Gerry_the_Merry
Well-Known Member
Listening is advisable, but not guaranteed to lead you to any reasonably reliable conclusion. I heard the Esoteric K-01 XS and Naim CD555 matched against each other last week. It was a Naim/Esoteric/Focal dealer. The speakers were Focal Utopia Stella. Amp was Naim 500 stack (don't remember the exact model number but it is one step down from the TOTL Statement).
The room was a 20 foot x 20 foot room. Plenty of room treatment but also glass abounded.
It was unlistenable, irritating, edgy. After half an hour I had to tell the dealer to stop the audition. We discussed various things audio and then I left. All rigs are not set up properly. Some time back in Singapore I had heard Focal (speaker) / McIntosh(Amp and CDP) - it was spectacular. It was a different dealer.
The Pioneer PD70AE and Marantz SA10 I had heard at a friends place. The Pioneer was good. The Marantz was fresh out of the box, and still sounded classy. The system was very well setup. Wonder how the Esoteric and Naim would have sounded in this rig. Am sure their true class would have been revealed.
So listen all you can, but there are no guarantees it will lead you anywhere.
The room was a 20 foot x 20 foot room. Plenty of room treatment but also glass abounded.
It was unlistenable, irritating, edgy. After half an hour I had to tell the dealer to stop the audition. We discussed various things audio and then I left. All rigs are not set up properly. Some time back in Singapore I had heard Focal (speaker) / McIntosh(Amp and CDP) - it was spectacular. It was a different dealer.
The Pioneer PD70AE and Marantz SA10 I had heard at a friends place. The Pioneer was good. The Marantz was fresh out of the box, and still sounded classy. The system was very well setup. Wonder how the Esoteric and Naim would have sounded in this rig. Am sure their true class would have been revealed.
So listen all you can, but there are no guarantees it will lead you anywhere.