ESOTERIC X-03 VS. AYRE C5XE

I´d like to throuw in two other pieces out of german production: T&A as well as AudioNet - very well build, very reliable and very nice to listen to..

Compared standard DV-50 S to C-5xe and UX-3 and RAM modded DV-50 S to standard C-5xe and UX-3. Conclusions:
C-5xe vs. standard DV-50 s: better resolution, liquidity, detail retrieval a bit more aire (Ayre); better focus, tighter bass, better macro dynamics + a tad more warmth (DV-50 S). C-5xe vs. UX-3: slightly more transparency and liquidity with C-5xe other parameters (imageing, bass, dynamics, etc.) UX-3 is better. Modded DV-50 S vs. C-5xe and UX-3: modded DV-50 S wins hands down (10 sec. of listening will prove that). Hope this helps. My configuration can be looked up in the virtual systems corner.
rgds.

The mods were performed by RAM. They offer a bunch of varieties. Mine has got the US $ 1.190,00 (budget upgrade). I once heard (not in my system) the fully loaded DV-50 S with their US $ 2.790,00 statement upgrade and it simply blew away the two contenders (stock) Wadia 861 SE and Esoteric UX-1. By the way: the modded DV-50 S replaced my Accuphase DP-67 and Audio Aero Capitole MK II - and I never looked back..

Guidocorona: it seems like we could open up a private chat ;) I mainly compared the DV-50 S to other multichannel machines as it is multichannel too. I did compare the modded DV-50 S to my previous Accuphase DP-67 (which I find is quite sterile and uninvolving - though great resolution) and to my previous Audio Aero Capitole MK II SE (which is musical very pleasing but lacks image stability, dynamics and base line). The modded DV-50 S has it all. Never looked back but my next step up will be an Esoteric UX-3 SE or UX-1 (of course I´ll add mods sooner or later) to solve some possible shortcomings.