AudiogoN Forums: Esoteric DV-50: Any cdp's Significantly better?

Esoteric DV-50: Any cdp's Significantly better?

Is there are anyone out there who has compared the Esoteric DV-50 to a number of dedicated red book only players (or other universal's) and found one that is SIGNIFICANTLY better?

I stress significantly because in my humble opinion the redbook playback (if comparison unit is just a cd cd player only )must be significantly better to justify losing DVD-A, SACD and DVD-Video capability.

I keep hearing there are better one box solutions and being a die hard 2 channel fan I would sell my DV-50 if I found a player in the same price range that sounds significantly better. But every time I do an AB comparision to other well respected units the DV-50 has slayed each and every one.

So far, it has eaten the lunch of the Classe CDP-10, Ayre CX-7, Linn Ikemi, Cairn Fog Vers. 2, Cary 306/300, Arcam DV 27A and CD 33T, Myryad CD 600, etc. It even betters a Sony SCD 777ES/MF Tri-Vista 21 transport/dac combo that I previously owned. I'm only comparing the DV-50 to single box cd or universal players, but I just wanted to mention the Sony/MF combo. I'm sure there are some dac/transport combo's that will handily beat the DV 50.

Some may say that the DV 50 should beat all the above because the of price point ($5,500 vs. average price of $3,000 for the above players). But I disagree since conventional wisdom says that stand alone players (especially with the pedigree of those mentioned above) should produce better redbook than a universal player trying to be a jack of all trades. Only the DV 27A does video plus audio. By the way, I was very impressed with the 27A as just a cd player. Of all the above I would say the Ayre was the best.

Next on my list is the Electrocompaniet EMC 1UP and the Resolution Audio Opus 21. However, I must tell you I am really impressed with the DV 50 and all the great reviews are absolutely true. I've noticed that many people who are using it or comparing to other players are using the RCA analog outs instead of the balanced outs. There is a significant improvement in sound if you use the balanced outs and I'm only interested in hearing comments from people who have compared it against other players using the balanced outs on the DV-50.

My system components are as follows:

B&W N803's speakers & HTM-1 center
Cary Cinema 5 (5 x 200) amp
Anthem D1 Statement pre/pro
Esoteric DV 50
Acoustic Zen Satori Shotgun speaker wire
Nirvana SX balanced interconnects from DV-50 to Anthem
Acoustic Zen Matrix reference II interconnects from D1 to Cary
No after market power cords or isolation equipment

My system sounds great! Those who comment please make sure to specify what specific improvements you heard over the DV 50 and what cdp were you comparing it against.

AVGURU

Avguru (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

11-06-04

Responses (151-200 of 933)

Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

11-28-04 Avguru, bravo..great review. when you compared the dan wrigh ... Frankie146

11-28-04 Garymd, 711's sytem sounds very good. i had never heard or ... Avguru

11-28-04 Axguru, thanks for the complimenets of my system. i need to ... 711smilin

11-28-04 I apologize for the spelling of my last post, i did not have ... 711smilin

11-28-04 Avguru, please see my answers below, denon uses their fame ... Aplhifi

11-28-04 Mr. jsala, nice to hear from you! the 2900 and 3910 transpo ... Aplhifi

11-29-04 Hi guys, a bit late to jump in here as the thread has just b ... Dwright

11-29-04 Alex, thanks for your comments. i am not going to get into ... Avguru

11-29-04 Avguru, it is interesting to read your comments. you are rig ... Aplhifi

11-29-04 Avguru, have u had the chance to audition emm labs gear? man ... Henryhk

11-29-04 Hi alex and all buddies, do you think this will be a better ... Sjmgr

11-29-04 When i had one, richard kern also had a unit. he was not abl ... Reb1208

11-29-04 Guidocorona - teac is indeed using part of the pioneer oem k ... Rex

11-29-04 Hi alex, that's great the you've tried the new dac board on ... Jsala

11-29-04 Avguru, you completely don't get any of the technical aspect ... leme@

11-29-04 I am eagerly awaiting the new mcintosh universal player. the ... Irishdog

11-29-04 Rex, not to forget the vintage ead t1000 transport i own, ... Guidocorona

11-29-04 Medea dac and cec transport combo. this combo beats any sacd ... Guylan

11-29-04 Alex and all other modifier on the thread, teac is also oem ... Guidocorona

11-29-04 Steve, i beg to differ that i don't understand "the te ... Avguru

11-29-04 Irishdog, when is the mcintosh universal scheduled to be re ... Avguru

11-29-04 Guidocorona and others who sugested using the vrds; thank yo ... Aplhifi

11-29-04 Wow alex, if you get around tackling mods to the revered x- ... Guidocorona

11-29-04 I need to hear from you guys that attended the comparisons a ... Dre_j

11-29-04: Avguru
Henryhk,

I have heard extremely positive and great things about the Meitner combo (dac and transport). I have no doubt it is some of the finest digital gear in the world and totally crushes the DV 50. I've heard the SACD playback in particular is just amazing.

