Sinosin,
You and I have talked and we both have a love for (and have aggressively defended) the playback of the DV-50. It is a tremendous player (especially in its price range) and I highly recomnmend it.
However, this evening I had the pleasure of finally getting a first hand audition of the new XO1. I'm here to tell you (and you know how loyal I've been to the DV 50) that it is in a totally different league than the DV-50. I AB'ed the two units side by side.
First of all, I know you love SACD. In SACD this player is simply awesome. The air, sense of space around instruments, floating highs, breathiness of vocals, expansive soundstage, etc is just breathtaking. It was like I heard SACD for the first time...I'm not kidding. It was better than vinyl.
Regarding redbook, this also blows away the DV-50. I now realize the DV 50 has slightly excessive (maybe a better word is overly aggressive) dynamics and the sound is somewhat forward and highly energetic with loads of detail. The DV 50 has balls and doesn't try to hide it. It runs full out in a sprint and shows you everything it has. I loved this sound (especially the transparency and detail) until I heard thew XO1 tonight. I regret auditioning this player as now I want one.
In comparison, the XO1 is a much smoother and more even handed player. It takes you on a gently undulating ride on the waves of the water. Even when large dynamic swings in the music occurs it never loses its compusure. Wheareas the DV 50 might startle you with these swings, the X01 presents them in all their glory but on an even keel.
The soundstage is slightly wider but the presentation is less forward than the DV 50. Detail is abundant but its not waving its hand saying "here I am" like the DV 50. I listen to a lot of jazz and what I really noticed is that symbols, brushes on symbols, bells and other percussive detail are not as exaggerated or upfront. The DV 50 tends to spotlight these sounds and bring them too far forward in the soundstage. The XO1 provides the same detail but it doesn't unnaturally highlight it like the DV 50 can. Transients have more snap and are quicker. The bass has even more impact and slam than the DV 50 but with a touch more definition. Its a highly evolved and sophisticated sounding player.
The other two areas that it excels in is a richer, fuller sound (I noted pianos sound more richer and life like) and space. The space around instruments was incredible. With the DV 50, sometimes instruments on densely packed musical passages (i.e 5 or more instruments playing at the same time) fight with each other for space within the soundstage. A saxaphone may have a hard time breathing and showcasing its full tonal and timbral traits because the piano, guitar, bass and strings are all playing loudly at the same time. The XO1 easily allows each instrument to "breathe" through the musical mix.
The funny thing is the DV 50 is still a great redbook and SACD player and if I had never heard the X01 I wouldn't have noticed the above "weaknesses" of the DV 50.
Now, here's the killer that I know will drive you over the edge...the XO1 sounds 2-3 times better with SACD's than with redbook! With the DV 50 sometimes a very well recorded cd can equal the sonics of an SACD. Not with the XO1. The SACD playback is consistently much better than the redbook. Its quite magical!
Since you're not particularly fond of DVD-A (I am) it appears this is the player for you. You can always find a very good yet cheap stand alone dvd player. My next goal is to audition a UX-1...but after hearing the XO1 (and noting the reviews state the XO1 is slightly better than the UX1) I may also be willing to forgo DVD-A and DVD-Video in exchange for the lovely sweet sound of cd's and SACD on the XO1.
I highly recommend you audition one!
AVGURU
You and I have talked and we both have a love for (and have aggressively defended) the playback of the DV-50. It is a tremendous player (especially in its price range) and I highly recomnmend it.
However, this evening I had the pleasure of finally getting a first hand audition of the new XO1. I'm here to tell you (and you know how loyal I've been to the DV 50) that it is in a totally different league than the DV-50. I AB'ed the two units side by side.
First of all, I know you love SACD. In SACD this player is simply awesome. The air, sense of space around instruments, floating highs, breathiness of vocals, expansive soundstage, etc is just breathtaking. It was like I heard SACD for the first time...I'm not kidding. It was better than vinyl.
Regarding redbook, this also blows away the DV-50. I now realize the DV 50 has slightly excessive (maybe a better word is overly aggressive) dynamics and the sound is somewhat forward and highly energetic with loads of detail. The DV 50 has balls and doesn't try to hide it. It runs full out in a sprint and shows you everything it has. I loved this sound (especially the transparency and detail) until I heard thew XO1 tonight. I regret auditioning this player as now I want one.
In comparison, the XO1 is a much smoother and more even handed player. It takes you on a gently undulating ride on the waves of the water. Even when large dynamic swings in the music occurs it never loses its compusure. Wheareas the DV 50 might startle you with these swings, the X01 presents them in all their glory but on an even keel.
The soundstage is slightly wider but the presentation is less forward than the DV 50. Detail is abundant but its not waving its hand saying "here I am" like the DV 50. I listen to a lot of jazz and what I really noticed is that symbols, brushes on symbols, bells and other percussive detail are not as exaggerated or upfront. The DV 50 tends to spotlight these sounds and bring them too far forward in the soundstage. The XO1 provides the same detail but it doesn't unnaturally highlight it like the DV 50 can. Transients have more snap and are quicker. The bass has even more impact and slam than the DV 50 but with a touch more definition. Its a highly evolved and sophisticated sounding player.
The other two areas that it excels in is a richer, fuller sound (I noted pianos sound more richer and life like) and space. The space around instruments was incredible. With the DV 50, sometimes instruments on densely packed musical passages (i.e 5 or more instruments playing at the same time) fight with each other for space within the soundstage. A saxaphone may have a hard time breathing and showcasing its full tonal and timbral traits because the piano, guitar, bass and strings are all playing loudly at the same time. The XO1 easily allows each instrument to "breathe" through the musical mix.
The funny thing is the DV 50 is still a great redbook and SACD player and if I had never heard the X01 I wouldn't have noticed the above "weaknesses" of the DV 50.
Now, here's the killer that I know will drive you over the edge...the XO1 sounds 2-3 times better with SACD's than with redbook! With the DV 50 sometimes a very well recorded cd can equal the sonics of an SACD. Not with the XO1. The SACD playback is consistently much better than the redbook. Its quite magical!
Since you're not particularly fond of DVD-A (I am) it appears this is the player for you. You can always find a very good yet cheap stand alone dvd player. My next goal is to audition a UX-1...but after hearing the XO1 (and noting the reviews state the XO1 is slightly better than the UX1) I may also be willing to forgo DVD-A and DVD-Video in exchange for the lovely sweet sound of cd's and SACD on the XO1.
I highly recommend you audition one!
AVGURU