Review and Measurements of Sony UDA-1 DAC & Amp

[formdissolve]

Never thought I would see the specs for a CD player from Sony without a single measurement!

Yeah I wonder why the PR team thought to do that.. There are some measurements here: https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/audio-player/sacd-players/sony-scd-xa5400es-player/

 

[amirm]

Yeah I wonder why the PR team thought to do that.. There are some measurements here: https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/audio-player/sacd-players/sony-scd-xa5400es-player/

Thanks. Based on that measurement:

SINAD will be just 81 dB! It would put in the pile of worst measured DACs in our slate.

 

[Jimster480]

Never thought I would see the specs for a CD player from Sony without a single measurement!

If only their audio division got its mojo back like the TV division has.
Sony TV's really own the game today.

 

[anmpr1]

Never thought I would see the specs for a CD player from Sony without a single measurement!

Specs are there on the next tab. It has 2 power transformers and consumes 15 watts. Also comes with 2 AA batteries for the remote.

 

[JJB70]

Sony no longer bring much audio gear into the UK other than wireless speakers, soundbars and headphones. They do a bit but we miss almost all of the ES gear and audio components. I think it sums up the way the market here has gone.

 

[50°F=Hellfire]

I don't know why, but it always saddens me to see Sony products not performing well.

 

[Scytales]

Thanks. Based on that measurement:

SINAD will be just 81 dB! It would put in the pile of worst measured DACs in our slate.

The Sony SCD-XA5400Es have also been measured in 2009 by means of a Miller Audio Research QC Suite (somewhat akin to an Audio Precision) with better (and interesting) figures :

http://www.milleraudioresearch.com/download2009/reports/yb09/sony_scdxa5400es.html

 

[formdissolve]

The Sony SCD-XA5400Es have also been measured in 2009 by means of a Miller Audio Research QC Suite (somewhat akin to an Audio Precision) with better (and interesting) figures :

http://www.milleraudioresearch.com/download2009/reports/yb09/sony_scdxa5400es.html

That link requires a login. Do you have pics or anything you can share?

 

[Scytales]

Yeah, I forgot ! Free registering is possible on this page to get a password : http://www.milleraudioresearch.com/avtech/index.html


It's worth it, as this website contains literally tens of thousands of data about hundreds of stuff (DACs, disc-players, amplifiers, etc...).


Here is limited previews of what is available concerning the XA5400ES :

 

[tktran303]

Sony TV's really own the game today.

Really? What country are you in?

Sony hasn’t owned the TV business since the CRT aka Trinitron days ie. late 20th C

I wonder who are the top 3, by market share,
TVs, globally.

Samsung?
LG?
…

 

[formdissolve]

Really? What country are you in?

Sony hasn’t owned the TV business since the CRT aka Trinitron days ie. late 20th C

I wonder who are the top 3, by market share,
TVs, globally.

Samsung?
LG?
…

The top Sony OLED's are all very, very good, but also very expensive. Funny enough, they all use LG OLED panels.

 

[xtremeaudio]

Those who want to see what Sony is doing without forgetting can visit this site https://sonypremiumhome.com/signature-series/ and examine their signed series, headphones, TVs, projectors, AR 1 and ES speakers.

 

[billbillw]

OK, so I've had one of these UDA-1 for about 8 years. Bought used from Ebay in 2016 for $155 USD. After reading the review here, I think it is probably time to to think about replacing it! I never thought it was anything considered reference class, but it was a simple solution for a computer desktop setup with a pair of bookshelf speakers. It cleaned up my desktop considerably compared to a DAC plus an NAD integrated amplifier that I was using at the time. It recently has been giving me some issues of not wanting to connect by USB.

What is out there on the new/used market from the last 5-6 years that would be comparable, in an under $300 price? Namely a USB DAC that can handle DSD plus 20-40 watts per channel output? I don't mind Class D. In fact, I have an SMSL SA-50 that I could probably use if I just put a USB DAC into the mix...
I would prefer a 1-box solution though.

 

[tsanguine]

OK, so I've had one of these UDA-1 for about 8 years. Bought used from Ebay in 2016 for $155 USD. After reading the review here, I think it is probably time to to think about replacing it! I never thought it was anything considered reference class, but it was a simple solution for a computer desktop setup with a pair of bookshelf speakers. It cleaned up my desktop considerably compared to a DAC plus an NAD integrated amplifier that I was using at the time. It recently has been giving me some issues of not wanting to connect by USB.

What is out there on the new/used market from the last 5-6 years that would be comparable, in an under $300 price? Namely a USB DAC that can handle DSD plus 20-40 watts per channel output? I don't mind Class D. In fact, I have an SMSL SA-50 that I could probably use if I just put a USB DAC into the mix...
I would prefer a 1-box solution though.

I replaced mine with a SMSL stack. The DA8, SU8, and SH8. Now I'm ready to sell this stack as I'm not using it any more. It's not a single unit but looks good as a stack. I haven't seen many 1-box solutions available that have the speaker amp combined with the DAC and headphone amp. I think I'll sell mine for $300. Haven't really thought much about it.

 

[billbillw]

I replaced mine with a SMSL stack. The DA8, SU8, and SH8. Now I'm ready to sell this stack as I'm not using it any more. It's not a single unit but looks good as a stack. I haven't seen many 1-box solutions available that have the speaker amp combined with the DAC and headphone amp. I think I'll sell mine for $300. Haven't really thought much about it.

After posting this, I looked around and found that Teac made a one box unit that would fit nicely. The AI-301DA can be found used pretty close to my price range. It has a pretty old dac by today's standards, but it should be as good or better than the Sony it would replace.

There is also the SMSL AL200, Topping MX5, and a few others.

I'm leaning to the Teac, because I have a UD-301 that I've enjoyed for years as well.