Cerrot, it just occured to me that Monday won't be a good time to call Roger because he'll just be getting back from CES.
You can certainly email him though, link to your system, and explain the problem. Say you're planning to call him in a few days when things settle down. But provide your phone number anyway -- he might call you; he's very good about that.
Neil
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OK, you need to do ONE THING! And that's to call Roger Sanders on Monday (after sending him an email with a link to your system page) and ask HIM what the problem is. He designed your speakers, amps and preamp, and can give you a pinpoint diagnosis. It sounds to me like there is something (probably the preamp) being dynamically overloaded by the CD player (they always have more output than other sources) and there should be a way to internally select a lower global output from the Esoteric X03-SE. But don't take my word for it, Roger will know for sure. http://www.sanderssoundsystems.com/ |
I didn't want to say it before, and be accused of trashing Shunyata or RG, but I totally agree with Ozzy. Conditioners have their place; but as far as I'm concerned, they represent old technology; there are better types of devices for addressing dirty power these days.
I think it has pretty much become accepted by 'audio culture' that power conditioners negatively affect good amplifier dynamics because their filters and chokes limit fast power transfer. (So do undersized power cords.)
What is not well known, is that for the same reasons, they (conditioners) also limit DAC performance (or anything with digital processing onboard like a CD player). And as with amps, another important item to use with digital processing equipment is a power cord with at least 12AWG or larger conductors (shielded of course). Though not power hungry like amps, digital decoding/encoding also requires the fast power transfer afforded by big power cords. A fat cord will make your desktop PC go faster too ;--)
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Cerrot, you will probably find out more when you talk with Roger Sanders. But a few points:
Most people who fairly compare direct vs. thru--preamp settle on using a preamp, even in those extreme cases where the CD is the only source!
Second, I don't think your preamp is the problem but I defer that one to Roger definitely! And another call/email you should make is to Esoteric, explain the problem and ask if the unit's output might be too high.
Third, I don't understand what you'd expect to accomplish by changing conditioners -- it would be a horizontal move. If you like using them, fine. The ones you already have are as good as any.
What you should be doing at this point, for your own edification if nothing else, is plug the amp(s) and digital equipment directly into the wall using power cords with > 12 gauge conductors as I already mentioned. This would be a free (or very inexpensive) exercise, and you'd learn a lot!
Neil
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Cerrot -- so it WAS the output from the Esoteric that was a bit high? Did you ask Roger if, rather than de-sensitizing his preamp input, that maybe you should first call Esoteric and see if there is a way to lower its output?
Most high-end CDP's and DAC's, especially those that have their own remote control volume/mute, make provision for internally adjusting their output range; so that when you have the unit's volume control wide-open, it doesn't overload the preamp. (Actually, I thought that's what Roger was going to tell you to do -- call Esoteric ;--)
Neil
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I understand everything you say, but I still feel bad that Roger has to modify HIS stuff (which I'm sure is right on the money to begin with.)
I know if you follow his advice, you will be saved from cable-swapping hell and everything will sound terrific -- it's not that -- I have total faith in Roger (especially because he claims NOT to be an audiophile!!
I am however, disappointed with Esoteric, maybe, because I think (if you haven't yet) you should make contact with them at least once, to determine if there are any internal adjustment to made. Most maufacturers do not spell out ALL possible options and adjustments in their owner's manuals. If you've already tried that, then please ignore my comments. But in my view, the problem is theirs, not Roger's, and they should fix it ;--) |
Only $10,000 ? ;--))
Anyway, if it's OK with Roger, it has to be OK with us, right?
NSG |
Dennis, obviously I don't know the technical design details of either the Esoteric OR the Coda, but my 'audio intuition' tells me something will be compromised; and I think I may have now infected you with that notion! Which is OK, because it leads to deeper thinking. Such as . . . .
. . . . after reading your post, I suddenly had this realization that we'd been talking about an older model preamp!! I know money is (always) an issue, but since you're having compatibility troubles with that earlier unit, perhaps you should simply sell it, and ask Roger if he could give you some consideration on the purchase of his latest. I know for sure he'd send you one to compare directly with the Coda, so what could be better!? My 'audio intuition' further suggests the latest model very likely will NOT present any of these matching problems. In fact, it will probably perform as well, if not better than, your 'direct connection' solution. And you can't sneeze at a lifetime transferable warranty (just remember Roger's new company is a one man operation! ;--)
And thanks for the kind complement! By the way, my Wadia T-2000 transport was Wadia's first transport (ca.1990 @ $7500!) and is in fact an Esoteric (TEAC) w/ a separate power supply and the updated TEAC heavy-duty VRDS disc-clamping mechanism! It still works like a charm after 20 years, although I now have a (relatively recent) Wadia 27 DAC.
The one outrageous update ($950 and worth every penny it turned out -- thank God!) to which I treated myself a couple/three years ago was the purchase of one of Tommy Dzurak's tuned aperature, glass fiber AT&T interconnects [url]http://www.auralsymphonics.com/optimism.html[/url] I was blown away, but told no one (because I was just too embarrassed about the price!) and I started getting the same comment over and over: "You have the most analog--sounding digital I've ever heard. What is it!?" |
