question intrigues...so kept mulling...here's another : Plinius Reference M10
and the Luxman C-900U
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Recommend me a SS pre.....
- Thread starter heihei
- Start date
question intrigues...so kept mulling...here's another : Plinius Reference M10
and the Luxman C-900U
Well,
You could always choose to roll with the sterile/clinical crowd and forego a PreAmp altogether
Apparently, its the way forward, so I hear. I suppose that crowd has a point if budget is of concern given the influx of new 32Bit DAC/PRE's on the market.
I myself remain skeptical that this is the path forward given past experience but I do seem drawn to the idea every now and again, for reasons unknown but most likely cost related even if I don't realize it yet.
Anyway, not that any of this reply answers the OP's question but at least worth a moment of forethought if nothing else. I'll probably take a short detour and try the DAC Direct route again just to make sure I'm not going insane and to confirm my past experience/attempts. If I come to same conclusion again, that a PreAmp is a must have, I will lay down my hard earned on a new Pass Labs XP22 and take it to my grave
Happy Hunting
You could always choose to roll with the sterile/clinical crowd and forego a PreAmp altogether
Apparently, its the way forward, so I hear. I suppose that crowd has a point if budget is of concern given the influx of new 32Bit DAC/PRE's on the market.
I myself remain skeptical that this is the path forward given past experience but I do seem drawn to the idea every now and again, for reasons unknown but most likely cost related even if I don't realize it yet.
Anyway, not that any of this reply answers the OP's question but at least worth a moment of forethought if nothing else. I'll probably take a short detour and try the DAC Direct route again just to make sure I'm not going insane and to confirm my past experience/attempts. If I come to same conclusion again, that a PreAmp is a must have, I will lay down my hard earned on a new Pass Labs XP22 and take it to my grave
Happy Hunting
I’m using the C900u with D’Agostino M400 monos and love the combo. They complement each other very well.
I bought new Proceed Pre and Proceed Amp2 very long time ago. 1995 year's....
Proceed Pre is dead.
I replaced them by Jeff Rowland Corus and Jeff Rowland Model 625.
This is a great improvement...but because this, I need to upgrade all my sources.
Turntable Technics SL-1210 MkII will be upgraded by VPI Classic 3.
CD player Marantz SA7S1 will be upgraded by Esoteric K-03 XS....
Infinity Kappa 100 will be changed by Magnepan 3.7i...
It is a big mistake to have bought Jeff Rowland because this products revealed the limits of my sources...
But now I am happy to do that.
Proceed Pre is dead.
I replaced them by Jeff Rowland Corus and Jeff Rowland Model 625.
This is a great improvement...but because this, I need to upgrade all my sources.
Turntable Technics SL-1210 MkII will be upgraded by VPI Classic 3.
CD player Marantz SA7S1 will be upgraded by Esoteric K-03 XS....
Infinity Kappa 100 will be changed by Magnepan 3.7i...
It is a big mistake to have bought Jeff Rowland because this products revealed the limits of my sources...
But now I am happy to do that.
Hi mtemur,
You can find what I think about esoteric K-03 XS - post 18.
Esoteric K-03 external clock benefits + balanced vs unbalanced
I picked up an Esoteric K-03 and am contemplating purchasing an external clock (Esoteric or Antelope Audio maybe). Any experience with Esoteric single box players and an external clock? Esoteric vs other brand clocks? Also, any difference in sonics running balanced or unbalanced out to a preamp...
www.whatsbestforum.com
I have tested them in my system in my house.
I use Esoteric K-03xs as a drive. I listened my CD with Mark Levinson N360S and Grimm CC1 clock as slave clock.
So the sound is not analytical.
My experience is different than yours but I’m glad that you’re happy. Enjoy.Hi mtemur,
You can find what I think about esoteric K-03 XS - post 18.
Esoteric K-03 external clock benefits + balanced vs unbalanced
I picked up an Esoteric K-03 and am contemplating purchasing an external clock (Esoteric or Antelope Audio maybe). Any experience with Esoteric single box players and an external clock? Esoteric vs other brand clocks? Also, any difference in sonics running balanced or unbalanced out to a preamp...
I have tested them in my system in my house.
I use Esoteric K-03xs as a drive. I listened my CD with Mark Levinson N360S and Grimm CC1 clock as slave clock.
So the sound is not analytical.
IME/IMHO Esoteric Cd players are very analytical sounding, detailed and tiring. YMMV.
I have not found that to be the case at all (nor have many visitors to my home enjoying 6, 8, 10+ hour listening sessions multiple times) with Esoteric Grandioso P1/D1 stack, C-02X preamp and S-02 amps (and prior C-02 preamp and A-02 amps) with properly matched cables, clocking, speakers. I've also not observed these traits in two other friends' systems (1: Esoteric N-01XD, Esoteric C-02X pre, Grandioso S1X stereo amp, Verity Audio speakers, and 2nd system: Grandioso P1X, D1X, G1X stack with ARC REF160 mk2 monos and REF10 and Wilson Alexx V speakers) and multiple others.
Perhaps the analytical sound, detailed and fatiguing sounds you heard were from earlier generations of their CD/SACD units and/or attributable to the overall system they were playing in. If you gave more information that could be helpful including also filling out your signature with a system-spec.
Perhaps the analytical sound, detailed and fatiguing sounds you heard were from earlier generations of their CD/SACD units and/or attributable to the overall system they were playing in. If you gave more information that could be helpful including also filling out your signature with a system-spec.
I quit listening Cds long time ago. During the time I made comparisons between Cd players and with Esoteric I was listening Bow ZZ-8. It was equipped with Philips Cd-Pro industrial transport, four K-grade Burr-Brown multibit DACs and PMD-100 digital filter. This is a good combination for an easy flowing and musically captivating sound, especially PMD-100. Certainly not analytical.
I don’t understand the relationship between the Cd players I own and what I’m capable of hearing and describing sound signature of a component, Esoteric in this case. Is my ability to discern differences between audio components and describe sound characteristics are limited to the equipment I own?
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You even bought her a Sonus Faber! I'm sure every mother envies her and wishes for a son like you.Ja that Bow Is a nice little machine, bought one for my 80 year old mom, she loves it.
She loves pretty things, and listens to music a lot, i doubt her friends even notice. She could have done better in the son department, i live 150 km away and only visit once a week.
Grandkids from me is not going to happen either.
