Sony's high-end SCD-XA5400ES SACD player eyes-on at CEDIA

A $1,500 SACD player? In 2008? Long after the never-very-popular format peaked? Thanks, Sony -- we can only imagine how lopsided the gallery visit-to-purchase ratio will be on this one.

[appull @ Sep 5th 2008 12:06AM]

God, that's hideous.

First comment?
I doubt it.

[JerkfacedFed @ Sep 5th 2008 12:10AM]

useless

[Jeremiah Barrar @ Sep 5th 2008 1:44AM]

I agree, you could just buy a new computer with 4TB of space for that price, and put all the music you could ever want on it, 2 years straight the audio is a whopping ~1500 kbps

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Sep 5th 2008 2:15AM]

But that is not the point to SACD. SACD is about QUALITY. MP3's and other media files do not have the level of fidelity an SACD can provide.

Take it from me. I own an SACD player and have repurcahsed many of my albums on SACD. Playing both the CD then the SACD on my high end audio system, you can really hear a difference between the two formats. SACD just brings the music alive, it's almost live concert like.

SACD is to CD what DVD or BLU-RAY is to VHS. The difference is big, you just need the proper HD equipment that can handle the signal.

(E.G. Blu-Ray on a 1980's RCA Console TV, just ain't gonna cut it)

[g3n3tix @ Sep 5th 2008 4:33AM]

The "No Disk" on the display is self explanatory.

[pizzicato @ Sep 5th 2008 4:45AM]

Maybe it's useless if you don't have and don't plan to have a large collection of SACDs. For those who spent (probably more than) 10 000 $ on a thousand SACDs this might be a worthy upgrade. SACD has been around since 1999 and is very popular for classical music. Since other HD-formats rival this standard (DVD-A, BR-A) SACDs are becoming cheaper e.g. via ebay, so spending a reasonable amound of money on a still high end equipment might be worth it. You will save it when you buy the content.

[Ashram @ Sep 5th 2008 1:58PM]

Actually, not so if you are going to play SACDs and CDs on it.

You really should see the level of build and parts quality that goes into a high end unit and, more importantly, HEAR the difference. This is particularly important if you do not have gear that lacks HDMI support, which may be the case if you are using a stereo preamp with valve power amplifiers.

It is definitely over-engineered, to be sure. But, I'd take that over a low end CD player any day.

There is a specific market that this piece of equipment is catered to. Just because it doesn't appeal to you, it does not mean that there are no buyers for it.

Don't assume your preferences universally apply to everyone.

[phanbouy @ Sep 5th 2008 12:12AM]

this post rocks my WORLD!

[Blackstar @ Sep 5th 2008 1:45AM]

You must have a tiny little world or very small rocks.

[who? @ Sep 5th 2008 12:12AM]

This is the 9th post directly relating to TVs/entertainment systems one this page.

I miss the Engadget that talked about technological breakthroughs...

[Ayman @ Sep 5th 2008 12:34AM]

try gdgt

[who? @ Sep 5th 2008 12:42AM]

I'm already signed up (with this username), but I thought the site wasn't running yet. http://gdgt.com

[mcdj @ Sep 5th 2008 12:25AM]

wow it's 1996 all over again

[Joe @ Sep 5th 2008 12:34AM]

Holy crap, why is it so big?! Is there a gnome in there spinning the disc?

[CrackedButter @ Sep 5th 2008 3:49AM]

You know you've been online too long when you think Gnome first and then something that sits in the garden pretending to fish in your pond second!

[Travis Bell @ Sep 5th 2008 1:18AM]

What the fu** Sony? A SACD player for $1500 in 2008? Jesus. Not only is the format more or less completely irrelevant, it's _because_ of these ridiculous prices it ended up that way. Why not try and make a sexy, slim, and CHEAP player to attract some of us to buy one? FRACK!

[Galley @ Sep 5th 2008 9:08AM]

This one can output a pure DSD signal. Can any other play do that, or do they convert it to PCM?

[Steven H. Taylor @ Sep 6th 2008 2:44PM]

Sony already did. The device is called PlayStation3. It plays SACD and compared to this player it's cheap and slim, and sexiness is only in the eye of the beholder. I for one like it a lot. The main things $1500 gets you that $499 doesn't is DSD output via HDMI and balanced analog audio outputs. That's quite a price premium.

[Josh @ Sep 5th 2008 1:19AM]

Everyone relax. This one has HDNA.


/sarcasm

[Jeremiah @ Sep 5th 2008 1:52AM]

For $1,500 you could just buy a new computer with 4TB of space, and put all the music and videos you could ever want on it. It would be about the same size.

[Paulmichael @ Sep 5th 2008 2:08AM]

What's that you say? We didn't hear (read) you the first time you said that, Jeremiah/Jeremiah Barrar!

[dave @ Sep 5th 2008 2:52AM]

"no disc"

how ironic :-p

[champ @ Sep 5th 2008 4:15AM]

Some of us readers appreciate better quality sound nowadays. Despite what many people say such as oh I can't tell the difference between a $100 CD player and a $1000 CD player there is phenomenal difference! Sure, Sony isn't such a reputable brand for high-end audio electronics and someone would be rather stupid to buy a SACD player from Sony, but rest assured it does make a difference to the trained audiophile ear.

TEAC Esoteric X 01-D2 SACD player goes for $16,000 usd. Some people just haven't trained their ears and therefore cannot appreciate good sounding quality music as apposed to HORRIBLE mp3's

[John E Woven @ Sep 5th 2008 4:27AM]

I really like what I see. A $1500 sacd player, with sp/dif, balanced out, and HDMI.

A big sacd fan. There's just no comparison.

[claude @ Sep 5th 2008 7:53AM]

now with more betamax

[sandusky @ Sep 5th 2008 8:26AM]

@ champ

actually SONY does make some excellent hi-end 2 channel audio gear, but most of it never leaves Japan for the overseas markets, such as the TA-DR1a digital integrated amplifier...of course, their older SACD players (e.g. SCD-777ES, SCD-1, etc.) are legendary amongst audiophile circles for their performance, robust build quality, & ability to be 'modified' and are still highly sought after today in the used market.

[Rogbog4299 @ Sep 5th 2008 10:02AM]

A SACD player for $1500. I agree with most comments, that a lot of money. But Sony is worth every dime. Go ahead purchase it and check it out. You will thank me.

[jensph @ Sep 5th 2008 11:09AM]

Why not just get a PS3? You get all this and a whole lot more.

[Shane @ Sep 5th 2008 12:13PM]

I'm waiting for non-audio people to ask what the big ugly round connectors on the back are for...

[K B Lewis @ Sep 5th 2008 6:26PM]

The placard in front of the unit says it's a 5-disc carousel player. I thought it was a single-disc player.
The disc tray doesn't appear to be the same width as the trays on previous carousel players. Is this
a misprint on the card, or does the new machine have some new type of carousel loading mechanism?

[beavis @ Sep 5th 2008 7:15PM]

why did they not make a two channel amp to match with it

[Bujoun Hinton @ Sep 6th 2008 2:37PM]

O M F G!
If people are bitching and moaning about 3 & 4 hundred Blu-ray players why on earth would they want to pick-up this, wallet rappist, beast? Sony. Please stick with the new stuff and stay away from resurrecting obsolete technologies will ya!...