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Is Exemplar the answer?

I'm looking for the best red book source I can find at around $5000 or under. I came very close to buying an Esoteric DV50, but reconsidered after hearing about John Tucker's Exemplar Audio mod of the Denon 2900. Have you heard this player, and how would you compare it to the best red book sources you have heard. It's fine to have a player that will play every format known to man, and having a universal player is a nice bonus, but my cd collection is almost all red book, and I want to get the most from the titles I currently have.

Thanks
84audio
tvad
9,467 posts
 
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.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
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.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
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?
tbg
5,263 posts
 
No, I never had the Sistrum, but I did try various points.
jsala
99 posts
 
Glad to hear the Exemplar is doing so well on Redbook! How is it in terms of bass depth/tightness and also image focus? I had read that these were areas of improvement for earlier versions of the Exemplar but that the recent tube power supply mods helped.

By the way, do you also have an external DAC or HT processor? If so, I'd be curious as to whether the Exemplar or APL is a better transport.

Thanks!
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