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Esoteric DV-50, Marantz SA-11 or Arc CD3 MKII???

Hi guys and gals,
I need some help here. I've never been a big digital kinda guy but I do need a CD player. I've owned and loved the Electrocompaniet ECD-1 and currently own an Esoteric D-50 that I like well enough but haven't fallen love with. I tried the Resolution Opus 21 and the new McCormack UDP-1 and preferred the DV-50 to either of these machines, at best it was a sideways move between the Dv-50 and the Udp-1. I'm now considering either the Marantz Sa-11 or the Audio Research CD-3 MKII. I know there are others but these two have come to the top of my list. I play all music, jazz, folk , blues, rock, classical yadda, yadda, yadda! I like the bass, dynamics, resolution of the DV-50 but I never get the 3D reach out and touch someone in your room feeling from this player. I would like something that gave me the sense of air and space that surrounds images in real space. The DV-50 images nicely, a little forward but plenty of width and depth but no organic feel to it. I know this is hard to describe but I hope someone can pick up on what I'm trying to describe and respond from expierience with the above mentioned players. Thanks in advance to everyone!
bryceeboy
tvad
9,467 posts
 
The APL Denon 3910 will give you the air and space you require, and throws a pretty good 3D illusion. The APL Philips SACD1000 throws an even better 3D illusion IMO. I have owned both. You might be very happy with the APL SACD1000. It offers much of the APL Denon3910 without the last bit of ultra detail. A Modwright player...specifically the Sony 999ES... offers more "organic" feel than the APL players, although the APL Philips SACD1000 strikes a good compromise between the APL Denon 3910 and Modwright Sony 999ES.

As always...one man's opinion. But, I've owned all the players I described, so I'm going off first hand knowledge, not regurgitated posts.
sundance45
63 posts
 
When SACD first came about I unfortunately purchased a Sony SCD-1 because of, I guess the great reviews. And yes listened to it, but not in my system. Got it home and was thoroughly disappointed with its detached sound and basically my redbook digital front end ate it alive. Waited until about 500 hours burn in and sold the beast. That was three years ago and I've been listening to all SACD players as potential replacements for the Sony including Esoteric DV-50 and the Marantz SA-11 which both IMHO are uninvolving, in that the DV-50 was similar to the Sony in its detachment to the music and the SA-11 Overly warm, also missed the mark. There is one machine I am waiting for to come up used on A,GON and that is the Classe Omega SACD2. Absolutly stellar.
john_beavers
47 posts
 
"the SA-11 Overly warm, also missed the mark."

Opposite experience, dead on neutral in my system. In fact it made the moded Denon 3910 I have sound overly warm in comparison.
reb1208
518 posts
 
The stock SA-11 could make anything sound "overly warm" by comparision. I have owned all 3 players mentioned above and IMO these make up the AXIS of digital garbage. Each one is worse than the other. Revise your list and move on........
john_beavers
47 posts
 
"Each one is worse than the other. Revise your list and move on........
"

Actually, having owned many other stock mid to high end CD players and SACD players, the "AXIS" remains on pretty much anything you don't get a talented mod guy to mod :) IMHO
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