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Esoteric DV-50: Any cdp's Significantly better?

Is there are anyone out there who has compared the Esoteric DV-50 to a number of dedicated red book only players (or other universal's) and found one that is SIGNIFICANTLY better?

I stress significantly because in my humble opinion the redbook playback (if comparison unit is just a cd cd player only )must be significantly better to justify losing DVD-A, SACD and DVD-Video capability.

I keep hearing there are better one box solutions and being a die hard 2 channel fan I would sell my DV-50 if I found a player in the same price range that sounds significantly better. But every time I do an AB comparision to other well respected units the DV-50 has slayed each and every one.

So far, it has eaten the lunch of the Classe CDP-10, Ayre CX-7, Linn Ikemi, Cairn Fog Vers. 2, Cary 306/300, Arcam DV 27A and CD 33T, Myryad CD 600, etc. It even betters a Sony SCD 777ES/MF Tri-Vista 21 transport/dac combo that I previously owned. I'm only comparing the DV-50 to single box cd or universal players, but I just wanted to mention the Sony/MF combo. I'm sure there are some dac/transport combo's that will handily beat the DV 50.

Some may say that the DV 50 should beat all the above because the of price point ($5,500 vs. average price of $3,000 for the above players). But I disagree since conventional wisdom says that stand alone players (especially with the pedigree of those mentioned above) should produce better redbook than a universal player trying to be a jack of all trades. Only the DV 27A does video plus audio. By the way, I was very impressed with the 27A as just a cd player. Of all the above I would say the Ayre was the best.

Next on my list is the Electrocompaniet EMC 1UP and the Resolution Audio Opus 21. However, I must tell you I am really impressed with the DV 50 and all the great reviews are absolutely true. I've noticed that many people who are using it or comparing to other players are using the RCA analog outs instead of the balanced outs. There is a significant improvement in sound if you use the balanced outs and I'm only interested in hearing comments from people who have compared it against other players using the balanced outs on the DV-50.

My system components are as follows:

B&W N803's speakers & HTM-1 center
Cary Cinema 5 (5 x 200) amp
Anthem D1 Statement pre/pro
Esoteric DV 50
Acoustic Zen Satori Shotgun speaker wire
Nirvana SX balanced interconnects from DV-50 to Anthem
Acoustic Zen Matrix reference II interconnects from D1 to Cary
No after market power cords or isolation equipment

My system sounds great! Those who comment please make sure to specify what specific improvements you heard over the DV 50 and what cdp were you comparing it against.

AVGURU
avguru
aplhifi
515 posts
 
Reb1208, have you heard SACD playback with Meitner digital products? There is nothing out there in its stock form to outperform it. May be there are just a couple to have "better" CD playback, but the difference is so subtle that it fails in personal taste cathegory. As I mentioned, the transport Meitner uses is really cheap and flimsy compared to Teac's VRDS or the Sony Pro transport used in the Reimyo. What that proves?

Regards,
Alex
mgottlieb
334 posts
 
I really have to take issue with Aplhifi's statement that "the actual transport is not that important. Meitner used (and still uses in their new $7K transport) a flimsy $100 or less Philips digital transport...." Right, and it sounds it. When I heard the EMM separates, with the new transport--in someone else's unfamiliar but excellent system--I was astonished at the range, depth and width of the soundfront and the image clarity. I would have bought the DAC in a flash if it could have been used to its full potential with another transport. At the same time, I was very troubled by the thinness, aggressiveness and lack of impact of what I heard. The same is true of the dCS separates; in DSD the Purcell and Elgar Plus are extraordinary, but they are compromised by the Verdi, which is not a great transport, in very much the same way the EMM system appeared to be. Put an X-01, which has an absolutely superb transport section, or something comparable in to feed the dCS units, and you hear what they are capable of (in redbook anyway), and I bet the same would be true of the EMM DAC. I said it above, and I say it again; making the greatest DAC in the world does not guarantee you can make a good transport, and probably the opposite is true as well. People used to sell turntables (some of you may remember them) short also, with the same result. You want an interesting test: hook the X-01 and whatever you fancy up to a good external DAC with the same cable type, and compare them.
aplhifi
515 posts
 
Mgottlieb, I would have to agree with you! This is the reason why I can not wait to put my hands on and re-designin X-01 similar to what I do with the Denon machines. Of course, it will turn out very expensive, but having the best transport in the World available (the new VRDS), might bring truly amazing results.

Let's hope I'll be able to do it some day..:-)

Regards,
Alex
pscialli
80 posts
 
OK, I couldn't take it any longer! It turns out that the Sony 999 with the Modwright Platinum mod is not that much more than the Underwood Maverick I was close to buying. I spoke with Dan this afternoon, a very nice guy, and ordered my modded Sony. I hope to join some of you in Audio Nervana in a couple of weeks.

Peter
mgottlieb
334 posts
 
Aplhifi: "It will turn out very expensive"? Read this thread--you did notice that we are not sane people you're talking to, didn't you? Build it and they will come, as someone said in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind".
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