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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
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
A user comparison of the TRL 595 with the similarly priced APL Pioneer 563 has been posted on AA at:
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/209929.html

The findings favor the APL machine.
glai's avatar
glai
446 posts
 
Anyone compare apl3910 or modwright 999 to wadia 861?

Thanks
irishdog
88 posts
 
To "audio girl": I looked up your system, and it represents excellent choices. The fact that you bought all of this gear used, and at good prices, is an added reason for pride on your part. Have you had any trouble with the Linn 1.1? A friend of mine has had to return his for service at least two times. By the way, what planet are you from? In my part of the world, "audio girls" are non-existant. Brava!!! P.S. I have an unmodded DV-50.
audio_girl
91 posts
 
Thank you for the comments, Irishdog!
Yes, I saved a ton of money on my system. If I would have paid full retail prices, I would have paid more than double what I have in it now.
I am from Earth, believe it or not! I guess my breed is very rare!
I have never had any kind of reliability problems with the Linn 1.1.
What are your sonic impressions of your DV-50?
irishdog
88 posts
 
Audio girl: I like the DV-50, but compared to the Linn 1.1 it is simply not as "musical". I know this is a hard term to define, like the judge who said he could not define "pornography", but he knew it when he saw it, musicality is a "know it when you hear it" phenomenon. I listen to a lot of classical music, and this is,by far, the hardest sort of recorded music to get right. If you have attended many live concerts, you know what I mean. The Linn gets it right! Otherwise the DV-50 is fine, and never misfires. Thanks so much for your nice reply. By the way, I live in eastern North Carolina, not exactly audiophile territory, male or female.
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