Looking for a CD / SACD player. Also, tell me about Esoteric

Just to be clear on what higher end players can do, I have owned three ModWright modified palyers:  Sony 999es, Sony 5400 and the Marantz SA 8005.  They were  better with each update.  However, the Esoteric K-03XD beats every one of them as well it should.

No one mentioned Yamaha?  I have owned my Yamaha CD-S2100 for some six years now and it has operated and sounded flawlessly. I expected it to sound fantastic with SACD but wasn’t prepared for how it reproduced Red Book CD. It may not weigh as much as an Esoteric at 35+ pounds, but then it “only” costs $3000 currently directly from Yamaha. My listening is done through a Luxman L-590AxII Class A integrated and a lovely set of Sonus Faber Maxima Amators and a good set of balanced interconnects. With the savings you can buy an awful lot of discs. Or a very nice turntable 😆. 

porchlight1, Have you compared your Yamaha to any of the Esoterics mentioned?

I have been reading old reviews, the number of available SACD players dwindling over time.The Luxmans, the Esoterics, the Audionets, and Yamakas and Marantz players seem to be well regarded.

Anyone have any Luxman vs Esoteric personal experience?

Anyone heard an AUdionet player?

caphill

Thank you for so decisively setting the record straight on the lingering Esoteric versus Marantz.  There will always be those who inspite of lacking the budget to purchase truly TOTL luxury items, will nonetheless take backhanded shots at those who can.  Petty envy and jealousy....