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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 nealhood

nealhood
199 posts
 
Oldpet, you might want to look into the Decware 685 player. It is $700 and includes a single ended triode tube stage driven directly from the dac chip output. No buffers, opamps, etc., to mess things up.

How does it sound? Well, I will let you know next week when mine arrives.

I don't mention this as being a sleeping giant or APL/Exemplar/Modwright killer as I am sure it is not. But, just another choice for those like me who have limited budgets. I would love to have one of APL or, the other units often in the limelight here but, even if I could afford it I tend to draw a line on prudence. Right now in an ever changing digital marketplace $4k for a CD player is outside that line for me. If I had any interest in SACD or DVD maybe not. But I don't.
nealhood
199 posts
 
My advice is to have a session next weekend and allow any that can make it to come by, relax, and have a listen. If they are interested in hearing other players then they can come by another time when another particular player will be shown. I think you are going to end without good conclusions because those A/B/C/D, etc comparisons when switching players with many people changing seats ( and drinking beer) all the time is not conducive to a fruitfully effective audition. It's not much different than being in your local Circuit City listening room while the salesman is punching those switching boxes every minute or two. While some may be able to pick their sacred cow from an audition like this, most can not.

Anyway, looking forward to reading comments whenever the audition takes place.
nealhood
199 posts
 
"Saxman2", how close is Cedar Falls to Cedar Rapids? I will be in CR sometime during March. Don't know what week yet. I would love to listen to the Meitner.
nealhood
199 posts
 
With the exception of a few slurs from the pig pen, the comments from the shootout have been entertaining and rewarding. I too would have preferred a blind test but, I do like the 10 category 5 point scorecard approach. I hope to be seeing more of these shootouts in the future. Even hope to participate is some.

I should also mention that successful entrepreneurs always exhude plenty of confidence in their product. It's expected. Here Alex deserves a complement. I certainly hope his enthusiasm, confidence and colorful opinions in his own products and handiwork never wans. And, the same goes for other vendors, modifiers, etc., out there. It is this enthusiasm that drives them for higher goals. I just wish the Ram and Modwright fellows would also chime in from time to time. Shill and hype keep the audio business thriving so for goodness sakes let's not loose it.

I would also encourage vendors and modifiers, and all for that matter, to disrespect any slurring and invective behavior by merely not responding or disregarding the post(s). To respond is like getting in a pig pen with pigs. Things will just get nasty and dirty and the pigs - well they don't care.
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