The "pre-review" of the Sony XA5400se was good, but has also added a bit to the confusion that exists in the web.
1. There is much discussion about using this as a transport via its HDMI. Hard to think who wants to pay 1500$ for a transport, but if this is the case, then please be precise and methodic on what kind of digital data can be exported via HDMI (with what DRM) and what via the other digital outputs (does CD output mean 16 bit?).
2. The player sells after all as a Stereo CD/SACD player, so the right comparison is with both good red book players (Rega, Creek, Naim, Ayre 7 etc) and with comparable SACD/universal players (Marantz and, why not, Ayre 5). Unless you really believe that Oppo and Pioneer are good enough as stand alone stereo players to challange the above mentioned.
I am looking forward to KR follow up (when?).
The "pre-review" of the Sony XA5400se was good, but has also added a bit to the confusion that exists in the web.
1. There is much discussion about using this as a transport via its HDMI. Hard to think who wants to pay 1500$ for a transport, but if this is the case, then please be precise and methodic on what kind of digital data can be exported via HDMI (with what DRM) and what via the other digital outputs (does CD output mean 16 bit?).
2. The player sells after all as a Stereo CD/SACD player, so the right comparison is with both good red book players (Rega, Creek, Naim, Ayre 7 etc) and with comparable SACD/universal players (Marantz and, why not, Ayre 5). Unless you really believe that Oppo and Pioneer are good enough as stand alone stereo players to challange the above mentioned.
I am looking forward to KR follow up (when?).