I purchased the SA-50 with great results after 400 plus hours of burning in.
Prior to the Esoteric SA-50 I was using a BCD1 (Bryston). The Bryston is an excellent RED Book Player with some of the finest musicality toe tapping results. I sold it for the Esoteric because it sounded more silky and I had less listening fatigue. The SA-50 is a well rounded CD/SACD player.
Never tried the x05 though. I hear great things too. Can't go wrong with either one. If the built in DAC option is not for you then I say go for the x05 because less is better in that case. Better transport for the x05.
I am happy and content for now. TIP: use a JPS AC Digital power cord.
thanks so much for sharing, for me x-05 has better bass, more solid preseantation, but SA-50 has the digital in(and cheaper),tough one! also considering ayre as well, very musical, but cx7e mp is not as detailed as esoteric.
Digital in's did it for me. The added flexability they off surpassed any shortcomings that the CD/SACD might have. I'm really enjoying my SA-50 which is now about 1 month old.
I recently upgraded to the SA-50 from a Krell SACD Standard. Krell is known for its slamming bass but the SA-50 bass is just as slamming and more defined. An awesome upgrade and its now my reference. Synergistic Reseach just came out with footers called MIG's and only cost $150 and were especially made for the SA-50. These footers tighened up the bass and now it slams even more. Synergistic told me while getting ready for CES 2010, they compared the PO3, DO3, and Esoteric Rubidium Clock without MiG's to the SA-50 with MiG's. The SA50 with MiG's beat the PO3, DO3, Rubidium Clock combo hands down.
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