You are right that I don't want to go to a dac/tranport combo anymore. I prefer a one box solution. At this point 711 and I are arranging to obtain for demo purposes an X01. We will then do another demo going head to head with the X01 vs. the APL 3910...in addition to the new APL 3910 with Alex's modifed clock. We will probably add the modwright Sony to the mix also.

At that point I will be ready to make my buying decision based on the results of that shoot-out. From everything I've read from the reviews and people's comments the X01's performance is very close (at least 90%) to that of the Meitner gear. So, if the APL or Modwright gear is significantly better (by better I mean more musical)than the X01 I would expect that its also better than the Meitner gear. That may be a flawed "assumption" but in my mind its a logical conclusion. Plus, we are having a very difficult time finding a dealer who has a demo unit that they would allow us to take home for a "demo".

I suspect that I'm going to have a very hard time finding any solid state gear (Meitner, Esoteric or otherwise) that matches the musicality of tubed gear like the Exemplar and APL 3910's or the modwright Sony. There may be intrinsic qualities of tubes that add a touch of magic and warmth that no solid state equipment can match. That's what I hope to find out by comparing the two units.

I want the Esoteric equipment to win as I love everything about the technology, tranpsort and build quality behind it. Plus I can get a great deal on the price.

But in my "heart of hearts" I already know neither the Meitner nor the Esoteric is going to be as musical as the Modded players. It's hard to explain but once you hear three dimensional music with real imagages you can touch and feel and a soundstage that is palpable and lifelike..its awfully hard to accept anything less! Alec, John and Dan are doing some amzaing things with these modded units.

AVGURU
Avguru (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

11-29-04 Cary is about to introduce a new machine. reportedly will ha ... Reb1208

11-29-04 Ok guys, i just bought the esoteric x-01, i will have avguru ... 711smilin

11-29-04 Guys: the mac universal is going into production as i write ... Irishdog

11-29-04 You guys are out of control!!!!!!!! i think the whole indust ... Reb1208

11-29-04 Hi guys: avg...i've a/b'd the dv-50 directly against the tuc ... Bearman3

11-29-04 Gosh, and i remember just a few months ago when the siltech ... Tvad

11-29-04 Reb1208,the sony mod i have,dont have compression at all, th ... Jayctoy

11-29-04 Bearman3, i'd be interested in knowing what specific " ... Avguru

11-29-04 711, ordering a mighty x-01 for yourself? i's bleeding pro ... Guidocorona

11-29-04 Avguru -- good review. 1markr -- i purchased a modwright ... Mail1068

11-29-04 Guido, i am getting the demo, so it should be plenty broken ... 711smilin

11-29-04 And cd players. back in 1990 i had a cal aria mk3 cd player ... Reb1208

11-30-04 Am i missing anything here? i want the best ... you might be ... jmic76@

11-30-04 I have also asked dan wright if he could sell/ship me his be ... 711smilin

11-30-04 No tube - no magic..:-) Aplhifi

11-30-04 I have heard that dan's best mod is his denon 5900 mod. if y ... Abrahavt

11-30-04 Jmic76, i do urge you to avoid meaningless appellatives on ... Guidocorona

11-30-04 711, avguru, you and the rest of the chicago gang are on a ... Guidocorona

11-30-04 Jayctoy, thank you for providing some information about the ... Dre_j

11-30-04 Jmic, i see you are a pessimistic soul, who is having no fun ... 711smilin

11-30-04 Guru i haven't heard the 3910 yet so i really can't make an ... Bearman3

11-30-04 711smilin well said and keep smilin. Irish65

11-30-04 Bearman3, thanks for your response. my listening session w ... Avguru

11-30-04 Due to a hectic work schedule and family committments i coul ... Avguru

11-30-04 Try meitner gear transport csdc plus dac6 (mutilchannel) or ... Henryhk

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