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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
avguru OP
116 posts
 
Mgottlieb,

Your comments about mfg voicing are dead on and accurate. I have heard many players that were overall clearly superior to another player not play a particular song as well as the lesser player. Some songs benefit from a sweeter, softer perspective while other songs benefit from a more analytical and focused perspective.

This actually happened a couple of times when 711 and I were going head to head with the APL and Exemplar 3910. There were songs where the APL sounded more musical but not as accurate or dynamic as the Exemplar.

To be honest, I'm not sure if its even fair to compare a tubed unit to a 100% solid state unit. It seems to me some of the sonic traits of tubes (warmth, airiness) can never be duplicated TO THE SAME DEGREE on solid state gear. It's already a given that the Denon's (both of which incorporate tubes) are going to sound warmer than the X01 which is not a warm player to begin with.

In my listening tests I wil try to take this into account and focus on other performance areas in making my decision.

MGotlieb, since you currently own the X01 how would you describe its sonic traits as it relates to redbook? Overall, do you like the redbook playback of the X01 better than the redbook on the Omega? Please explain in detail.

AVGURU

mgottlieb
334 posts
 
Avguru: Boy, you ask hard questions, which I can't answer with a simple direct comparison. I didn't listen to the Omega in redbook much, and don't listen to the X-01 in redbook much now. They both (for CD listening) functioned and function mainly as transports for the dCS Purcell/Elgar Plus. [And boy, are they both fabulous transports!] The dCS units, especially in DSD, are extremely detailed, clear and spacious, and a bit on the forward side. In redbook, the X-01 sounds very much like them, without the absolute last bit of sparkle--for want of a better word--in the highs, and maybe a bit less detail in the very lowest bass--although perhaps the X-01, which has the best dynamics in SACD I've ever heard, has a tad more bass impact in CD as well. The Omega sounded very different. It was more of an analog sound, especially when its 24/96 upconversion, which I didn't particularly like, was off, with a definite sense you were seated further back in the hall, and perhaps the sound front wasn't quite as wide (which it isn't when you sit further back in a concert hall). You could easily forget whether the Omega or an LP (mine is an SME 20.2/SME V/Koetsu Onyx Platinum/Lamm LP2 set-up) was on--not that they were equivalent, just that they sounded alike in kind. You aren't likely to make that mistake with the X-01--it's a more forward, noticeably detailed sound, you are closer to the plane of the performance, the soundfront is huge, and this mother doesn't take any prisoners. For instance, on the Omega and the DV-50, I thought the JVC transfers of RCA material were superb; through the X-01, somehow some of them at least sound a bit over-engineered, as if somebody has been fooling around with the masters just a bit too much. This is the player if you really want to know what's on the disc; maybe not if you just want everything to sound good. But all of a sudden a CD which you never paid much attention to, sonically at least, really catches your ear like it never did before, and you understand why the X-01 costs $13,000. Hope that helps.
jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
1,962 posts
 
Guido,its a Sony DVD/SACD S9000ES,level III mod + tube Stage
DAC MOD,Analog Bybee filters installed,Amp direct MOD with
DACT-2 attenuator.
jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
1,962 posts
 
Giudo,AVguru is from Chicago,711 and I, from the
Northside of Chicago,15 minute away.No snow this Saturday.
Even if there is, I will go to 711 place,I am that
excited.I might bring my buddy who has a very good
hear.So that I can post more accurate result here at
Agon.
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 
Thank you Jayctoy for the info. Can't wait for the 'referencing' report from the whole gang!
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