Jafant:
I did look to have TAP Electronics to fix the X-03SE in deciding to get the player repaired, but having to ship it cross country was something I was not a big fan of. I was able to get the player repaired through my trusted audio guy's store I have locally, whose repair person was able to get the player up and running again.
Since getting the repaired X-03SE player, I also purchased a set of new Cardas RCA cables for the recently purchased D-03 DAC, a nice upgrade from what I had previously. I also wanted to begin using the Word Sync functionality that exists on the D-03 as well as the X-03SE. I thought I'd simply connect a BNC cable between the two units, and the system would be improved. I was able to purchase a used single BNC cable at another local store toward that goal.
Then I read that it looks as if I will need to also purchase a master clock generator to get that BNC cable benefit. Is that so? And if so, what Esoteric clock generator would work with this particular DAC and the CD player together? The couple of clock generators by Esoteric that I read about, two of them, a G-01X and G-05, seem to not work with this combination, leaving the G25U, which seems to be a match. The G-0S I'm not sure about. I'd love to know if I'll need a master clock generator to get the BNC cable benefit, and which Esoteric master clock generators would match with the D-03 DAC and X-03SE CD player.
Lastly, I was wondering if there is a particular Esoteric remote control that will work with both the X-03SE and D-03, as the remote I have for the X-03SE doesn't give me the ability to change between the inputs, moving from my input that has all my audio channels linked together (TV/DVD/Bluesound) on one input and the CD player on the other.
Thanks in advance.
Is the "tray error" issue on an Esoteric X-03 CD player worth fixing?
I have a Esoteric X-03SE CD player that is still in my system that I loved for many years. I purchased the unit in 2011. Then late in 2017, it started slipping with its belt and started giving me the dreaded "tray error."
I took it to a place to be repaired, and got the belt replaced. A couple years later, the error started to appear again. With the suggestion of a longtime and trusted audio local salesperson, instead of trying to repair the X-03SE again, I instead turned my 600-plus CD collection into a Bluesound digital library with the purchase of a Vault 2i. For the last five years, I had thought I was pretty much set using the Bluesound, and the X-03 largely sat idle over that time.
Recently, at his store, I saw a used Esoteric DAC unit for sale. I was curious if adding it to my system would be an improvement to my system’s overall sound, and he assured me it would, saying the Esoteric DAC is miles above of what is inside of the Bluesound for a DAC.
In just the couple hours I have been test driving the Esoteric DAC unit at home, and it certainly makes my system sound better when listening the Bluesound library. I think I’ve pretty much decided on adding that unit to my system.
What does all that have to do with the X-03SE? As a side note, he said that the DAC would also make my X-03SE CD player that I still have in my system sound better, if I opted to get the X-03SE repaired.
Since I still have it, I wonder if there’s much value to fixing it, getting back to sometimes using the X-03 (since I still have my physical CDs), versus always listening to the Bluesound. Or do you think the Bluesound/Esoteric DAC combo simply stands as worthwhile on its own, without the added expense and hassle of repairing the Esoteric X-03?
Thoughts?
And then the question becomes who still would take on such a repair, as comments about the "tray error" and repair issues for an X-03 I saw on one comment thread here that date back seven years, with many comments largely talking about how hard it was to find someone to repair the unit back then. Usually with used gear, it only gets harder with time, but maybe I’m wrong in this instance? Curious ...
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- 19 posts total
- 19 posts total