ESOTERIC X-03 VS. AYRE C5XE

Ayre C-5xe is the best digital player that I have heard in my twenty years audio life.

I totally agree with Sylinnian. I had a DV-50, and had it modded by Refrence Audio Mods. It was better, but when I borrowed an Ayre C5XE, it simply blew the DV-50 away. I am impressed with its performance on every digital audio format, and am really pleased with its "redbook" standard CD playback. Another thing I have not heard mentioned is its ability to deal with "problem discs". It has played such discs flawlessly, including some that would skip tracks, or make static-like noises on certain passages. It is simply a great universal player, and quite unique. I wonder why is is so rarely discussed in this forum.

I´d like to throuw in two other pieces out of german production: T&A as well as AudioNet - very well build, very reliable and very nice to listen to..

I had listen to X-03 in an local dealer and compare with 390s, they come really close. and i think Esoteric will be more solid since 390s already discoutious and Mark has been part of the H Group. I hate that happen.