Esoteric DV-60


Anyone heard this unit yet? As many of you know, it is replacing the DV-50S and I'm looking for noticeable difference in audio/video quality as well as functionality. I know on paper the changes that have been made, but is the upgrade worth it from a user's perspective. Thanks for your opinions and experiences. Dave.
canucks0
Keep in mind that the Linn Unidisc weighs something like 20# or less...and most folks really like the way it sounds too. I gather several Esoteric units use very thick solid steel cases which is where the bulk of the weight comes from. Does this help with vibration control? Who knows...?

In the end, I feel the weight has little bearing on the actual CDP performance. Nevertheless you certainly do "feel" like you're getting your money's worth when it's heavy.
Anthony, After 850 hrs of playing time I thought the X-01 sound had stopped changing. However, with hindsight, I realize now that a subtle evolution still took place until the unit had approx 1200 hours of playing time on it.
How the heck do you keep track of the playing time?!!

Jeeze, after I break something in for a couple of days in the beginning, I loose track completely. I guess I just can't count past about 200. ;-)
Ah yes of course DBLD, no magic to it. . . up to 800 hrs the beast was on full time almost 24/7 for almost 6 weeks, with the rest of the system turned off unless I wanted to do some listening. After that point I slowed down a little.
DV-60 update!
Using the Dv-60 as a "TRANSPORT ONLY", proved to be superior over the Dv-50. The sound quality is quite stunning. Even, when compared to a highly Modded Dv-50s. Its quite obvious, as it should, since it spins the Cd at a higher rate, loading Bit perfect extractments in to memory buffers. The buffers are large enough to hold about 8 to 10 seconds of Redbook. What really surprised me, it was the best buffer driven transport I heard to date. Usually, with other buffer driven digital sources, Especially, like with the SB3, and other "bit perfect" COMPUTER based sources, there is such a noticeble "grunge" with in soundstage that made the music hard on the ears. I always ended up hitting "next" on the remote, or turned the volume down, or just shut it off altogether.
This is what the Dv-60 Transport mechanism lacks, and it’s that grudge. (YES! A GOOD THING.)
So, where did that grunge go? Looking at the transport control boards, I see a very well laid out, un-conjested PC board design. It’s not the conventional "sandwiched" design, under the transport mechanism kinds..... Instead, it's mounted away from the transport, by its side. Designs as such are noted for a much lower HF noise floor. I can say this has a major impact to do with the maintaining the data integrity that is extracted from the Cd.
And this is why the sound quality is fabulous.
I have yet to fully tap the potential of the Video, due to my HDTV lacking a HDMI input. What I heard from "my contact" when the video is upscale threw the HDMI output, a DVD would look like it was HDTV. And from the Dv-60's digital output, standpoint alone, I see no reason to doubt it!

Anthony
Mauimods