Esoteric Players: No Digital Input. WTF?


Am I the only one who wonders WTF Esoteric is thinking with not putting a digital input on their high-end players? (ie. the X03 SE)

I would love to have the option to try out an Esoteric player, but no digital input means no deal for me, as I sometimes play CDs, and sometimes send in computer audio. (Itunes can now be seamlessly controlled with an Iphone BTW)

Where is the digital input Esoteric? Why is it missing?
goatwuss
As usual, one must go much farther up The Esoteric line to get the feature set found with the competition. You have to use one of their stand alone dacs to get inputs.
F&A... Every high end SACD player should have a digital in... even before redbook. And how about a USB in that does I2S conversion.
Undeniably TEAC Esoteric is rather conservative. . . yet, you should expect by CES time TEAC to introduce a version of the D-03 DAC that supports at least USB input. . . I do not remember about Ethernet. . . . after that, 'tis probably going to be gradual trickle down technology to the more affordable players.
Actually, G, there could also be some Esoteric trickle-up next year as they may go to 32-bit AKM Dacs in the D-03, which they currently use in the D-05. I believe there are some capacity/bandwith issues involved, or something like that. As you can tell, not an engineer...............

FYI - It also looks like APL HiFi will be coming out with 32-bit DAC boxes early next year as well - haven't heard one, but if they are anything like his Denon and Esoteric pieces, they should be very good.