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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
 
Hey guys,

Bad weather in Chicago forced the cancellation of this much anticipated showdown. It will resume this Saturday and A'gon member Jactoy will join us. Always good to have another set of ears!!

711 is under the impression that his modded Denon's will slay any and all contenders including those 3-5 times the price of his units. While I admire his confidence and readily concede the superiority of his unit over the ones we've already demoed, I am not ready to make or accept such a broad conclusion. This contest will continue through next Monday, where we will in that time frame go head to head with the Audio Research CD MK III (also a tube unit),the Esoteric UX-1, a Sony 9000ES modded by Dan Wright, the new Marantz SA 11 and finally the mighty, mighty Esoteric X01. The showdown with the Marantz and X01 probably won't happen until Monday.

Although 711 won't believe it till he hears it, his unit will definitely fall to the X01 in SACD playback. As I reported earlier in this post, the X01 produced the most beautiful and breath taking SACD playback I have ever heard, including 711's modded Denon's which I've already heard in SACD. The only thing in question will be whether or not the X01 will be as good as (or even superior to) the Denon's in redbook.

Please note we will be conducting these tests on some of the finest equipment in the world. Saturday's test will be conducted using Sonus Faber Cremona's and Proac's while amplification will be Krell and Levinson. Monday's test will be on Legacy Whispers with top of the line Marantz separates and Mono blocks. There will be no excuses in regards to associated equipment!

By the way, I've received e-mails from some of you who assumed that since I described the 3910''s sound like a "shower" compared to the X01 as a "high pressure water hose" that I prefered the 3910. Not true! Each player has its own perspective and only a head to head showdown will reveal which player is more musical. And I stress that "musicality" will be the final benchmark. That's what we all are striving for.

Also, I need to stress again that the DV 50 is one hell of a player (I'm listening to it now)and the detail and transparency is phenomenal. However, in the end it is just not as musically satisfying and engaging as the modded Denon's. I'm fortunate because if I never heard the Denon's I would have gone on assuming that nothing in the DV 50's price range can compete. I would have been believing a lie!

If the Denon's clearly illustrate their superiority in head to head battles against all of the above then and and only then will I end this madness and concede the modded Denon's to be one of the best cdp's in the world. At that point I will also put my DV 50 up for sale.

Soon the truth will be known! Buckle up in the saddle, brethren and prepare for one hell of a ride. Final destination is Audio Nirvana! Yeehaaa!!

AVGURU
daltonlanny
301 posts
 
Hey Avguru,
Please be sure to post the results of the above big shoot-outs! Thanks.
Lanny
mgottlieb
334 posts
 
I thought I'd inject a bit of a reminder about one thing before your OK Corral shoot-out: personal preference doesn't necessarily equate to qualitative difference. Components are voiced differently by manufacturers to do different things. The X-01, UX-1 and DV-50 are voiced by the same people, so it is fairly easy to tell that the X-01 does what it is supposed to do a small but significant amount better than the UX-1, and a greater amount better than the DV-50. Add an entirely differently voiced component into the equation, and it becomes much harder to generalize. I sold the Classe Omega and retained the DV-50 because I wanted to keep DVD-A playback when I got the X-01, which I dearly love, but there are times, on certain discs, when I miss the somewhat warmer, sweeter sound of the Omega, which I also loved. I'm used to changing perspectives because I have Carnegie Hall subscriptions in the 8th row center and 26th row center, and regularly hear the same orchestra under the same conductor on back to back nights from different places in the hall, and sometimes you have a hard time believing it is the same group. Which perspective I prefer is irrelevant to the issue of how well the orchestra is playing, just as it MAY be irrelevant to which player is doing its job better. If that weren't true, we'd all make the same choices. Enjoy yourselves.
jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
4,147 posts
 
Avguru, Saturday is the best time for me.I spoke to 711
already, I will bring my Sony 9000es Modwright.I am also
excited to hear the DV50 and the Denon APL.Thank you in
advance for the invitation.This will be very interesting.
Iam sure we have differrent taste, this will be a very
good experience.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
AVGURU and all, I truly envy you guys! I will be watching this thread on Saturday for periodic live updates from the battlefield.
In the meantime, is there any rumour afloat about any upcoming Esoteric product updates?
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