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ESOTERIC, WADIA -- How do they really sound?

I have read and heard that upgrading your source to the highest level possible will make the greatest difference. This makes sense, in that once information is lost or poorly decoded, it cannot be regained.

BUT, I am dumbfounded at the opinion of expensive digital players out there. I did an exhaustive search on the forums on Esoteric and Wadia, and was shocked to find some very strong criticisms of deficiencies in products from both these companies, and Levinson and others.

Yet, you can find bang-up magazine reviews on all these products (no surprise, right?).

My concern is that some of the criticisms are rather severe, and surprising in items of this price caliber. For example. The soundstaging is pushed together, the tonal balance is off, the dynamics are compressed, the treble is bright, the sonics are thin, the bass is lacking, the digital volume control degrades the sonics, etc.

If you are buying used, and don't have dealers to take these pieces home, or feel unethical in doing so, how can you make any decisions based on this quagmire of information?

HELP!
saxo

Showing 3 responses by guidocorona

guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Saxo, what is almost universally true is that even those digital players that have a volume control do in fact benefit from a linestage. You may think of the volume attenuator in the player as something to be used 'in a pinch'. Most of my experience is on the TEAC X-01 in its various incarnations, which by the way does not have a built-in volume control and needs to be used with a linestage at all times. I am not quite sure how the device can remotely be characterized as mechanical, thin, reedy, flat, lacking dynamics, or of possessing any of the various stereotypical defects routinely lobbed at digital players. The device has tremendous dynamics and very subtle microdynamics, a soundstage to die for, tremendous extension, exceedingly detailed and -- at least for me and so many other audiophiles out there -- it embodies the word 'musicality'.
All of this. . . provided the unit has been properly broken in, with at least 800 hours of playing time, otherwise all of those negative stereotypes will apply without reservations and in spades to boot.
Having said that, I also said so many times that there is no absolute best. You may love the intense beauty of the sound generated by products of this brand, or you may not. You may very well prefer a slightly more 'romantic' presentation afforded by some other make. In the Esoteric line I suggest you have a listen to some very well broken in units of the X-03 SE, the X-01 Limited, and if you preferred a slightly warmer sound and your budget allows it -- the P-03/D-03 combo.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Saxo, some of the most knowledgeable agoners in matters super-high-end digital are often found to roost and cluck companionably on "Reference DACS - An Overall perspective". You may want to join in the fun and post at:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1126769860&openflup&51&4#51
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Saxo, a ceiling of $7K for a used X-01 is not unreasonable. There appear to be two such units listed now on Agon: one of them lists for $6.1K. If you got it and then you did not like it, you should be able to unload it at a very similar price.
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