals beautifully, I also found that piano
and strings can sound spectacular. If money was no object I would most probably go for the top of the range Chord combo which is to my ears the best cd sound I've heard, but then again it is within a different system, still it sounds extremely natural.
"The 5400 on SACD a stellar value, as it is 11% of Andromeda price", posted on October 17, 2009 at 17:02:58
Metralla
Audiophile

Posts: 6413
Location: San Jose, California
Joined: January 30, 2001
 Thank you for your detailed report. Since I have about 1000 SACDs, the 5400 is good for me.

Regards,
Geoff
RE: "The 5400 on SACD a stellar value, as it is 11% of Andromeda price", posted on October 17, 2009 at 21:43:57
newsman
 I second the thanks for the review. I was considering the McIntosh 301 against Sony. Unfortunately, barely anyone has McIntosh, noone has Sony - so auditioning is difficult. I listened to SACD layer on Mac Universal DVD player through Mac Integrated and B&W 802 and honestly it did not sound anything special. I actually liked Rotel 1075 though Rotel amp and lesser B&W towers better just listening to the CD layer of the same disk! For me McIntosh sounded too boomy in the mid range, very intimate presentation, but boomy.
So I guess I'll just order Sony 5400ES, since it's 1/3rd the price of McIntosh 301. Maybe I man up and ask a dealer for an home audition of Mac and return whatever I liked less. I plan on listening though Sen 600 headphones for the foreseeable future - I wonder if I need separate headphone amp with this caliber of players (they both have headphone jack with amp)

Do you guys think it's worth buying Sony player at its full retail price? I kind of feel weird about paying full MSRP. It used to be that local shops and reputable online dealers would give at least some discount. But my hi-end dealers selling Sony ES shrinked down to a 0. And OneCall.com for example, didn't even bother to carry this Sony player.

RE: "The 5400 on SACD a stellar value, as it is 11% of Andromeda price", posted on October 20, 2009 at 14:01:51
Vade Forrester
 Agree that the SCD-XA5400ES player is quite a good value. When I went to my local Sony store and asked to see one, the sales genius said: "What's an SACD?" Sad. Not really surprising, but sad.

RE: "The 5400 on SACD a stellar value, as it is 11% of Andromeda price", posted on October 21, 2009 at 00:00:41
newsman
 Funny, I had exact same exchange with a Sony salesguy at Dallas store.

RE: "The 5400 on SACD a stellar value, as it is 11% of Andromeda price", posted on October 18, 2009 at 19:46:03
s.a.b.
Audiophile

Posts: 160
Location: so.california
Joined: January 6, 2003
 I've borrowed my friend's 5400es.

With respect to its headphone out, using my Beyerdynamic dt880s, I found it to be quite good- similar to using the head amp contained in my Benchmark DAC1, though perhaps without the bass control of the Benchmark.

Page processed in 0.072 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2009, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ] [ Go Green ] [ Take5 ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]