Esoteric X-01 D2

I have just put one into my system to replace a Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista SACD player. The reason for replacement was that the MF had lost a channel and rather than repair it I chose to trade it in on the Esoteric unit because the MF dealers told me that ulitmately all the MF Tri-Vista transports go bad and there is no replacement whatsoever.

The new Esoteric unit sounds gourgeous. I think it needs breakin as it has been sounding better each week for the four weeks I have had it. The three DACs are a great touch and you can easily and clearly hear differenced between them. So that CDs can sound better with one DAC over another.

Overall the unit is very musical. The image presentation is focused and filled with detail. I hear more musical character in vocals for example. The dynamics of the unit seem stronger than the previous MF unit. I will venture that the Esoteric does not have a sound of its own as many of my CDs and SACDs now sound so different from one another than previously. There is more detail, more dynamics, and the unit makes music at low volumes a more engaging experience.

The units appearance and overall build quality seem very high end. The remote is very easy to use and it may have the first owner's manual that is easy to read and actually helpful.

So my recommendation is very positive. The thing sounds gorgeous and this will in all likelyhood be my last CD/SACD player.

I like this thread so here are some more thoughts:

I am not usually a tweaker but might consider some trial and error with isolation. My equipment is in an Arcici rack and the whole system is so dead quiet that I can hear the studio resonance and some A/C system rumble on certain recordings.

The best thing about the Esoteric D2 is its ability to make listening at moderate or lower volume as pleasureable as when I can listen loudly. This makes it possible to me to enjoy music far into the night when others are sleeping

I also just added a new BAT 52se preamp into the system and that is sounding like big upgrade on my Pass x-1 (which always sounded good to me).

The most remarkable thing about the Esoteric is that so many recordings now sound different from one another--what I was trying to say about the unit not having its own sound. And these are recordings that I know well for many, many years. When you add in the multiple DAC units it really gives the ability to fine tune source material. The differences in the way the DAC units sound are most noticeable on vocals; not only in the sound quality of the vocals but also in the perspective (for example in opera recordings) where one can hear the voice sitting into or in front of the orchestra or band.

I am running Purist Audio Venustas IC cables and a Shunyata power cord. These were in my system before and I am going to keep it at that for the forseeable future.

I too bought it without an in-home audition (in fact any audition at all) but I do trust the dealer I work with and his recommendations have been right on about equipment in the past (great prices too). I would be happy to communicate privately with anyone for the recommendation.

next up: new speakers. but right now the system sounds gorgeous. And I feel that I have at least a year or more of just listening to all my CDs and about fifty unopened SACDs before I get any more upgrade vibes.

to Mariasplunge:

I know it is considered "wrong" to change out multiple pieces of equipment at the same time but I had just gotten the new Krell EVO402 which was a very, very big upgrade over my Krell 400cx, the sound of which I knew very well.

I was eager to try something in the tube preamp area and was shopping for a ARC Ref3 preamp. The dealer I have used in the past had a ARC Ref3 that he had taken in trade and I was ready to jump but he said that he had just A/B tested the Ref3 against the BAT 52se and told me that it was clear that the BAT was superior. His ears had jibed with mine in the past and so the deal was done. It sounds great. who knows I may wind up with tubes all around someday. I have to say there is a resolution to the tubes where there is not only more detail but more "more" if you know what i mean. I hear woodiness on woodwinds, I hear more bell on the brass instruments. I hear different timbres from the same players on a record when they change their tone and dynamics. On vocals I hear more parts of the voice, the chest voice, head tone, throat chamber and I hear them in a way that is coherent and beautiful.

So now I am a BAT fan and firmly in the Esoteric D2 camp. I think with these two pieces of equipment there are very, very small (if any) further sonic upgrades to be had without a too huge investment on my part.

all in all I am even more amazed that the JM Lab Mini-Utopias I use (with a Utopia Sub) keep sounding better and better.

The whole bug for an system upgrade started when I was eager to move to the VTL S400 tube amp but no one would care to make a home audition possible, under any terms. Pretty strange for the price I thought. So I auditioned the Krell at home for a couple of weeks and it sounded great, so then I just went crazy and started making the wholesale changes. But right now I am typing this while I listen to the Mozart Gran Partita on a magical performance by Otto Klemperer (on a long ago out of print CD) and it is taking me to that special place. The whole family is out at the pool, the house is dead quiet, the dogs are asleep, the A/C is off and the music sounds incredible.

to Tboooe: I looked at the price of the REX and decided that while I spend alot of money on equipment, I don't want to spend the most. With my system it seemed like overkill. BAT equpiment is upgradeable so you never know. . . .

I like bringing a system along in total, piece by piece if necessary. The BAT 52 sounds great. I will focus on speakers next. . . .