KRELL SACD or TEAC Esoteric DV-50

Higher cost but I live in Tokyo and Esoteric is now selling two $12,000 brand new models (universal player and SACD player) which are far superior. Much more expensive, of course.

I have the Teac, bought one month ago. Before I had the MF A3.2CD. The difference in quality for CDs is abysmal. It's a very good cd player, but not excellent: the CEC mechanic + Conrad-Jonhson P9 DAC wins the challenge for CDs, in a comparison head to head.
For the new formats, I had not yet done a lot of test, but the first impression is: wow! More dynamic, details and soundstage.
I heard the Krell SACD last week, not in my room. Like Arf, I was not impressed at all. The dynamic is great, but the sound seems a bit cold and with less body. In any case take this opinion with "tongs", because I haven't done a direct comparison between the two players.

I have the Krell and I am shocked at how good it is playing regular cd's. It has been in my system now for 30 days and left on constantly. I have not listened for a week or more and was blown away by how much bigger more defined the staging has become. Will it get bigger and better? The stage is wall to wall and floor to ceiling now. If it grows more I wiil have to remove a wall and jack up the ceiling..Tom

I auditioned the Esoteric DV-50 and thought it's way overrated. The sound was thin, digital and tinny, like most Japanese digital. I have also heard a Krell KPS28c in my system and it was marvelous. I understand the SACD Standard is derived from it and sounds similar. In short, the Esoteric stinks, stick with an American player.

Linn Unidisk 1.1 is the ticket if you got the scratch.

Keith