Not only have I owned a couple of Esoteric transports, I was a dealer for awhile.
The Esoterics are excellent. VERY well built and sound great.
I know this is simplistic, but it's the easiest way to say it:
If you are a CD, (digital) kinda guy, the Esoteric would be my choice. Fast, detailed, solid, but digital.
If you are an analog guy, (like me), the CEC just sounds right. Open, smooth, romantic...like, well, analog.
Really, two pretty different transports. You couldn't go wrong with either one.
The Esoterics are excellent. VERY well built and sound great.
I know this is simplistic, but it's the easiest way to say it:
If you are a CD, (digital) kinda guy, the Esoteric would be my choice. Fast, detailed, solid, but digital.
If you are an analog guy, (like me), the CEC just sounds right. Open, smooth, romantic...like, well, analog.
Really, two pretty different transports. You couldn't go wrong with either one.