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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 1 response by rex

rex
245 posts
 
There is an objective construct ---- something made with $100 of parts is not worth $10,000 retail because the majority are willing to pay it.

If you can throw $100 of parts into a box and make it sound as good and work as well as Brand X's $10,000 unit, then you may have a point.

If you can't, then perhaps you should acknowledge that there are other factors at play besides the cost of the parts. Concept, design, engineering, construction and distribution have value as well. A quality audio component is more than the sum of its parts.
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