EAR Acute

Possibly no better built but $1500 less and, according to Robert Levi at Positive Feedback, similar sound, the Modwright Platinum Truth Sony 9100ES. I love mine and it's not fully broken in yet. Replaced an APL Denon 3910 and I'm not missing anything.

On second thought, the Sony probably is of better build quality. The drawer is quiet and smooth and the stock unit has 3 power supplies, two of them linear. In addition, Modwright's outboard PS is of very high quality and weighs as much as an entry level player.

Saw the much more beautiful chrome faceplate version on Audio Revelation's website.

Now no excuse, the Acute is on the way!

Celebrer, do you know what transport mechanism it uses? There are an awful lot of expensive CDPs now using cheap DVD-ROM mechs instead of proper Red Book CD drives. I use a heavily modified 'classic' Sony X777ES/DAS-R1 combination, which sounds fantastic. Each unit weighs 17kg! They don't build them like that anymore...

Enjoy your Acute when it arrives. I have a lot of time for EAR designs.

Marco.

I believe the Acute starts life as an Arcam. Most everything but the DAC chips and transport are done away with and replaced to become the Acute. So whatever the transport is in the Arcam is the one used in the EAR. At least this is what I have read. The tube analog output stage is unique to the Acute and is probably responsible in large part for the sound. Robert Levy of Positive Feedback and Harry Pearson of TAS were both quite taken by this unit. Certain NOS tubes seem to enhance the sound quality and would be worth investigating, just takes 2 so shouldn't be too pricey.