Redbook Comparison Esoteric and Reimyo

The Esoteric XO-1/UX-1 I feel are inferior to the Reimyo CDP-777 on RBCD. By the way, the Reimyo is not less bright or less detailed. The Reimyo is not soft or warm sounding. The Reimyo has more body to the sound and is more relaxed in its presentation. The Esoteric X0-1 is more dynamic, but not as musically satisfying on CD. I do not believe that this is a matter of "pick your flavor" to match your system. These players are quite different sounding.

Steve

If the new DCS machine is anything like their Elgar/Purcell, and I have read that it is, then my advice would be to search out one of these players for audition if at all possible. Yes, it mostly boils down to personal preference among these top-notch machines but, the DCS seems to always take me closer to the live event. It always exhudes a "reach out a touch me" presentation to musicians and, the scale, definition and soundstaging just sound so realistic. Instruments sound exactly like they do in person. I like other players too but, in comparison I seem to always perceive some mild flaw in them such as slightly restricted dynamics, or restricted soundstage, or slightly soft, reserved, etc. I just can't indentify a flaw of any significance in the Elgar/Purcell.

Steve, I would never argue with your personnal opinion/experience regarding what your ear's told you. However, to say that the Esoteric XO-1/UX-1 is "inferior" on Redbook to the Reimyo is begging/negating the rest of your post. Regardless, of what language you use to describe the sound of both these pieces, they do both offer great sonics with different "flavors" as you state, therefore personnal taste not only enters the picture but the ever present importance of synergy and system matching. My hunch for what Kusina might like in his system is a type #2 sounding CDP. I suggest you put on your audition list the new Accustic Arts 24/192 upsampling CDP, along with the Reimyo. The Accustic Arts CDP sells for almost $8000.00 less then the reimyo, but might offer alot of its sonic performance for alot less expense.

Esoteric UX-1 and X-01 are not the same players and they are not, IMO sounding the same. X-01 is better than UX-01 in RBCDP. Also, all Esoteric gear that I auditioned in my system( I own DV50s and tried D-70vu/P-70vu and D-01/P-01/G-0s combos) sounded very best via balanced(XLRs) connection. Reimyo CDP-777 is very good indeed but, IMO it is sounding best via single-ended connection. More or less X-01 and CDP-777 are in the same class-I agree with Teajay.
One other thing-Esoteric is using PIN2 positive on thier balanced connection and Reimyo is using PIN3 positive on XLRs. I personally heard Reimyo out of phase and his owner was raving about the sound... When I pointed out that we are listening in inverted phase he didn't belive it. After correcting the phase we listen again and he didn't like the sound of his player any more!! So, there are many issues about good sound...but, personal preferences are allways first,IMO.

I thank all correspondents. I'll put the Accustic Arts CDP on my list. My preamp, by the way, has all balanced inputs, though one can buy adapter plugs so that single-ended cables can be used. As to phase reversal related to disparities between XLR pins 2 and 3 being hot on different connected components, many persons (I am one) really can't tell the difference. Some people, of course, can hear a difference, which is why many preamp remotes have a phase reversal switch. Further, some CD's, I'm told, are recorded out of phase to others. (This is not the same thing as having speaker drivers out of phase, a more serious sonic problem.)