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.