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 (501-550 of 933)

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

01-07-05 Eldon,brian from essential audio is inviting us again to his ... Jayctoy

01-07-05 Pscialli the musical fidelity should sound utterly neutral ... Audiojoy4

01-07-05 Guido, thank you for your understanding reply. i disagree ... Audiojoy4

01-07-05 You are all missing the point. i will not conduct myself on ... Eldon

01-07-05 Doc luke, i think you are saying that if a patient has a col ... Phil_l

01-07-05 Dear richard, i defend your right to post to this or any ot ... Guidocorona

01-08-05 Phil very well said, i had missed that diagnosis, and i hav ... Audiojoy4

01-08-05 I have said all i care to on this subject. if what i have sa ... Eldon

01-08-05 Hi all, i dont mean to be overburdening your site, but just ... Audiojoy4

01-08-05 I'm sure he will be amused to read some of the recent contri ... Carmantom

01-08-05 Bbbaaaa, bbaaaa, richard, get a life, and learn your trade. ... 711smilin

01-08-05 Can't imagine that anyone would ever place an order with ric ... Reb1208

01-08-05 Richard kern's response is the stuff of which dreams are mad ... Springbok10

01-08-05 711, your humor is contageous. yet, let's all try to avoi ... Guidocorona

01-08-05 Wow, i think i have dac!! is there a cure for it, doctor? 1markr

01-08-05 Guido,i am so relieved that we can talk about this openly an ... Phil_l

01-08-05 Hey guys lay off richard. what he says shouldn't hurt your f ... Aldavis

01-08-05 Phil, it is sad indeed to behold how the masses of the dac ... Guidocorona

01-08-05 Guido, how very lucky for me that neither of my children ... Pscialli

01-08-05 Aldavis, richard was politely, invited to participate, add h ... 711smilin

01-08-05 Well, i certainly agree with richard here, as well as the ot ... Flye

01-08-05 Phil and guido, thank you so much for your insightful words ... Dbld

01-09-05 Hello to all, this is avguru. i am the originator and moder ... Avguru

01-09-05 Kyle is right on! alex is unprofessional and arrogant and so ... Eldon

01-09-05 I am writing this just in case my last post was misunderstoo ... Eldon

01-09-05 Dbld, the news is exceedingly worrysome. your findings may ... Guidocorona

01-09-05 Kyle, respectfully i must request that you abstain from pe ... Guidocorona

01-09-05 Hi all dac, a neurotic condition founded on the unrealist ... Audiojoy4

01-09-05 Kyle- mahalo for your post,and sharing your mana'o.i also ag ... Kana813

01-09-05 Dear alex apl, i have left my e mail address on your websit ... Audiojoy4

01-09-05 It's amazing how the good intentions of an individual can ge ... Goose

01-09-05 Avguru, eagerly awating the shootout and your insightful co ... jf@

01-09-05 Avguru made a request (demand since it is his thread) that t ... Tlday

01-09-05 T1day, for your description of what you are looking for i th ... 711smilin

01-09-05 Avguru, great comments, i agree. lets keep this fun. 711smilin

01-09-05 Avguru - if, infact, there is another shootout. a new thre ... Oldpet

01-09-05 Eldon & flye (aka richard & kyle), i understand your frustr ... Avguru

01-09-05 Audiojoy 4, did you not read my post in regards to making a ... Avguru

01-09-05 I just bought the modwright 3910 dan was showing at the ces, ... 711smilin

01-09-05 Oldpet, i agree,i am one of the chicago gang as my friend gu ... Jayctoy

01-09-05 Giudo, others, perhaps it is time to return to our regularly ... Phil_l

01-09-05 Avguru- please don't accuse me of a comment i didn't make. i ... Kana813

01-09-05 Avguru, glad you jumped back into this mess! i'm all for ge ... 1markr

01-09-05 Wow, this is a snake pit. what does it mean, avguru, that yo ... Tbg

01-09-05 To avguru, 711smilin and all of the posters on this site. i ... Eldon

01-09-05 Goose, thanks for your kind comments. stay with us as we n ... Avguru

01-09-05 on a topic more closely related to the original title of t ... Pscialli

01-09-05 Eldon buddy, get a life, and a new career, cause things must ... 711smilin

01-09-05: Avguru
Pscialli,

You pose some very good questions. It seems there was an initial buzz of excitement when the McCormack piece first came out based on the first review. However, subsequent reviews and owners comments have either been mixed or only mildy positive. And as you mentioned the latest Stereophile review was not very complemetary. I have yet to hear it but when I went to Music Direct to audition the X01 they told me the McCormack was just "ok". I would have listened to one but at that time they didn't have one in stock.

Regarding the new Orbiter, I put a post out on Audiogon a month ago asking for comments on this piece. No one commented. I would be very interested in getting a ahold of this piece and reviewing it as their stand alone cdp's have been quite good and I have a lot of respect for their engineering. Additionally, the Orbiter looks killer, even better than the DV 50 with a better build quality. But it seems everyone is waiting for a great review to come out first before taking a chance on it.

Regarding the Marantz SA 11, when I made my comments about reviewing it no one on this thread really seemed to be interested so I didn't persue it. There are a couple of other threads currently on A-gon regarding this player.

Its interesting that you mentioned the Marantz because right now I am auditioning the Marantz SA 14 vers. 2. Its in my rack and going up against the DV 50 and an Arcam cd 23.It was one of Marantz's better cdp's that seemed to be well liked and got very favorable reviews. So far the results have been interesting! The SA 14 is a nice player.

Of course, none of these players have the musicality of the modded players. And I really think its the tubes that make them magical.

AVGURU
Avguru (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

01-09-05 711, please, please..you already made your disdain of eldon ... Avguru

< Prev

<< 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 >>

Next >