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ESOTERIC X-03 VS. AYRE C5XE

I am looking for an SACD player with great redbook as well.
My price range is $5000.00 with a $7500.00 maximum. It seems nearly impossible to hear the Esoteric X-03 along
with the Ayre C5XE. I'd prefer to buy after hearing both together. Has anybody out there heard the two together, or
personally owns either and can venture their opinion as to the quality of sound that each produces?
kjl

Showing 3 responses by hassel

hassel
248 posts
 
Sorry, I thought that was obvious - it was the X-03.
hassel
248 posts
 
Kjl, another player you might want to consider is Lexicon´s new RT 20 CD/SACD-player. In Germany, two magazines tested the unit to sound as good, or even slightly better, than the Ayre and the Esoteric. Reinhold Martin of HiFi&Records, who owns the super-expensive, three-piece-dcs-CD/SACD-combo, tested both the Esoteric, and then the Lexicon, against it. His verdict about the RT 20: "So far, I have not heard another competitor in my chain, which played so close to the (dcs)Verdi/Delius-combo. The RT 20 is awarded second place." Another advantage is that the Lexicon is cheaper than both the Ayre and the Esoteric.
hassel
248 posts
 
Phous, at least from what I can see from the review, the build quality of the Lexicon seems to be on a very high level. Besides, Lexicon is no small company, but belongs to Harmon, as do Mark Levinson and Revel. In all fairness to the Esoteric, it should be mentioned that there is a new, SE-version of the X.03 in preparation, I think this was mentioned over on sixmoons.com
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