Anyone w experence with Eoteric/APL NWO 4.0 Master Edition

[ulf]

APL:s final statment CDP. One of the worlds most expensive one box CDP
I have a used one on loan this weekend.
Anyone who owns it or have compared it to others on shows, at dealesr etc.
Any problems?

 

[LL21]

Hi Ulf,

Very curious to learn your impressions! I have only read the comparisons of his earlier work..well covered in Audiogon over the years. How much is retail price?

 

[Fplanner2000]

I've had one over a year and no problems. Bests any multi-box setup I've heard, plus stand-alone single-box setups, including Esoteric K-01. Haven't heard the new P02/D02 Esoteric yet - my hunch is that they would be close. New DAC-M I've read takes things to an even higher level, but have not heard to date. Obviously this is a very subjective thing, so its not about "best" but what fits your ears and system personally.

 

[treitz3]

Hello and welcome to the WBF, Fplanner2000. Glad to see you here and thank you for your observations on this player.

 

[ulf]

Fplanner

The seller says that it should be hooked directly to the amps. But since this particular CDP has no XLR and my monos has only XLR I cant test this. Besides since I use many sources i need my pre.
How do you use yours?

 

[JackD201]

I've had one over a year and no problems. Bests any multi-box setup I've heard, plus stand-alone single-box setups, including Esoteric K-01. Haven't heard the new P02/D02 Esoteric yet - my hunch is that they would be close. New DAC-M I've read takes things to an even higher level, but have not heard to date. Obviously this is a very subjective thing, so its not about "best" but what fits your ears and system personally.

Welcome to the WBF Harve.

 

[Fplanner2000]

Hi Jack - glad to be aboard.
When you get a chance, i sent you several pms on audioicircle.

Ulf - My NWO-M goes into my preamp, single-ended, then balanced out to the amps.

 

[ulf]

Hi Jack - glad to be aboard.
When you get a chance, i sent you several pms on audioicircle.

Ulf - My NWO-M goes into my preamp, single-ended, then balanced out to the amps.

Thats how my on loan APL is connected. Single ended to Acuphase (APL own cable or Kubala Emotion) then PAD Canorus (a spectacular good IC) balanced to D´augostino Momentum monos. The sound from the APL is very very good.
The problem is that my Nagra CDP - att 1/3 of the price - sounds nearly as good. The difference is very small. Apl a little more dynamic and clear and forward. Nagra little more warm and laid back.

 

[Fplanner2000]

If yours is an M, it shouldn't even be close. Its very subjective, obviously. You need to get what makes you happy.

 

[JackD201]

Hi Harve,

I've been answering your PMs. Your inbox might be full if you haven't been getting them.

Sorry for the OT guys.

 

[Fplanner2000]

Nothing since 5/21.

 

[perrew]

Well, I have to spoil the party for anyone thinking they can buy a Nagra and get APL NWO-M sound Since it was my loaner player that Stefan used, I was a bit puzzled when he told me the sound was similar, since having compared the APL to other top offerings like the Weiss Transport/Dac combo and the big MBL combo and the APL always coming out ahead, so when I picked the player up this evening I brought along a couple of CDs to listen to the two players along side. Among the songs that were played were Elton Johns - Madman Across the Water, Jeff Beck - Space for the Papa, Katie Melua - Piece by Piece, Metallica - Dont Tread on Me, Kanye West - Love Lockdown. The combo of the last two are particularly good to judge the bass quality of the system if it can play them well. Although the Nagra is a very nice player its not up to the APL standard for me, the Nagra is flat in comparison so the best way to describe it for me is the APL is similar to very good vinyl and the Nagra has a flatter more digital sound. So I have to disagree, to me the difference is very big, although it would have been very nice to be close at 1/3rd the price For anyone wanting to read a long review of the APL NWO player I recommend searching for the review from the handle "puremusic".

 

[Fplanner2000]

Thanks for some perspective. I didn't see any way it could possibly be as close as claimed. I still think a good comparison might be with the new Esoteric P02/D02.

 

[ulf]

We all hear different things when comparing HIFI equipment. I stand by my opinion. The APL was faster and had more resolution and more upfront. Nagra more laidback and warmer. For me the Nagra was more like vinyl.

I hade two friends listning. Both very skilled listners with high end gear in the 100K USD range. One actually prefered Nagra by a small margin. The other prefered APL with a small margin. This guy has a Krell Cipher CDP witch we have tried in my setup.
He says that APL was very similar sounding to his Cipher in my setup.

 

[Fplanner2000]

Congratulations. You obviously have what is best FOR YOU. Enjoy.

 

[ulf]

Yes I enjoy. This is whats our hobby is all about - to find what I prefere among all alternatives.