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Esoteric DV-50: Any cdp's Significantly better?

Is there are anyone out there who has compared the Esoteric DV-50 to a number of dedicated red book only players (or other universal's) and found one that is SIGNIFICANTLY better?

I stress significantly because in my humble opinion the redbook playback (if comparison unit is just a cd cd player only )must be significantly better to justify losing DVD-A, SACD and DVD-Video capability.

I keep hearing there are better one box solutions and being a die hard 2 channel fan I would sell my DV-50 if I found a player in the same price range that sounds significantly better. But every time I do an AB comparision to other well respected units the DV-50 has slayed each and every one.

So far, it has eaten the lunch of the Classe CDP-10, Ayre CX-7, Linn Ikemi, Cairn Fog Vers. 2, Cary 306/300, Arcam DV 27A and CD 33T, Myryad CD 600, etc. It even betters a Sony SCD 777ES/MF Tri-Vista 21 transport/dac combo that I previously owned. I'm only comparing the DV-50 to single box cd or universal players, but I just wanted to mention the Sony/MF combo. I'm sure there are some dac/transport combo's that will handily beat the DV 50.

Some may say that the DV 50 should beat all the above because the of price point ($5,500 vs. average price of $3,000 for the above players). But I disagree since conventional wisdom says that stand alone players (especially with the pedigree of those mentioned above) should produce better redbook than a universal player trying to be a jack of all trades. Only the DV 27A does video plus audio. By the way, I was very impressed with the 27A as just a cd player. Of all the above I would say the Ayre was the best.

Next on my list is the Electrocompaniet EMC 1UP and the Resolution Audio Opus 21. However, I must tell you I am really impressed with the DV 50 and all the great reviews are absolutely true. I've noticed that many people who are using it or comparing to other players are using the RCA analog outs instead of the balanced outs. There is a significant improvement in sound if you use the balanced outs and I'm only interested in hearing comments from people who have compared it against other players using the balanced outs on the DV-50.

My system components are as follows:

B&W N803's speakers & HTM-1 center
Cary Cinema 5 (5 x 200) amp
Anthem D1 Statement pre/pro
Esoteric DV 50
Acoustic Zen Satori Shotgun speaker wire
Nirvana SX balanced interconnects from DV-50 to Anthem
Acoustic Zen Matrix reference II interconnects from D1 to Cary
No after market power cords or isolation equipment

My system sounds great! Those who comment please make sure to specify what specific improvements you heard over the DV 50 and what cdp were you comparing it against.

AVGURU
avguru
avguru OP
116 posts
 
711,

Friday would be a great day! However, the way most dealers work with home demo's is they like you to come on a Saturday evening (close to closing time) and then return it Teusday morning (most dealers are closed on Sunday's and Mondays). That way they can have the unit on the floor during showroom hours. I completely understand that.

In this case (because of the price) the dealer wants to charge my credit card $13,000 and then credit me when when I return the unit. Which is very unfortunate because I can go to two other dealers in this area and take anything I want home (regardless of price) with just my Drivers license and a copy of my credit card without having it run. And in any case, my credit card limit is about 2/3rd's of what they want and I'm certainly not going to the bank and pull out $13,000 out of one of my IRA's just to demo a cd player. That doesn't make sense.

So we'll see. If it doesn't work out its just a matter of time before one of my other dealers in the area (one of who is an Esoteric dealer) orders a demo unit. I've learned that when it comes to this hobby patience is definitely a virtue...otherwise you can really get screwed!

AVGURU
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Why not bring the modified Denons to the dealer, in that case?
avguru OP
116 posts
 
Guido,

That's an excellent idea and I will pose that question to 711. If the mountain won't come to you then sometimes you have to go to the mountain!

In the meantime I have some very good news! I found another dealer in my area that has both a DV 50 and a UX-1 on the showroom floor. He is more than happy to allow me to do a face off between both players. He's already told me that the UX-1 is considerably better than the DV-50 in both redbook and SACD but now I will get a chance to hear it for myself.

I actually spoke with Marc Michelson yesterday by phone (he reviewed both the X01 and UX-1 for Soundstage) and he told me that if he had to rank redbook performance of the three players that the X01 would be a 100, the UX-1 an 80 and the DV 50 about a 60. A 20% improvement in the redbook performance over the DV 50 is still quite substantial and would bring it closer to the modded Denon's. It depends on what areas the improvements lie in. But as far as producing two and three dimensional soundstages its going to be hard to beat the Denon's. I must admit that although the X01 offers better CD and SACD playback than the UX-1 I'm still torn between the two as the UX1 plays all formats and my system does double duty as both a 2 channel and HT set-up.

I'm also excited because this same dealer carries the Audio Research CD MK III (latest model) which is supposed to be a killer redbook only player and has many great reviews. It also has tubes like the modded Denon's so it shoudl give me a sound " at least in the same category...if not the sonic equal" of the modded denon's. Of course, I will AB the redbook playback of the AR against the DV 50. The dealer has already told me that the UX1 is a better redbook player than the AR unit. If that's the case it says a lot about the UX1. However, I don't know if its true as I found the Electrocompaniet EMC 1UP to provide better redbook than the DV 50 (despite my initial listening tests that led me to believe otherwise).

Tomorrow will be a GREAT DAY as I plan on doing all of my listening tests then. 711, if you want to go out to Morton Grove with me tomorrow (and bring your modded denon's) let me know. However, if you wish to just wait and make the ultimate comparision against X01 we can do that this weekend downtown.

Boy, being an audiophile is a great hobby!!

AVGURU
larryi
4,057 posts
 
Sounds like you are going to have some fun! I can see how important redbook is to you. If you can find a dealer, you must hear the various Audionote DACs. I've heard the DAC 4 with an Audionote transport and the DAC 5 signature with Audionote transports and the 47 Labs transport. The DACs are pretty special. The Audionote dealer sells the Esoteric DV 50, but has not yet brought in the X-01. When he does, that would make an interesting comparison.

The @ $14.k Burmester player sounded good to me in a system that I was not familiar with. It was very smooth, rich and musical sounding, a bit like the Audionote stuff.

I have a player that is in the same price range as the X-01 that I also like very much (Naim CDS3). The top of the line Naim player is so much better than their prior models. It does not have the hard edge to the initial transient that makes the CDS2 sound mechanical and relentless. I like the way notes bloom in space they way they should. It is worth hunting down a Naim dealer for an audition. The Naim gear is more dynamic and has more "air" on top than the Audionote stuff, but it does not quite have that certain indescribable "magic" of the Audionote gear (could be just my imagination fueled by the truly exotic prices of the DAC 5 Signature).
711smilin
513 posts
 
AVGURU, morton grove is right down the street from me, call me and I will confuse the crap out of the salesman with my APL.
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