Technics

I wouldn’t buy high end audio on ebay, craiglist, Facebook marketplace. 
buy used here or on usam from reputable sellers with good feedback. 

Thanks for the suggestions.  I am most intrigued by the Esoteric which I have always heard good things about.  I hesitate to buy a used one, though, since there are so many unknowns about used equipment and I will use it very heavily (6-8 hours per day).  I may have to stretch my budget a bit.

Walt I bought used esoteric sacd player before , I love it. Three months later it won’t read cds. Thank God Music DIRECT TOOK IT BACK. I tried having it repair. Too expensive and no guarantee it will even work. The shandling looks nice but I don’t know if they can stand being played 6 to 8 hrs a day.

You might want to tailor the sound character to your system...

• Luxman D-07X → ~$11.5k (best value)
• Esoteric K-05XD → ~$13.5k
• Accuphase DP-570 → ~$14k (often highest MSRP)

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🧠 Design philosophy (this matters more than specs)

🔵 Esoteric K-05XD

• VRDS-ATLAS transport (mechanical overkill)
• Discrete DAC + heavy clocking focus
• “Engineering-first” approach

👉 Think: precision instrument

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🟡 Luxman D-07X

• ROHM DAC + Luxman analog stage
• More emphasis on analog output stage voicing
• Trickled down from D-10X

👉 Think: musical + slightly romantic

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🟠 Accuphase DP-570

• MDS+ DAC architecture (parallel DAC summing)
• Extremely refined power supply + noise control
• Classic Accuphase voicing

👉 Think: smooth + refined + safe

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🔊 Sound character (this is where they separate hard)

Esoteric K-05XD

• Extremely clean, fast, and resolving
• Deep, tight bass
• Huge spatial precision, but can feel slightly “cool”

👉 Best for:

• Complex classical
• Imaging freaks
• Analytical listening

⚠️ Can sound a bit “matter-of-fact” if your system is already neutral

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Luxman D-07X

• Slight warmth, very fluid midrange
• Excellent tone density (especially vocals, strings)
• Less aggressive than Esoteric

👉 Best for:

• Jazz, vocals, chamber music
• Long listening sessions
• Systems that need body

⚠️ Not as razor-sharp in imaging or transient attack

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Accuphase DP-570

• Ultra-smooth, polished, slightly laid-back
• Very low listening fatigue
• Great coherence, less “hi-fi fireworks”

👉 Best for:

• Relaxed listening
• Bright systems
• People who hate digital edge

⚠️ Can feel a bit “safe” or less exciting vs the other two

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🧩 Technical personality differences (important in your system)

Transport quality (SACD playback)

1. 🥇 Esoteric (not even close)
2. 🥈 Accuphase
3. 🥉 Luxman

DAC / digital input use

1. 🥇 Luxman (best all-round DAC usability)
2. 🥈 Esoteric
3. 🥉 Accuphase (more disc-focused feel)

Analog output stage (musicality)

1. 🥇 Luxman
2. 🥈 Accuphase
3. 🥉 Esoteri