Esoteric DV-50: Any cdp's Significantly better?


Is there are anyone out there who has compared the Esoteric DV-50 to a number of dedicated red book only players (or other universal's) and found one that is SIGNIFICANTLY better?

I stress significantly because in my humble opinion the redbook playback (if comparison unit is just a cd cd player only )must be significantly better to justify losing DVD-A, SACD and DVD-Video capability.

I keep hearing there are better one box solutions and being a die hard 2 channel fan I would sell my DV-50 if I found a player in the same price range that sounds significantly better. But every time I do an AB comparision to other well respected units the DV-50 has slayed each and every one.

So far, it has eaten the lunch of the Classe CDP-10, Ayre CX-7, Linn Ikemi, Cairn Fog Vers. 2, Cary 306/300, Arcam DV 27A and CD 33T, Myryad CD 600, etc. It even betters a Sony SCD 777ES/MF Tri-Vista 21 transport/dac combo that I previously owned. I'm only comparing the DV-50 to single box cd or universal players, but I just wanted to mention the Sony/MF combo. I'm sure there are some dac/transport combo's that will handily beat the DV 50.

Some may say that the DV 50 should beat all the above because the of price point ($5,500 vs. average price of $3,000 for the above players). But I disagree since conventional wisdom says that stand alone players (especially with the pedigree of those mentioned above) should produce better redbook than a universal player trying to be a jack of all trades. Only the DV 27A does video plus audio. By the way, I was very impressed with the 27A as just a cd player. Of all the above I would say the Ayre was the best.

Next on my list is the Electrocompaniet EMC 1UP and the Resolution Audio Opus 21. However, I must tell you I am really impressed with the DV 50 and all the great reviews are absolutely true. I've noticed that many people who are using it or comparing to other players are using the RCA analog outs instead of the balanced outs. There is a significant improvement in sound if you use the balanced outs and I'm only interested in hearing comments from people who have compared it against other players using the balanced outs on the DV-50.

My system components are as follows:

B&W N803's speakers & HTM-1 center
Cary Cinema 5 (5 x 200) amp
Anthem D1 Statement pre/pro
Esoteric DV 50
Acoustic Zen Satori Shotgun speaker wire
Nirvana SX balanced interconnects from DV-50 to Anthem
Acoustic Zen Matrix reference II interconnects from D1 to Cary
No after market power cords or isolation equipment

My system sounds great! Those who comment please make sure to specify what specific improvements you heard over the DV 50 and what cdp were you comparing it against.

AVGURU
avguru
Arnold_h,

the esoteric dv-50 is excellent but there's certainly better still. and many audio enthusiasts just aren't satisfied unless they get what they think is the very best.
Any thoughts to not letting the listeners know which player they are listening to? This would certainly make the results infinitely less biased. A person's preconceived notions about the performance of each player is going to greatly color their perceptions of that player. This was clearly demonstrated with my wife.

She loved Diet Pepsi and swore that she absolutlely hated the taste of Diet Coke. One day I bought a Diet Pespi and a Diet Coke and had her taste both blindly to see which she perferred. She found the 2 drinks to be barely distinguishable form one and other. The drink that she picked as tasting slightly better was the Diet Coke!
I am sure that you have previous experience of comparing digital front end equipment but I just wanted to throw in my few cents.



First of, it is very important that you have a Pink Noise CD and SPL meter to EQ levels. If you don't do that you can never get the right idea. Also, I would suggest the method of elimination for the shootout. Start A-B-ing two machines and vote on which you like better. Then add the next one to compare against your first preference. It would be best if you decide on one PCM and one SACD track for the initial A-B test. After you decide on the two best machines you can go into variety of other recordings in order to determine the winner.



Finally, the above suggested "blind" test is a very good idea. There is aways a way to do that.

Regards,

Alex
I suggest a Niles switchbox to which you can hook up many components. That way you can do a blind test and switch between them without most people knowing what is switched in at the moment. If the switchbox detracts from the sound it will detract from all in equal measure.