4 CDP's

[prem]

Hi Ajay 124

Will get you the number in a day or two.

 

[prem]

Hi Ajay 124


With the Esoteric as you go up the performance improves. For example in a good set up the X03SE would be about 20% superior to the X05. The P05 D05 combo is far superior to the X03SE. After the P05 D05 the diminishing returns set in.

 

[malvai]

@manav
I have been in touch with Grattan,since he suggested the SA50 to me a few days back.He says that the digital pre built into the SA50 is excellent,so if someone wants to economise,a direct hook up with a power amp is a good option.
But he seemed a little surprised when I pulled SA10 out of the blue today.He did not seem very convinced that I was doing the right thing.I know that I should at least audition the SA50 before deciding.But I want to retain the Bryston BP6 Pre,therefore the only Esoteric I can ramp up my budget to is the SA10.I believe that going higher up the Esoteric chain would give diminshing returns for every rupee spent.If budget is not a consideration then certainly the XO5 or the XO3 SE are better options.I'm willing to go by my instincts and buy SA10 without an audition.But only if the price is right.
@Prem
Do you have the phone number of the Far Eastern guys?

They are better options. IMHO, you'd do better with even the vanilla XO5. It would be prudent to wait a bit, save, and go for it, IMHO.

And Prem is absolutely correct on all counts. The XO series shows incremental jumps in performance over the SA series. With your Brystons, you need to take an audition, though.

As, having lived with a Bryston set up earlier, I feel that the Bryston's are on the slightly brighter side of the sonic spectrum. The esoteric sound is very detailed and cold. In comparison to the Accuphase source it even appears leaner.

Maybe it would be a good idea to explore the Accuphase cdp's as well. they will add a lush body to your set up. I have tried it once and it sounds very very heavenly with Jazz and rock.

Accuphase are very superbly built and engineered as well.

 

[odyssey]

Although, I am not considering Quad,I would be happy to know the impressions of an AB done with the Quad CDP2 as a source.How do the fixed and variable output's compare with each other?
A Quad CDP2xQuad 909
B Quad CDP2xQuad 99xQuad 909
@Sridhar
Perhaps on your own,or with interested forum members,you could do an audition of Ayon CD2S with a Stratos power amp,with and without a Pre.It would flesh out the points you are making.I know asking this is an imposition,but it would shed more light on the direct v/s pre issue.If a preamp can be removed from the chain,many more audiophiles would be able to afford an Ayon CD2S.What is the price of this CDP?

Hi Ajay
Absolutely, I dont have a Stratos amp currently (will get one in Jan end) but can use an Ayon amp itself, technically one can do this experiment better as the Ayon has a regular int amp mode along with a direct mode (bypasses the volume POT).
We can do it as a blind test if there are enough members (rate it based on a few parameters on paper )
Price is mid-2 La retail

cheers

 

[malvai]

Another CDP that I would highly recommend is the Blacknote Stibbert.
It'd be in the same price range as Esoted PD50. But it is one of the most analogue sounding CDP's that I have heard in the recent past. If I had the money right now, I'd go for it in a jiffy.

Its very involving, warm, lush and has loads of snap to it. Has a tubed output and it beats EVERYTHING under the 3.5L bracket.

 

[ajay124]

They are better options. IMHO, you'd do better with even the vanilla XO5. It would be prudent to wait a bit, save, and go for it, IMHO.

And Prem is absolutely correct on all counts. The XO series shows incremental jumps in performance over the SA series. With your Brystons, you need to take an audition, though.

As, having lived with a Bryston set up earlier, I feel that the Bryston's are on the slightly brighter side of the sonic spectrum. The esoteric sound is very detailed and cold. In comparison to the Accuphase source it even appears leaner.

Maybe it would be a good idea to explore the Accuphase cdp's as well. they will add a lush body to your set up. I have tried it once and it sounds very very heavenly with Jazz and rock.

Accuphase are very superbly built and engineered as well.

I would have considered Accuphase,but I have the impression (although I have never taken a formal quote from Boomarang)
that even the DP 400 is 200K(+).At these prices I would rather go for the Esoteric XO5 or the SA50.
Based purely on surfing but no auditions,I feel that Accuphase is better for Amps and Esoteric for CDP's.
I may be wrong on this count,but I would prefer an Esoteric CDP.
Also my budget under no circumstances would cross 150K.
In fact I would like it to be lower than that.

