Esoteric Mods

Dbphd,

I don't think your analogies work well. Specialists have additional training in medicine. It is cheaper for MB to have another company mod. its cars for the performance range. I doubt seriously that moders of audio gear know anything more than the people at Esoteric.

Moders can put more expensive parts in as they have no interest in a price point. I am not knocking moders and indeed have a personal friend, John Tucker, who does this, at least part of the time.

Production tolerances can stack up in many different ways.Modding a mass-produced item frequently means just building it to the blueprint. True in a lot of areas outside audio, as well. :)

Tbg,

The analogies were Carlos, not mine, but I agree they don't seem to apt. Two modders that come to mind, AMG for MB and RUF for Porsche, don't improve the product, they make it different in ways unlikely to appeal to most of the buyers of the original product. I think AMG may be a subsidary of MB; the cars are sold by MB dealers. (My next wagon may be an MB E 63 AMG, or the 2010 equivalent.)

I doubt a modder is more specialized in the design of an Ayre C-5xe or Esoteric SA-60 than Ayre or TEAC. I also doubt that modders have labor rates lower than OEMs. As in so many aspects of high-end audio, mysticism seems to rule.

db

Dbphd, yes I thought you were talking about AMG. I too think they are owned by MB. RUF is definitely not owned by Porsche. I have a Cayman, and what they do with it is scary and expensive.

I think most audio moders are more like local mechanics who put a fast chip or wider tires on a car.

Hello Mmitch7711,
My Esoteric X03 is at RAM for the $2190.00 mod as recommended by Julian Price a fellow Agoner who had his Esoteric modded.
As soon as I get back I will post some info how it sounds against the stock unit, a second unit which I have just purchased.
If the RAM SOTA turns out worthwhile, then I will have my second X03 fitted with RAM's flagship the $2970.00 mod this time.
In the mean time I will contact Audiomod and VSE as suggested by Czbbcl, to find out what they offer.

thx Terry