New Sony XA-5400ES Truth Mod!

[Modwright]

We are finalizing a new 'Truth' mod for the new Sony XA-5400ES, SACD/CD player featuring RCA and XLR balanced outputs. Our mod will include a fully balanced output and SE (RCA) output from a 6SN7 based tube analog stage with external tube-rectified power supply.

The power supply will be optimized for the 5AR4/GZ34 rectifier as well as the 5U4 series of tubes, including the incredible EML Meshplate 5U4G from Emission Labs.

The tube design will be output via high-quality Lundahl line-level transformers to create a truly differential/balanced output with floated grounds. I feel that this provides the best sound and isolation of both out of bandwidth digital noise artifacts and ground loop issues.

The tube circuit used in this mod is more advanced than that used in the 999ES, the 9100ES and most recently the Transporter modification. With each successive mod that we have developed, the tube circuit design has been improved and refined. The technology in this circuit design borrows from our LS 36.5 balanced linestage as well as technology found in the new KWA amplifier.

We are finalizing the mods right now and they will be available very soon.

The mod will include:

Replacement of stock 2CH analog stage with our own proprietary tube analog stage with external tube-rectified power supply.

Upgrade of existing digital power supplies.

Upgrade of Master clock.

This will be the best sounding CD/SACD modified that ModWright has produced to date.

Price: $1995 (modification only); $3395 including player.

Thanks and please check back for more details and updates.

Sincerely,

Dan Wright
President, ModWright Instruments Inc.
Elegance.Simplicity.Truth

[David]

Hello Dan,

A great mod would be to create a way to tap into the DACs of the player so it could be used with a music server. It this possible? SPDIF and I2S would be nice. It would be a killer, especially considering stand-alone players will surely decline in popularity.

[cmalak]

Dan...I understand that the Truth tube mod for the Sony XA-5400ES is also going to be available for the Oppo BDP-83 and Oppo BDP-83SE versions. Is this correct? If so, what is the pricing and when are you going to be ready to roll this out? Also how would you compare the sonic differences between the tube Truth mod for the Oppo BDP-83SE vs. your SS mods? Thx very much.

[TommyC]

Originally Posted by David

Hello Dan,

A great mod would be to create a way to tap into the DACs of the player so it could be used with a music server. It this possible? SPDIF and I2S would be nice. It would be a killer, especially considering stand-alone players will surely decline in popularity.

The ModWright Transporter can do this for SPDIF and optical.

[Modwright]

Sony XA5400ES mods complete and shipping for $2K - mod only.

RCA only tube mod now available for Oppo BDP-83 and 83SE for $1500, including external suppyl, umbiilcal and our tube stage for 2CH playback.

We also offer this same mod with added XLR's and true balanced operation, like Sonym, for $2K.

I have compared them both and they are very close in sound. The Sony may have a bit bigger soundstage, but it is also more money.

Please call if you are interested in more details!

Thanks,

Dan W.

[klipschfan]

Sony XA-5400ES with Ultimate Truth Mod review from positive-feedback.com

modwright

[JJinID]

Originally Posted by klipschfan

Sony XA-5400ES with Ultimate Truth Mod review from positive-feedback.com

modwright

WOW that is quite the positive review! I will have to listen to this player sometime...

Thanks for posting this klipschfan, and congratulations to Dan for the continued success

[cmalak]

Ofcourse, Dan and the team have a very similar tube modification for the Oppo BDP83 and Oppo BDP83-SE players as well. No reviews on the tube mods on that player yet but it is very similar to the Sony XA-5400ES mods. It would be interesting if there was a comparison test of these two machines in their baseline configs and with the Modwright Truth tube mods.