Is Exemplar the answer?

Well, I cannot tell you much yet, as the Exemplar is still burning in. I will say so far I like the APL better as far as the soundstage, musicality(the ability to draw me in), magic midrange(could be WE 300B's/Cardinal X1's), and the seeming hang time of guitar. Now I must say I listen mainly to older Rock/Jazz/Blues....not much classical. The Exemplar seems a bit more extended so far(But I am having Alex build me a 3910 also)the bass is a bit better on the Exemplar. I really cannot give my exact opinion at this time also cause my ear is clogged, and music in general just does not sound right. I will tell you after about 200 hours of burnin the exemplar is picking itself up. Now, for me, I need 2 players, 1 with video for HT/SS and 1 for 2 channel/Tubes, and so far I am not unhappy with either one, but, because of my obsession I will keep on trucking to search for the best under 10K used.

The Exemplar is finally burned in for redbook, and is now really strutting its stuff. For redbook, the Exemplar bests the APL for sounstage, Clarity, imaging, and in palying all qualities of cd's. There is a natural smoothness to the exemplar that just sounds right to me. On well recorded cd's, the exemplar just does it better than any other player I have had in my system. SACD so far is another issue, while so far it is real good, the APL seems to put a quality on DSD that is so close to vinyl/tape
it is scary.

A+ rating for Exemplar on Redbbok

SACD may need to burn in those 250 hours too, so thats what I am doing now. More to come....Redbook is AWESOMEon the Exemplar.

Tbg, I do not understand this 250 hour thing, but you are right, so far, that after the burn in, this unit really sings.

711Smilin, good to hear your positive report. I received the Exemplar last Friday, so it's going into the fourth day of burn-in on redbook. I have it on a Sistrum platform. I don't know if it's the higher resolution of the player, or the Sistrum or both, but last night I heard the benefits of a recently purchased Hydra 4 after I plugged my amp into the Hydra (the Exemplar was already running from the Hydra). Before that, I was never sure if the conditioner was having a definite and positive effect. Again, I'm not sure where to place the kudos, but it's an improvement I clearly heard.

Smilin, neither John nor I understand what is at the root of the breakin, all we know is that it is there.

Many report that the cd is the most improved on the Exemplar. All I know is that I like the improvement in both. I should also say that now with the AudioTop treatment on dvdas, they too are sounding exceptional.

The next thing I am going to suggest is how sensitive the Exemplar is to what is supporting it. It hates ball bearings. I cannot find anything better than the Neuance.

Tbg, I have a Nueance shelf on order, and as I mentioned above I currently have my Exemplar on a Sistrum platform. You say you cannot find anything better than the Neuance. Does this mean you have tried a Sistrum?