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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
aplhifi
515 posts
 
Tbg, I would agree too if it comes to the classic volume controls used in some current digital players. Let's say you have the best volume control built in your digital source which is a stepped attenuator with HOLCO, VISHAY or other exotic resistors. Let's assume the attenuator is about 10kOhm end to end. You will usually listen at 12 - 1 o clock which results in about half way trough the attenuator. This means that your output impedance will be about 5kOhm (kind of high). The result is lack of dynamics, added noise and smeared frequency response. Every time you turn that attenuator, it will change the output impedance of your machine. You can basically hear a sonic difference on every step since the output impedance is changing. This is the reason why when you buffer it with preamp it will sound better. The preamp has high input impedance and constant low impedance output (about or less than 200 Ohms) capable of driving your cables and amplifier. With attenuation done in the digital domain, there are no such negative effects as the output stage of the machine is directly connected to your amp through the IC cables - just like a preamplifier. The output impedance is constant and there are NO added components to the critical analog signal path.

Lastly, regardless of how perfect your preamp is, it would be best if it's not on the signal path. Now, if you like the added noise, distortions and "bloom" of a tube preamplifier this is up to you and your taste...:-)

Merry Christmas!

Alex
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Alex, in the digital domain, do you not lose information with declining volume setting. At least with the dCS gear, lower volumes in the digital domain sounded like they had a substantial loss of resolution.

With the H-Cat there is no added distortions, noise, or frequency alterations.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Springbok, I think your aversion to having a mc unit but using only the stereo left and right output is a tad illogical, but I fully understand your desire to play to the best features of your preamp. Does the DCC2 have balanced outputs? I had only the DAC6 and know the DAC8 has only balanced outputs. I agree that your insistence on balanced outs does limit your options. I would also strongly urge you to avoid the Phillips sacd 1000. It maybe that the old Luxman sacd player had balanced outputs and there is one for sale with Exemplar mods., but the Exemplar 2900 is far superior and the Exemplar 3910 embarasses it . Life is tough.

Merry Christmas
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
SPRINGBOCK10: the EMM DAC/pre was optimized to work with the EMM transport. Unless you wait for the transport, you will never know whether the pair will work and do magic for you.
metralla
945 posts
 
Guidocorona writes:
Springbock10, yours is the $64B question. Moded units are not balanced, except for one APL3910 version which has XLR active outputs. Not a classic balanced design with duplicate circuitry, though: the 'balance' signal is created through phase splitting.
Some other modded units are balanced. Rare - but they are out there.

I believe that Allen Wright does have a balanced option for the mods he does to the VC24/VC24+ digital filter chip equipped Sonys (SCD-1, SCD-777, SCD-555, SCD-C333, DVP-S9000) and this is a significant extra cost (almost double), as there are many more components - its a double module. I am sure this is a fully differential stage - can't imagine Allen taking a shortcut. I know he was offering this at one stage, but have not checked his web site to see if he still has this option.

My XA777ES, modified by Ric Schultz, has a fully balanced output stage; multichannel capability has been disabled.

I would not be surprised if Kyle of Reference Audio Mods has not built a modified Marantz or something with balanced outputs using the Audio Consulting traffos, but I am not certain by any means.

Regards,
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