APL 3910, Exemplar 3910, MF KW, Esoteric X-01?

First off I sell high end audio in Michigan and go to CES every January to hear what's new. I owned the Esoteric DV-50S briefly and found it to be dry and "hi-fi" sounding yet it was better than most things I'd heard up to that point and at a reasonable price. The $20-40k digital systems I've heard offer very small improvements but are a big rip-off.

Fortunately I was able to hear one of the APL units at last years CES and decided I needed one. I ordered the 3910 that I'd heard at the show but by the time I received it several significant upgrades had been added.

I'll cut to the chase and tell you it is by far the best digital I've heard. On red book cd's it doesn't even sound like digital. It's like really good analog without the ticks and pops but better in many ways.

After I e-mailed Alex to tell him how happy I was with my new player he informed me that he had just received some new dac's that are pop in replacements for the ones in mine and that as good as my sound is "the new dac's are so good it's scary." I'll be sending mine back for a quick upgrade soon but the funny thing is the sound is so good right now I really can't imagine how it can be improved.

I wouldn't waste my time worrying about what else might be out there. After many years of searching for a player that doesn't have the usual digital grain and edginess to the sound my search is over. Alex's player is so good I won't waste words trying to describe it other than to say it absolutely sounds "real."

Happy hunting,

Bob Fogel
Arthur's Audio
Orchard Lake, MI

Bob Fogel's impressions of the APL and identical to mine for the Exemplar 3910. I would have to say that I have a new Exemplar 3910 which is $2000 more expensive. Thus far it is outstanding and clearly better to my old 3910, however, it has only 90 hours of breakin on it. Previous experience suggests that at least 200 are needed.

Although I heard a comparison of the APL/Phillips SACD 1000 and the early Exemplar 2900 under very unfavorable circumstances, I have not had them side by side for a comparison.

Ive heard both the APL that 711smillin own, and the
Exemplar Denon he own,in his basement,they are
not as musical as my Sony9000esModwright,Even AVguru
prefer my Sony9000es over his DV50 esoteric that time.
SD200gt,read the thread by AVguru, Is there a CDP
Significantly better than Esoteric DV50? I think
you will have a good picture with all the cdp involve
in the shootout,AVguru did a very good job, He is
not bias.Thanks

Jayctoy, I think the "shootout" had many problems, but more importantly it is now grossly obsolete given all the changes that have taken place. I should also note that at the VSAC that took place somewhat earlier, few preferred the Modwright Sony 9000es. The contest there was between the Allen Wright mod and that by John Tucker. I ended up buying both.