ESOTERIC X-03 VS. AYRE C5XE

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You are correct. However there is an almost subtitle of a quest for either the best player or best value under $7500. If he owns or can cheaply obtain one of my mentioned Sony models to completely upgrade with Allen Wright' efforts, the value and savings are difficult to match if not impossible. In 7 responses above mine, 4 refer to mods or other players and they must have led me astray. I apologize for thinking about the possibility of saving someone $4,000--$5,000.

I think you no exactly what I was getting at.There are oodles of threads about mods.I was hoping this wouldn't be another one highjacked by the mod squad.

I am also looking at either digital source. I was fortunate enough to have auditioned the Esoteric UX-3 and DV-60 in my system, thanks to Paul at Imagine HiFi. I am now in the process of looking for a dealer who would be willing to loan me a C5xe. In which time, I should be able to decide which one to get. I wonder if the used market on 'gon is any indication of an equipments performance. Case in point, there's quite a few Esoteric's being sold in the used market and almost none of the C5xe or Ayre equipment for that matter. The assumption I have about this observation is that C5xe owners are happier and are keeping their equipment compared to Esoteric owners who are selling their equipment who might have had failed expectations or feel they can do better with another equipment. Just a thought. Anyway, I can't wait to get a C5xe in my system so I can determine for myself which one works for me.

I have owned both the Ayre C5XE and the Esoteric X-03.

I originally sold my Esoteric and bought the Ayre. I couldn't wait to get back to Esoteric. I kept the Ayre machine for a couple of months and missed the huge panoramic soundstage, the awesome dynamics, and the finely defined image placement of the Esoteric. I also missed the build quality of the Esoteric and the player's VRDS-NEO transport mechanism - that just works better and just seems to be of much higher quality than the Pioneer mechanism in the Ayre. In fact, the Ayre refused to play some of my discs - a problem I've never had with an Esoteric.

To my mind and to my ears, the Ayre sounded like an extremely good CD/SACD player. The Esoteric just sounded better. A step closer to the sound of real live music.

I sold the Ayre and bought another Esoteric X-03. Love It!

I have now had the X-03 modified by Reference Audio Mods (their second level mod) and it now sounds incredible. Certainly the best I've ever heard.

I now have the modified Esoteric in my main system and a Cary 306 SACD in a second. To me, both sound superior to the Ayre C-5Xe.

I spoke to Brooks Bardan, a dealer here in So. California. He is willing to loan me a C5xe (with a small deposit of course) to audition in my home. I will post my observations as soon as I have a more definitive opinion on this matter.