I understand this post is old but for those who have interest in buying Esoteric used...think long and hard.I called the service center and I finally got a counter receptionist on the phone.She would not pass me along to a tech so that I could ask questions,she (according to her) told my story to a tech who simply said send it in.No one could or would answer cost questions,time questions..just send it in..It was maybe a month later I received a call from an Asian guy who was on the east coast whom I could barely understand.I did get, it would be pricey to service but comparing the cost of the new model it was a bargain to spend a $100+ on shipping it in and more than a grand in repair options...So now I have a player that doesn't work,cant sell it except as a parts unit that cost me over 7 grand at the time of purchase.
MORE Esoteric problems
Hi all, I posted an issue with Esoteric CD players a couple of years ago. I bought a UX-3SE from an eBay seller. It skipped all CD's. I called Esoteric. ALL SACD players with the "U" model numbers need to go to Japan because that's where the alignment jig is. $2500.00 at that time JUST for the shipping back and forth. I returned the player to the seller naturally. An Asian gentleman working at TAP electronics told me at that time that the models with the "X" can all be repaired in California. Great I said. I bought an Esoteric X-01. A great player! Now it doesn't read SACD's. I sent it to TAP last week. A follow up call from TAP gave me the dreaded news that NOW the X-01 needs to go to Japan for the jig alignment procedure. WHAT! They did reduce the transportation cost to $1600.00. And this is for shipping only. I think that the audio community needs to send Esoteric a message and boycott ALL Esoteric products. BTW, it's not just their CD players that are required to make the trip to Japan if repairs are needed. I understand that certain models of preamp and integrated amps fall under this requirement as well. How can a company such as Esoteric not do better for the consumer?