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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

Showing 5 responses by carmantom

carmantom
17 posts
 
Eldon

A quick search has me puzzled when I found this post of yours in the forums:

03-24-01: Eldon
I do modifications to the Sony's. I replace the carbon resistors with vishays, the film caps with REL caps and I
insteal HEXFREDS and Black Gate caps in the power Supply.
My price for these mods is aprox. $300 parts $150 labor.
Your cost will vary depending on the resistors you wish me to put in. The improvement in sound is stunning. Clarity
and Detail are improved at least two to one and the speed
and pace of the bass is excellent. No more slow dark sony sound on cd's. Sacd's are superb. The best part is the
imaging has improved with the sound behind the speakers
and not in your face. The treble is not forward anymore
and the ambiance is clear and clean, not warm and fuzzy
as before. Contact Richard Kern at:
http://www.audiomod.com or email me at cdenhance@uswest.net
I can give you a choice of capacitors and resistors
to put in your sony and a lower price because of this.

Eldon (Answers)

Isn't this what you are saying Alex is doing?

Maybe there is an explanation you can offer to help me see what you were meaning.
carmantom
17 posts
 
I'm sure he will be amused to read some of the recent contributions. I have followed this thread for some time. I have concluded that Alex contributes information regarding his product only when asked. In addition he has always been helpful helping members like me with limited understanding.

If that makes me a sheep as indicatied by Eldon's comment, then so be it. Not all sheep are led to slaughter. Some were known to be led beside "still waters". Sure sounds magical and musical to me.

At 54 I am beginning to learn I do not always have to be the one making all the conclusions through trial and error. Instead I can learn through others.

I recently sold my Esoteric DV-50 in the pursuit of more in my front end. I contribute that decision to some understanding of front end, but mostly to the contributions of many on this board who have taken the time to share their experiences with their search for a better listening experience. I concluded Alex's modded 3910 was probably the best one out there now.

Some might say that I'm taking a gamble. It is no more a gamble than the countless thousands of dollars I have spent buying through auditioning and not auditioning. We all know it never quite sounds the same at home as in the audio salons. When I deide to take risks, I try to minimize my exposure to loss. I beleive I have done that by my order placed to Alex a few weeks ago. I also think if my gamble does not pay off(the unit does not meet my ear's requirements) then there will be those who will gladly buy it at a very good price. Looks like doc Luke might be someone.

When I receive it, (Alex, says I should have it in my hands by Jan.17th) I will post my experiences with it.

Here's a guy who has a "hot" item and has plenty of orders for them, and still manages to find time to answere questions and give valuable input to these forums. If you ask me, that speaks very highly to his character.

Those who have time only to whine about him probably feel more thratened by him than anything else.

Sorry for the long rant. I feel better now. Tom
carmantom
17 posts
 
I have followed this thread for quite some time now. I was led here as a result of being a DV-50 owner. I wanted to research things on Agon about my CDP that other owners had experienced. As I continued to follow, I realized there might be something even better out there.
After input from many people I have come to respect in their opinions I decided to call Alex. After a couple of chats with him, it was easy to understand I was talking to someone who was several levels higher than most in know the technology of audio. I even discussed the possibilty of modding my DV-50. Once again the more I discussed this with Alex it seemed clearer to me that APL 3910 would be a superior machine.
I do not claim to have the "audiophile experience" that many have here. Nor can I use the fancy language that so many subscibe to.. I have however been involved with music for over 40 years as a musician and singer.
It is only now in my 50s that I have made a decision to build and buy the 2 channel system of my dreams. I have only been working on this for a couple of years now and bought and sold tens of thousands of equipment.
Sorry for the long-winded preface but these are my observations of my DV-50 vs. the APL 3910
The DV-50 wasn't even close.
It was as if a blanket was lifted off the soundstage. I think this means the APL was much more transpaent. I listen often to female vocals. Natalie Merchant, Amanda Mcbroom, and many more were now performing for me live. The space where the notes end and the space starts were nothing less than breathtaking. Each pause between notes were as meant to be, as important as the notes. I think you guys call this blackness. The bloat in the bass I found in the Esoteric was gone in the APL 3910. The pace and speed of the 3910 was lively and body involving. I think that is referred to as "musicality" . there was a sterility to the DV-50 I could never understand. Almost like a sound built in a lab.
The odd thing of all of this is that up until I received my APL 3910 there was not a finer cd player in my book than the DV-50. It did all the things right as far as I knew.
My purchase of the DV-50 was the best I had ever heard. That made it the best as far as I was concerned, until I heard the APL 3910.
I guess the real question is how many things are out there that might be better, and it is me that don't know it, because I haven't heard it yet.
The question is , "Is it enough to know to ourselves that our unit is great sounding to our ears in our own home?"
It's quite probable that we are all right, given different systems,ears,musical tastes and budgets.

Esoteric DV-50: Any cdp's Significantly better?
To me YES! The APL 3910
Tom
carmantom
17 posts
 
Daltonlanny
I was not comparing for the sake of comparing the modded dv-50. I was simply comparing the DV-50 stock as the intial thread asked for. I have no idea what the modded DV-50 sounds like.
Tom
carmantom
17 posts
 
Jayctoy

You are exactly right. I bought my APL 3910 as the result of this thread and the experience of those on it. It was a crapshoot except for the information received here. That was a lot. There will always be hype for any product, but much less here than the manufacturers. For the most part I found most people's intentions here to be clean. That was to find the best CDP they could. I'm not sure anyone could go wrong with most of the products mentioned on this thread. Except of course for the unmodded DV-50 (too expensive for what I now know exist). That was my only listening comparison. I can tell you this, I told my wife (for the 1st time ever) this piece will always remain. Even if I put together a whole new system, it will be around the APL 3910 That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Tom
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