Esoteric SA-10 - Head-Fi.org Community
A brief but revealing review of the SA10 from this link.
"The Esoteric SA-10 breaks the high-end price barrier. This is the most affordable player ever offered by Esoteric in the US! The SA-10 uses the same VOSP Transport Mechanism as its big brothers, and is built to the same high standards as the rest of the Esoteric line. The SA-10's sound is neutral, dynamic and detailed with gobs of resolution. This player will impress any listener with its pure neutrality and excellent soundstaging.
The Esoteric SA-10 has their legendary bass control and trademark treble smoothness and extension. Through the midrange, the SA-10 is a reflection of the source material, resolving every ounce of drama, passion and power. The sound-staging is tremendously good, revealing the nuance of every locale, whether an intimate night club or the largest open air concert venues. The SA-10 is also extremely quiet; as the power supply section is fully isolated from the sensitive analog circuitry. Esoterics custom made VOSP transport is the icing on the cake, its built like a tank, will last for decades and allows the information on the disc to be read properly without the need for error correction.
How did Esoteric get the price down? Well, as you can see, the chassis is on the no-frills side. Lets face it; the SA-10 does not look as stunning as their other products. But we dont want you to get the wrong impression, Esoteric spared no expense in the dual-mono DAC section, the incredibly musical analog output stage (both fully balanced and single ended), and their huge, isolated power supply. They put the money where it matters! The simplified, but highly rigid chassis is still made from cut-aluminum, and Esoteric has isolated all the internal parts to protect from degradation of vibration and resonances.
The SA-10 is absolutely for those of you who value great sound quality without the need for extreme design-appeal; this is a player you must hear for yourself. Our Highest Recommendation!
Specifications:
Frequency Response: 5Hz 80kHz (SACD)
Signal to Noise Ratio (S/N): 130dB
Dynamic Range: 108dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): 0.001%
Audio Output (Analog): RCA and XLR (Stereo)
Audio Output (Digital): Optical & Coaxial (RCA)
General:
Playback: CD and SACD
Power Supply: A/C 120 V, 60Hz (USA)
Power Consumption: 18 Watts
Weight: 28 lbs.
Dimensions: (W x H x D) 17 3/8 x 5 7/8 x 14
Accessories:
Power Cord (1)
Remote Control (RC-1089) (1)
Batteries: AA (2)
Felt: (3)
