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MORE Esoteric problems

Hi all, I posted an issue with Esoteric CD players a couple of years ago. I bought a UX-3SE from an eBay seller. It skipped all CD's. I called Esoteric. ALL SACD players with the "U" model numbers need to go to Japan because that's where the alignment jig is. $2500.00 at that time JUST for the shipping back and forth. I returned the player to the seller naturally. An Asian gentleman working at TAP electronics told me at that time that the models with the "X" can all be repaired in California. Great I said. I bought an Esoteric X-01. A great player! Now it doesn't read SACD's. I sent it to TAP last week. A follow up call from TAP gave me the dreaded news that NOW the X-01 needs to go to Japan for the jig alignment procedure. WHAT! They did reduce the transportation cost to $1600.00. And this is for shipping only. I think that the audio community needs to send Esoteric a message and boycott ALL Esoteric products. BTW, it's not just their CD players that are required to make the trip to Japan if repairs are needed. I understand that certain models of preamp and integrated amps fall under this requirement as well. How can a company such as Esoteric not do better for the consumer?
128x128jnovak
jafant
18,796 posts
 

thaluza


Much Thanks! for the update. It would be really impressive if TAP electronics offered repair/service for the DV-50/50S/60 series of players.

Those models are over 10 years old now.


Happy Listening!

daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,835 posts
 
I recently bought a DV60, I was told by TAP that the sled and the transport are still available. I may look into buying a spare of these parts. 

missioncoonery
1,190 posts
 
I understand this post is old but for those who have interest in buying Esoteric used...think long and hard.I called the service center and I finally got a counter receptionist on the phone.She would not pass me along to a tech so that I could ask questions,she (according to her) told my story to a tech who simply said send it in.No one could or would answer cost questions,time questions..just send it in..It was maybe a month later I received a call from an Asian guy who was on the east coast whom I could barely understand.I did get, it would be pricey to service but comparing the cost of the new model it was a bargain to spend a $100+ on shipping it in and more than a grand in repair options...So now I have a player that doesn't work,cant sell it except as a parts unit that cost me over 7 grand at the time of purchase.
rsf507
2,222 posts
 
So the ? has to be asked. Why with all these Esoteric repair issues/concerns are people still buying this gear? Do people like throwing their $$ away?
vegasears
1,173 posts
 
It's sad how things change.  I've got two Esoteric pieces. The DV-50 multi format digital disc player.  It was purchased as a Demo.  I had to  send in for warranty repair of the red book section a few months at the buy.  I paid shipping to California from Nevada.  The tech explained it was a very early product unit and he added a little solder to the board.  Later when it was out of warranty the SACD section got distorted. Again I paid shipping and hoped it would not be overly costly of a repair.   A week after it arrived at the repair facility, I called to see if the had a chance of look at it. The nice lady said it shipped out two days earlier.  I asked the cost of the repair.  She replied, no charge!  The machine was 11 month out of warranty!   That happen around 2005+/-.   The DV-50 has been trouble free since.  I also have a Esoteric D-07 DAC.   Also a demo unit, it's been without issue.  Note: Not long after DV-50, Esoteric started to make there own Disc Transports instead of the off the shelf one they'd been using.


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