After getting the Esoteric D-03 DAC recently, I was fortunate to get a G-02 master clock generator that works perfectly in tandem in my system. With the Esoteric X-03SE CD player recently having been repaired to work again, I'm listening to CDs in a way that I have never before, as the new addition really stands out with the pair of BNC cables added into the system, versus just running the CD player by itself. It really makes a difference.
Having the Bluesound that had been the way I had been listening to my system for the last three years still certainly provides convenience, but the Esoteric trio of items really stand out when I want to sit down and listen to a CD or two for a dedicated listening hour.
With these latest additions, the last item to get the most of my system that I am looking to get my hands on is an Esoteric iLink 1394 cable to connect the D-03 and G-02.
Does anyone have an idea what might be the best way for me to get my hands on such a cable? Thanks in advance.
Is the "tray error" issue on an Esoteric X-03 CD player worth fixing?
I have a Esoteric X-03SE CD player that is still in my system that I loved for many years. I purchased the unit in 2011. Then late in 2017, it started slipping with its belt and started giving me the dreaded "tray error."
I took it to a place to be repaired, and got the belt replaced. A couple years later, the error started to appear again. With the suggestion of a longtime and trusted audio local salesperson, instead of trying to repair the X-03SE again, I instead turned my 600-plus CD collection into a Bluesound digital library with the purchase of a Vault 2i. For the last five years, I had thought I was pretty much set using the Bluesound, and the X-03 largely sat idle over that time.
Recently, at his store, I saw a used Esoteric DAC unit for sale. I was curious if adding it to my system would be an improvement to my system’s overall sound, and he assured me it would, saying the Esoteric DAC is miles above of what is inside of the Bluesound for a DAC.
In just the couple hours I have been test driving the Esoteric DAC unit at home, and it certainly makes my system sound better when listening the Bluesound library. I think I’ve pretty much decided on adding that unit to my system.
What does all that have to do with the X-03SE? As a side note, he said that the DAC would also make my X-03SE CD player that I still have in my system sound better, if I opted to get the X-03SE repaired.
Since I still have it, I wonder if there’s much value to fixing it, getting back to sometimes using the X-03 (since I still have my physical CDs), versus always listening to the Bluesound. Or do you think the Bluesound/Esoteric DAC combo simply stands as worthwhile on its own, without the added expense and hassle of repairing the Esoteric X-03?
Thoughts?
And then the question becomes who still would take on such a repair, as comments about the "tray error" and repair issues for an X-03 I saw on one comment thread here that date back seven years, with many comments largely talking about how hard it was to find someone to repair the unit back then. Usually with used gear, it only gets harder with time, but maybe I’m wrong in this instance? Curious ...
- ...
- 19 posts total
- 19 posts total