 

[arj]

Has anyone heard a Naim CDS2 or above ? any comparisons..these also should be good options in the 2Lakh+ range.

 

[malvai]

I would have considered Accuphase,but I have the impression (although I have never taken a formal quote from Boomarang)
that even the DP 400 is 200K(+).At these prices I would rather go for the Esoteric XO5 or the SA50.
Based purely on surfing but no auditions,I feel that Accuphase is better for Amps and Esoteric for CDP's.
I may be wrong on this count,but I would prefer an Esoteric CDP.
Also my budget under no circumstances would cross 150K.
In fact I would like it to be lower than that.

Ajay, Accuphase makes great amps as well as CDP's. the tonal quality is a bit different from the Esoteric. Both are terrific in their own ways. Both have their proprietary technologies which work very well.

The cheapest XO would cost you more than the DP 400 AFAIK. Check the pricing with the dealer. The DP 400 is now phased out and replaced by the DP410 i think... so if they have a piece left you might even get a deal on it!

 

[prem]

The Esoteric X05 should be about Rs 2.5- 2.75 lakhs. Malvai, the Esoteric X05 completely outclasses the Bluenote Stibbert. There is no comparison. I am familiar with both the machines.

 

[ajay124]

Dr Bass had posted on this thread that a used Bluenote Stibbert was available for 70K at JBN Sounds.
Not my cup of tea (I would not like to own any Italian HiFi,with the exception of Sonus Faber)
but certainly very attractive if it is still available at that price.

 

[malvai]

The Esoteric X05 should be about Rs 2.5- 2.75 lakhs. Malvai, the Esoteric X05 completely outclasses the Bluenote Stibbert. There is no comparison. I am familiar with both the machines.

Prem, I have heard both too... Both present the music differently. The Esoteric is very detailed. A lil cold. A lil Lean. Very clean. Pure even.

The Stibbert is very warm, lush, and analogue. I prefer the slight analogue tilt it gives, being a analogue sound kinda guy... so to my ears it just sounds better.

though, i all honesty, there is an older esoteric product that I really like - the P70 and D70... I believe you had it, Prem. Those, still sound better to my ears than anything in XO range. If i had the change i'd grab them!

@Ajay: do a google on these and if you see them, think about these. The P70 D70 are Transport + DAC. A two box affair that can last you a lifetime!

Also, the last i checked, the XO5, atleast at the India Dealership costs far north of 3L...

 

[malvai]

I am not sure about this bro...

and in black note's case, you can make the same exception you have made for the sonus faber.

Good guys, these Blacknote folks.

There is a member here on HFV that has a fully upto spec for 2010 Stribbert.

PM Jaibir. You can have it for under a lakh from him.
Its a good deal, even I was considering it, until last month. But then, the bank balance started crying foul!

Dr Bass had posted on this thread that a used Bluenote Stibbert was available for 70K at JBN Sounds.
Not my cup of tea (I would not like to own any Italian HiFi,with the exception of Sonus Faber)
but certainly very attractive if it is still available at that price.

 

[ajay124]

Hi Ajay
Absolutely, I dont have a Stratos amp currently (will get one in Jan end) but can use an Ayon amp itself, technically one can do this experiment better as the Ayon has a regular int amp mode along with a direct mode (bypasses the volume POT).
We can do it as a blind test if there are enough members (rate it based on a few parameters on paper )
Price is mid-2 La retail

cheers

Thanks Sridhar,
I will wait with interest for whatever inputs you can provide about the Ayon CDP and amp.I really like Ayon as a brand and one day if I can afford a second set up,I would love to have an Ayon tube amp

 

[prem]

Malvai, the X05 is not cold at all. It is probably the most analogue sounding of the single box Esoteric players. The Bluenote is extremely forgiving. Sounds good on all set ups. The Esoteric can sound mechanical and cold in many set ups. It requires extremely good cabling. But once set up properly and broken in there is absolutely no comparison. The X05 walks all over the Stibbert. Which is why i have been trying to tell Ajay 124 to listen to an Esoteric first. It takes a lot of effort to get the Esoteric to sing. It took me ages. It gives out so much information you do not know what to do with it. What you heard at Davids place is not a patch on what the P70 D70 can actually sound. It sounds all wrong at Davids place.

