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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 4 responses by mikannen

mikannen
4 posts
 
Hi Guys
Has anyone had a chance to compare all the players mentioned against the modded Denon 2900/3910 from the likes of Reference Audio Mod and Underwood? How do they stack against the DV50 and the Exemplar and APL machines?
Thks
mikannen
4 posts
 
Hi Oldpet & Alex

Did a quick comparison off the internet. These are the costs of the full mods for 2900/3910 (incl new clock but not the machine and optional bybee filters).

Underwood Level 2 Mods (SS) $1730
RAM (SS with silver coupling Transformer) $1750
Modwright Universal Truth (tube) $1950
APL (tube with master clock but not new DAC board ) $2605

Actually other than APL, the price differences are not that substantial but more reflect different approaches. Despite the touted advantages of tube (of which I subscribe to), both RAM and Underwood continue to use SS analog stages. One must however recognize that this is something some users may prefer because of listening preference or out of concern over heat generated and hence long term reliability.

Alex is the only one with his own custom DAC board but I have worked out the cost less the Board.

This brings me back to my original question. How do the RAM and Underwood machines stack up against the Modwright and APL and the DV50?

While it is difficult to quantify, how much of an improvement comes from Alex’s own DAC board.

It seems to me that this shootout will be incomplete without bringing RAM and Underwood into the picture. I don’t know if they can be persuaded to provide samples for audition.

Thanks and Best Wishes for 2005 to all
mikannen
4 posts
 
Thank you Alex and Tbg

Alex, there is no doubt that yours is the most complete rework – indeed you
described it as “your own machine” in an earlier response. Because you replace the DAC board, yours is unique in providing its own remote control, volume attenuator and filters. For comparison purposes, I have stripped out the cost of this proprietary DAC board.

The point I was making was not about the price difference but the fact that the machines reflected their modders’ different approach and execution, SS versus tube, use of output coupling transformer, etc.

Tbg, I agree that shootouts have their limitations and the conclusions, if any, may not be free from biases. But we listeners have our listening biases too. Notwithstanding this, as a result of this widely followed thread and the listening sessions, potential buyers of the various machines now have a greater sense of how they pan out.

The VSAC sessions you mentioned featured John Tucker's, Dan Wright's, Alex Pachec's, and Allen Wright's mods. The praise for all the units that you heard at the end of that session may not have answered the question which is best – but at least you know the various machines are playing in the same league. So, why hasn’t anyone included RAM and Underwood into the listening comparisons?

Regards
mikannen
4 posts
 
Hi AVGURU, Eldon & Flye

I second what Dbld is saying. We want to hear from RAM, Audiomods, Underwood and whoever else.

Eldon and Flye, can you or any of your clients can involved in the hearing sessions?

Rgds
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