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
Audio girl: I like the DV-50, but compared to the Linn 1.1 it is simply not as "musical". I know this is a hard term to define, like the judge who said he could not define "pornography", but he knew it when he saw it, musicality is a "know it when you hear it" phenomenon. I listen to a lot of classical music, and this is,by far, the hardest sort of recorded music to get right. If you have attended many live concerts, you know what I mean. The Linn gets it right! Otherwise the DV-50 is fine, and never misfires. Thanks so much for your nice reply. By the way, I live in eastern North Carolina, not exactly audiophile territory, male or female.
Ahem. . . Sorry AudioGirl and Irishdog to have to burst your audiobubble so prematurely, but I have just discovered that Teac has introduced an updated P70/D70 redbook-only combo, dubbed the P70VU/D70VU.
I have absolute faith that it will surpass anything on the market today for redbook playback, as it appears to possess unique features never encountered in any digital source device before--at least according to the erudite google-translitteration of a Japanese page:

". . . The foot stand has entered in a state where it feels giddy, but when it installs, it becomes pinpoint support, makes the vibration disperse
effectively. The sound quality concern design and the ease of use which are idea of the ESOTERIC it is the pinpoint leg which is compatible. . ."

I don't know about you, but I always wanted to have one of these giddy feeling footstands in my player, ever since my Dad bought our first Dual 1019 turntable for Christmas in 1966. Now this may be my golden opportunity!
I am very late to this buffet of digital. I have been using a Rotel 1072 with Apogee Scintillas powered by H20 (soon to be sent back to be updated to Signature status) with a Supratek chenin. I am very interested in upgrading my digital source. To this point I only use Redbook CD's. Are there more contenders to consider. I think I read that the Exemplar is now using the 5910 to good effect. How great of a difference should I expect between my Rotel and all the contenders that are listed in the thread. I am located in Chicago and have contacted 711smillin. This thread has made me reconsider whether to resurrecting my Well Tempered Classic. All else being equal, cleaning records is a drag! Bob
Dear Friends,
I have the Teac P70VU in combination with the Audio Note Dac5 signature.
I can say its a good match.
The difference between the P70 and the P70VU, is that VU have a better jitter solution .
Volker, how would you characterize the actual sonic differences between the P70 and P70VU? Is it also true that VU is still redBook only, with no SACD/DVDA support?