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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
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
Tgun5,
Where do I get one? And can you keep the modded machine under $3K? Because that's the limit on my 40th birthday present.

Ehfm,
I should have mentioned before that it was specifically the associated gear that had me question whether or not we might end up buying an APL 3910. Between Alex's amp and the Dynaudio speakers, I found utter perfection in the reproduction, but not an emotional connection with the music. I like to get chills down my spine when bathed by the music, and in this case I did not. However, the player--which was only about 5 hours old, by the way--did absolutely everything I would want from a source. I'm just not entirely sure that I would find such an intimacy with the music if it became the centerpiece of our system. I'm pretty convinced that I would, but I might just have to listen once more.
Hope that helps to further the details.
ehfm
13 posts
 
Boa2 - Thanks, I appreciate your comments.

Tgun5 - That was a fine use for the DV-50. I didn't realize you were so handy. For the finishing touch, if you can find some pine tar, or bitumen, or an asphalt reduction tar and then apply it liberally over the digital chips, I really think you would be in heaven.

Enjoy the bliss. ;)
audiojoy4
98 posts
 
TGUN

Your comments are downright rude and disrespectful. However your simplified view of modding does strongly have an underlying smell of jealousy.
audiojoy4
98 posts
 
Boa 2,
I have Alex's apl sacd 1000 at present. My initial impressiions was one of even handedness across all areas including musicality and realism. My system includes the hyperion speakers, manley retro 300bs and a passive transformer preamp. The cables are all copper plated silver and not pure silver. I wonder if this may have helped bring out the chill you look for. This unit of course is not his latest and I was using an isolation transformer to get the 240v conversion for the uk. Some designers feel that the isolation transformer is critical at the input for sound quality. The other factor one should take into consideration is the fact that the phillips sacd 1000 was always noted by many listeners as being a very capable player when it came to communicating the emotional impact of a piece of music.

I use to use the reimyo DAP 777, and thought this was the first major advance in digital audio in years. However, as soon as i heard the apl sacd, I realized that not only was the step forward gigantic but it was what i had been waiting for all of my hifi listening life which spans 20 years. A sound that could at once be totally comfortable and competitive with the best analogue rigs. I own the platine verdier, graham and transfiguration set up, stevens and billlington step up transformer with GSP.

Luke

Luke
tgun5's avatar
tgun5
138 posts
 
Boa2, Forgot to mention the price. The TJR Magnavox will be sold for only $69. It’s going to take $3200 in DV-50’s to make each TJR unit, but I will absorb that cost as part of research and development.

The unit also uses a new proprietary chassis strap, so that you can easily show off the interior of your TJR. Eliminating the use of screws or bolts, a velcro strap holds the chassis together. This unique system eliminates the unsightly duct tape that we used on the prototype. Actually the duct tape wasn’t so bad, we just didn’t want to give rolls of duct tape away with each unit.

I will make replacement rubber suspension bands available through the parts department. They are $5 each, only because they are imported for me by WalMart. I hand pick the rubber bands from bags of 100 and each must pass stringent testing which is secret.

Audiojoy, Ever heard of satire?
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