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EAR Acute

Heard the Acute today and fell in love with its sound immediately - such glorious midrange and deep layering; full of details without causing ear fatigue! Must be the tube output stage...

Would have bought it on the spot but the build held me back. If it costs $2000, no problem but at $5000, I expect better build quality.

Is there a CDP out there that shares the EAR's glorious sound but better built in the same price range to recommend?
celebrer_le_temps343b
aolmrd1241
1,039 posts
 
Electrocompaniet EMC-1up 24/192

A great player, at a great price, in the areas, you are looking for...
rpf
76 posts
 
Possibly no better built but $1500 less and, according to Robert Levi at Positive Feedback, similar sound, the Modwright Platinum Truth Sony 9100ES. I love mine and it's not fully broken in yet. Replaced an APL Denon 3910 and I'm not missing anything.
rpf
76 posts
 
On second thought, the Sony probably is of better build quality. The drawer is quiet and smooth and the stock unit has 3 power supplies, two of them linear. In addition, Modwright's outboard PS is of very high quality and weighs as much as an entry level player.
celebrer_le_temps343b OP
49 posts
 
Saw the much more beautiful chrome faceplate version on Audio Revelation's website.

Now no excuse, the Acute is on the way!
marcosmana
4 posts
 
Celebrer, do you know what transport mechanism it uses? There are an awful lot of expensive CDPs now using cheap DVD-ROM mechs instead of proper Red Book CD drives. I use a heavily modified 'classic' Sony X777ES/DAS-R1 combination, which sounds fantastic. Each unit weighs 17kg! They don't build them like that anymore...

Enjoy your Acute when it arrives. I have a lot of time for EAR designs.

Marco.
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