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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
carmantom
17 posts
 
Eldon

A quick search has me puzzled when I found this post of yours in the forums:

03-24-01: Eldon
I do modifications to the Sony's. I replace the carbon resistors with vishays, the film caps with REL caps and I
insteal HEXFREDS and Black Gate caps in the power Supply.
My price for these mods is aprox. $300 parts $150 labor.
Your cost will vary depending on the resistors you wish me to put in. The improvement in sound is stunning. Clarity
and Detail are improved at least two to one and the speed
and pace of the bass is excellent. No more slow dark sony sound on cd's. Sacd's are superb. The best part is the
imaging has improved with the sound behind the speakers
and not in your face. The treble is not forward anymore
and the ambiance is clear and clean, not warm and fuzzy
as before. Contact Richard Kern at:
http://www.audiomod.com or email me at cdenhance@uswest.net
I can give you a choice of capacitors and resistors
to put in your sony and a lower price because of this.

Eldon (Answers)

Isn't this what you are saying Alex is doing?

Maybe there is an explanation you can offer to help me see what you were meaning.
pscialli
80 posts
 
Doc Luke
I have a Musical Fidelity X10V3 here which I used on the output of my unmodified Denon 2200 for a while. I also gave it a try between my amp and preamp. While it does do some fairly nice things in the face of an otherwise harsh source, I don't think it measures up to the performance of my modded Sony in either of those configurations. It does give some nice, even desireable roll off and the impression of added air and texture. I found though that when using it after the preamp, LPs would tend to sound dark and compressed compared with keeping the X10 out of the circuit. In that configuration, it strikes me as a somewhat high priced, and mostly high performance, equalizer rather than a way of truely transforming the front end into a tube component. Some may find it amusing to know that I'm currently using it on the output of a Kenwood component receiver for Sirius Satellite Radio where it nicely rounds off the digital edges of that service. It makes for great background music when I'm working.
Peter
dolfan
56 posts
 
Pscialli,

I could not have said it better. I got my Modwright Sony 999es w/Platinum truth and volume control after Thanksgiving and from the moment it was turned on it was magic. I'm breaking mine in slowly as I listen to it. It is so much better than anything I ever heard already, why not enjoy it. I wish I was a better wordsmith at describing the sound but you nailed it anyway.

Thanks AVGuru and Jacytoy! This thread is how I discovered the Modwright.
dbld
297 posts
 
I don't feel Alex has advertised or acted inappropriately here. After all, it was a member from Chicago (more or less) that brought his machine into the mix. And it was his (APL) machine simply because AVGURU and 711Smilin went at it and decided to do a face-off of sorts. A Modwright Sony has equaled or bettered the APL with some material since the original comparison.

Alex's direct comments here helped to explain equipment, and his approach/philosophy. I for one have found his input very useful...albeit over my head often.

Richard - why not join in the debate as your area of expertise should help to balance the statements made here. It is difficult for some of us regular folk to grasp what is real or not-real when it comes to some of these mods. If you, Dan, Kyle, Alex and John Tucker openly discussed/debated some of the content in these pages...boy - now that would be interesting.

If you could put a machine into the mix…perhaps that would be the best of all. Isn’t RAM East somewhat close to Chicago (I thought Doug was in MI)?

Think of it as a time saver. I am strongly considering a modded player (I have even spoken with Doug), but I have not made my required mental commitment and thus have not picked a modder…nor do I know much about the different modders. If I called each one I wouldn’t know what to ask, but surely I would get a sales pitch. And afterward, I still wouldn’t know who to go to because I am not technically savvy enough. . And, I don’t want to be. That is the job of the modder. Furthermore, I would be wasting my time and the bunch of modders time that I would NOT end up doing business with.

That is why I say Richard; this is a place where you could preemptively answer many time wasting phone calls. Am I that far off?

Dave
dbld
297 posts
 
OK - What I said above was written while Doug's post was going up.

I do feel all should play by the same rules. I really do want to hear from RAM, Modwright, Exemplar and whomever should they want to put some thoughts into writing. I they cannot participate, then that is indeed very wrong.

Furthermore, we as participants in this thread are loosing out on valuable and healthy debate and explanations.

Dave
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