Looking for a CD / SACD player. Also, tell me about Esoteric


Budget is $10k.

I want something that plays SACDs as well as redbook.

Must have US service available.

I mention Esoteric as they appear to be one of the few still pushing the envelope as well as supporting SACD in this price range.

gthirteen

@bwguy

I did not get a chance to an A/B test of the XD vrs XDSE but the Esoteric discreet DAC was definitely one of my better purchases! Roon is also new to me and I’m loving it as well. 

I have the Esoteric K-01X.  I directly compared it to the top of the line Marantz, and the dCS SACD player, which I think was the Puccini, or Rossini.  The Marantz and the dCS were awful by comparison, although I don’t remember exactly in which ways.  I really enjoyed the sound quality from the Esoteric….until I upgraded my vinyl.  Now the Esoteric sounds awful by comparison to my vinyl set up.  I haven’t even listened to CD/SACD in a couple of years in my home system.

I have personally owned the Totaldac Triunity Dac and Metronome Calypso Reference Transport combo prior to downsize to the Esoteric K-01XD and extremely happy with the musical performance of the unit.  The new redesign transport and dac in the Esoteric XD are absolutely amazing with warmth and precise that any previous generation including the Grandioso K1 can’t even compete.  IMHO purchase the K-01XD and happy for life!

I own the folling Oppo BDP 83 - old but sound great

Oppo BDP 105D Plays everything but 4K Blue Ray Movies -Sound and looks amazing.

A Sony 1000 ES player - Also great sounding

Also A Sony 9000ES for you vintage Guy

But the most interesting on is the Alesis Masterlink ML 9600 High Difination Master Disk recorder - - It has a built in hard drive recorder and a CD Disk burner - so you can make copys of a friend cd that you would like to have.

And finaly the surprise of them all the lowly Gemini CSMP 1500 cs player that has a pitch control and cues the cd to the start of siginal - It sound remarkably good - I would say crazy good for the lowly price of 219.00 brand new on Amazon

I also owned a 4 box DCS cd system - the happiest day of my audio life was when I got it and even better when I sold it -GO FIGURE. After listening to all kinds of esoteric players - I decided to pay more than 2K for a SACD pllayer is insane.