Author Topic: A Tale Of Two CD Players  (Read 2237 times)

Offline James Edward

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A Tale Of Two CD Players
« on: April 18, 2018, 02:24:22 PM »
I recently switched out my Esoteric K07X and replaced it with my former player, a Bryston BCD-1. I immediately noticed a more solid center image. The entire presentation is more center-centric. It seems less spacious though. The Esoteric had a more outside the speaker sound. It also had more detail.
The Bryston seems more “of a piece,” as in more analog. At RMAF a few years ago I met Wally, as in Wally’s protractors, and he compared analog and digital respectively as steak and hamburger. I like the better image (the steak), but miss the detail of the Esoteric.
I know when I bought the Esoteric, I did not redo my speaker toe-in, etc. My guess is that further toe-in will stabilize and improve imaging.
Just rambling, but I guess every little thing matters.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
Luxman L- 590 AX MK2
Esoteric K-07X
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB
Audience Au24SE
PI Cat6
Spatial Audio M3 Turbo S
Stereo Hsu ULS-15 Mk2
Supra Classic 6.0

Offline Nick B

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Re: A Tale Of Two CD Players
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2018, 03:27:05 PM »
That’s a very nice and very well-made unit. I learned about Esoteric many years ago from my dealer who raved about the clamping mechanism and it’s accuracy. Maybe you can indeed fine tune the performance via adjusting the speakers. Given a choice, I’d lean towards the more spacious sounstage and detail. Detail is enjoyable for me if it’s presented well. It paints a finer picture of what was
present in the recording studio and allows me to hear what the equipment is really capable of. The Uber helps so much in that regard.

I did a quick search on the K07X and found mention of a unit that had a transformer humm and Esoteric allowed an upgrade to the next higher model after the replacement transformer exhibited the same behavior. Did you ever have an issue with humm?
Nick
Orchard Starkrimson Ultra amp
Supratek Chardonnay preamp
JMR Voce Grande speakers
Border Patrol SEi dac
Holo Red streamer
Hapa Aero digital coax
WyWires Silver cables
TWL Digital American II p cord
Audio Envy p cords
Roon, Tidal, Qobuz
PI Audio UberBUSS

Offline James Edward

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Re: A Tale Of Two CD Players
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2018, 04:28:25 PM »
No, no hum from the transformer, which I guess would emanate from the piece itself, nor hum via speaker output. To be honest, I’m torn between the different sounds of the two pieces. Each has it’s appeal.
 
Luxman L- 590 AX MK2
Esoteric K-07X
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB
Audience Au24SE
PI Cat6
Spatial Audio M3 Turbo S
Stereo Hsu ULS-15 Mk2
Supra Classic 6.0

Offline Nick B

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Re: A Tale Of Two CD Players
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2018, 06:13:43 PM »
No, no hum from the transformer, which I guess would emanate from the piece itself, nor hum via speaker output. To be honest, I’m torn between the different sounds of the two pieces. Each has it’s appeal.

Yes, it was hum from the unit
Orchard Starkrimson Ultra amp
Supratek Chardonnay preamp
JMR Voce Grande speakers
Border Patrol SEi dac
Holo Red streamer
Hapa Aero digital coax
WyWires Silver cables
TWL Digital American II p cord
Audio Envy p cords
Roon, Tidal, Qobuz
PI Audio UberBUSS