APL Esoteric X-01

Hi. First, as to the Andra IIs, this is not a hard to drive speaker, and in fact the manufacturer's recommendation is 100 watts per channel, unlike the original Andras, which ate power. I biwire them with McIntosh 501s, which have about 5 times the recommended power, and that is vastly more than needed for any conceivable purpose, in any likely room. Before I got rid of my old amps, Classe CAM-300s, I tried biamping, first with the Macs on top, and then the Classes, and there was no gain, and maybe some loss, as to clarity, soundstage, etc. I really think, unless you already have the Pass amps, that you are spending a lot where there isn't any great likelihood of gain.
On the other subject, if you are getting an original X-01, the upgrade to Limited is a vast improvement over the original, for $1200, and the warranty is extended. The Limited is far warmer and richer than, but equally as detailed as the original, without any of the etched quality which sometimes made the original a bit offputting. If you've heard the Limited and still want to get it, or the original, modified, fine. But if you haven't, and are just going on the difference in sound between the original X-01 and the after-market modification, you're going blind--aurally, that is. But to each his own, of course.

Mgottlieb, I am perfectly aware (in-depth, down to the last component) what are the differences between the "normal" and "limited" UX-1 and X-01. There is no doubt that the "limited" is better, but it is still 90% similar to the "normal" version.

The "after-market modification", as you put it, involves complete removal of ALL original clocks, upsampler, digital filter, DAC and analog stages. The end result has nothing to do with Esoteric except for the beautiful enclosure and the superb VRDS-NEO transport. You are welcome to visit the links provided above and read more information about it.

Regards,
Alex

My comment still goes: before sending an X-01 out for modification, I'd listen to a Limited to see if, afterwards, there still is a desire to do so. That's all I said, and I directed the comment to Greg, who asked the question.

Mgottlieb, "you're going blind--aurally".
Judging from Grandme posts above, he was "going blind--aurally" when when he bought the X-01. I don't see any difference between that and going the APL route. If the NWO2.5 is as good as the owners claim, then he would have wasted $1200.+ on the upgrade.
I bought a X-01 Limited based on the owners rave reviews. (I was going blind--aurally). It's an outstanding player and the build quality is the best IMO. However I still preferred my EMM gear and sold the X-01 Lim.
I'll be listening to the NWO 2.5 this weekend at Rocky Mountain Audiofest and will probably order one and without hearing it in MY system, I'll be "going blind" once more.

Once again, doesn't anyone read? All I said was LISTEN to the Limited, which is available from numerous dealers, before passing up the upgrade of the original by the manufacturer for a more expensive one. Blind, it would appear, is blind, period.