You need a loan unit of each to put them in your system for a real time compare, all else is pure speculation. Since these are high price point units, find a dealer who will let you live with each for least two weeks. Borrow the floor demo's, all burned in. I've heard the Esoteric and was not impressed in that it did not sound better in my system which has a sony 777. All that it proves is in 'my' system the Esoteric is bettered, according to my ears.
