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The 3 kings: Esoteric K01,EMM XDS1,Meridian 808.3

For anyone looking for the a top mainstream player, these seem to be the primary choices by major manufacturers that I think will be around to service them for 10+ years. So I just wanted to establish this thread as a central point to compare them or post listening impressions, especially as time goes on and used ones appear at more affordable prices.
rgs92
rgs92 OP
974 posts
 
Well, I wanted to restrict this to the larger established companies with a fairly long history, that is why I left out Playback Designs, and that's the only reason.
kops's avatar
kops
478 posts
 
Rgs92
Meridian 803 sound is simply surpassed by the other 3 (Esoteric, Emm, dCS).
bombaywalla's avatar
bombaywalla
1,958 posts
 
Don't you think that Wadia qualifies for this list?? If not, what do you think are the negatives of the Wadia sound? thanks.
acurus
141 posts
 
Silly thread
cenline
238 posts
 
I just received the Wadia S7i with the GNSC Statement package and the negatives are replaced w/superlatives in every way imaginable.The new dacs from Wadia redefine what digital is able to do in macro and micro, giving a stark relief to what is really on those little shiny discs!! I am also running a complete module cabled system by r Shultz, these cables are the bomb and well worth an audition.Complete the room tuning w/ASR resonators and sugarcubes as well as Brass acoustic lenses and Bob will be your uncle!I am running a ML CLS-X w/silver wiring point to point and new caps and the results are stunning in every way.Wadia=musical enjoyment
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