 

[malvai]

Malvai, the X05 is not cold at all. It is probably the most analogue sounding of the single box Esoteric players. The Bluenote is extremely forgiving. Sounds good on all set ups. The Esoteric can sound mechanical and cold in many set ups. It requires extremely good cabling. But once set up properly and broken in there is absolutely no comparison. The X05 walks all over the Stibbert. Which is why i have been trying to tell Ajay 124 to listen to an Esoteric first. It takes a lot of effort to get the Esoteric to sing. It took me ages. It gives out so much information you do not know what to do with it. What you heard at Davids place is not a patch on what the P70 D70 can actually sound. It sounds all wrong at Davids place.[/QUOTE]

i know what you're saying!
But yeah, even at his place one can make sense outta what those babies can achieve in an ideal situation!

Will certainly try and audition the XO5 at my place, in my own chain. didn't hear the XO5 in my own chain earlier. so, probably walked away with this idea... The stibbert I have heard on mine and it did sound LOVELY!

 

[ajay124]

Malvai, the X05 is not cold at all. It is probably the most analogue sounding of the single box Esoteric players. The Bluenote is extremely forgiving. Sounds good on all set ups. The Esoteric can sound mechanical and cold in many set ups. It requires extremely good cabling. But once set up properly and broken in there is absolutely no comparison. The X05 walks all over the Stibbert. Which is why i have been trying to tell Ajay 124 to listen to an Esoteric first. It takes a lot of effort to get the Esoteric to sing. It took me ages. It gives out so much information you do not know what to do with it. What you heard at Davids place is not a patch on what the P70 D70 can actually sound. It sounds all wrong at Davids place.

@Prem,Manav
Even if I do hear it at your place,Dinyaar's place or at Boomarang,I would still be getting half a picture,as the sound would be different at all the three auditions and would bear little relation to how it would sound in my room with the Bryston and Vienna Acoustic's.I would prefer a home audition of SA10,but I don't think that would be possible,because this cdp is not available in India and would specially have to be procured against a firm order.All I want from the CDP is a high level of resolution,detail and accuracy.The more unforgiving the better.If it reveals gaping flaws in my cd's,amp's or speaker's I will think about changing them.Maximum information,accuracy and HONESTY!Cold?Fine.Analytical?Fine.Unforgiving?Fine.I too am cold,analytical and unforgiving
So we'll get along just fine.

 

[malvai]

@Prem,Manav
Even if I do hear it at your place,Dinyaar's place or at Boomarang,I would still be getting half a picture,as the sound would be different at all the three auditions and would bear little relation to how it would sound in my room with the Bryston and Vienna Acoustic's.I would prefer a home audition of SA10,but I don't think that would be possible,because this cdp is not available in India and would specially have to be procured against a firm order.All I want from the CDP is a high level of resolution,detail and accuracy.The more unforgiving the better.If it reveals gaping flaws in my cd's,amp's or speaker's I will think about changing them.Maximum information,accuracy and HONESTY!Cold?Fine.Analytical?Fine.Unforgiving?Fine.I too am cold,analytical and unforgiving
So we'll get along just fine.

The esoteric XO series is it then!

Nothing beats them on these counts...

The SA series is a strict NO NO as those are a step or three down... Go for the XO5.

 

[ajay124]

An attractive,elegant,informative,one page primer of the Esoteric product range of audio/video source's.
High End Audio - High End Video - Sound by Singer
I wish Indian dealers/distributors had similar pages.Most don't have a website.Or don't update it regularly.
Many Indian websites are gaudy,confused,teeming with attention grabbing pop up's and highlights.
Some even use infantile beats or 'muzak' to 'attack' the viewer's auditory senses!
But fad's and trend's are a temporary phenomenon.They get dated very quickly.
Simplicity and elegance are eternal.They age gracefully....

 

[ajay124]

The esoteric XO series is it then!

Nothing beats them on these counts...

The SA series is a strict NO NO as those are a step or three down... Go for the XO5.

@Manav
The XO5 is twice my already stretched to the seams budget.And therefore not in contention.
For the moment I will be more than happy if I am able to manage the SA10 upgrade.
The XO series will have to wait.

 

[malvai]

How much is the SA10 coming to?