Is Exemplar the answer?

Rmihai,since none of the players you mention are up to the level of the EMM and since I find the Exemplar clearly superior to the EMM, I can only conclude that you have not heard the Exemplar. I recently heard the EMM DCC2 and the new EMM transport in a good system for many hours. I would not even consider replacing my Exemplar/Denon 2900 with the new EMM.

Rmihai has given us an impressive list to consider. I agree those should be on the list when you think about good cd players.

Modded players have never been of interest to me. There are warranty and resale issues that I can't get past, and I completely understand why someone might choose to never buy a modded player. However, the buzz on this player made me think twice, and eventually I decided to take a shot.

I spent several days trying to decide between the Exemplar and the Esoteric DV50. I'm sure you really can't go wrong with either player, but I went with the Exemplar because I came to trust the designer. The Exemplar is for the person who wants good video, and the absolute best audio. Most of the effort and the dollars are spent on getting us as close to the music as possible, and John Tucker has years of experience turning good products in to state of the art audiophile quality products.

Will this player live up to the hype? Is it one of those products that is red hot for a few months and then fades? I have never been so uncertain about any purchase, but, I'm counting the days until delivery, and can hardly wait to try the player in my system.

Man oh man, this audio game is a real headtrip, I am still waiting, not only for the exemplar, but for the new dac chip from apl too, than wouldn't you lmow it, denon comes out with the 3910 which plays HDCD too...yeah, what mindgames we play on ourselves here in the audio search. I guess I will just have to be patient, which, is not one of my bets virtues. I have 10 different sets of tubes to roll with the exemplar, and will be AB'ing with the APL...fun will come soon. At a $$$, just hope it's worth the $$$ and the wait. In time I will see, Or hear...

For years we have been buying cars only to find that the next year's cars were improved. Computers were another example. I too would like to hear HDCDs as I heard them on the Lindemann, but hey they still sound very good on the Exemplar.

I do wonder if the Denon 3910 will be modifiable. Does it allow the room for the tubes?

Alex over at APL-hifi has designed a tube mod for the new Denon 3910.

http://www.aplhifi.com/DENON.html