Which SACD PLAYER ?

[MJB]

Lots of great recommendations; one more, DCS Rossini.

 

[CKKeung]

Rossini Player can play cd only.
The Rossini DAC paired with the new Rossini Transport can play sacd.
However the sacd transport mechanism inside is from Denon, not Esoteric.

 

[CKKeung]

Actually there is one more choice of one-body sacd player : the new Metronome AQWO.
https://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/metronome2/1.html

 

[Barry2013]

Yes it’s a good suggestion I hadn’t been aware of the PS audio sacd transport I will do some research on it maybe try get a listen, I liked the quality of the older players on CD

Thanks
I am glad that was helpful.
You may find it useful to consult Lee who is a member of this forum and who has the DS pairing. He is a reviewer for Part Time Audiophile and I recall he recently posted a very favourable report on the benefits of the new Huron software.

 

[KostasP.]

Hello from Melbourne,

I'll be as as laconic and concise as I need to be. I compared seven DACs \ CD- SACD players ( two were valve DACs ) at home, in my current model Martin Logan CLX ART based system. It is not necessary to mention the contenders. The one that stood out and synergises impeccably with my system is the T&A PDP 3000 HV. With the DACs that I was comparing, I was using my CEC transport. The PDP 3000 HV totally negated the need to have two components ( DAC and CD transport ).

I am not a fledgling in this hobby and I find it impossible to fault it but, of course, I don't know your sonic priorities. Nevertheless, it is absolutely imperative that you try any contenders in your system.

Cheers, Kostas.

 

[Sniper17]

I have owned Marantz, Mcintosh and Accuphase. Hands down its Accuphase. The Japanese are die hard SACD fans. If I was on a budget, the $2500 Marantz is great performer. I have not heard any Esoteric SACD players, but their reputation is solid.

In Japan Accuphase OWNS the SACD market.

 

[a.dent]

@awsmone I'm surprised you say you won't be going the Accuphase route after having 800 and 900 series versions. Would you mind saying why?

Having had Esoteric, Vitus, Sony, Oppo and earlier Accuphase the DP-560 I have now is the best SACD player I've had in my system.

 

[Nemal1]

I use an esoteric k-01x with g-01 clock which is a great sacd and red book CD player. Having previously used accuphase (dp-70, dp-85 and dp-900/901) I was initially wary having heard they were “analytical and bright” but this proved not to be the case at all. Try in your own system, forgetting hype and reviews and trust your own judgement and taste.

 

[SCAudiophile]

Esoteric K-01X with external word clock or master clock as noted on the thread already.

Esoteric Grandioso K1 is also a destination SACD player...

Esoteric P-02 and D-02 with a master glock is giving me great SACD and CD playback. P-02X and D-02X successors
also deliver SOTA SACD and CD playback....

 

[Birdwatcher]

Now, 4 years later, which are your recommendations for a onebox top-of-the-line SACD player that is real musical?
And maybe clearly beats the old outstanding redbook CD players without oversampling, R2R DAC in musicality, organic flow, integration, palpable details?

 

[Nemal1]

I upgraded to a K-01xd with a large improvement over the K-01x ( 3 revisions later) with Esoterics own dac rather than bought in as previous. Vast improvement, even more with the clock, but it then becomes a 2 Box player.
I’ve heard good things about the latest luxman players, and have always had a soft spot for Accuphase, only the gold anodizing putting me off.
Good luck with your search and ultimate purchase

 

[nirodha]

I guess the best one-body sacd player in the market must be ….
Does it exceed your budget?

CH Precision D1.5

 

[GSOphile]

I upgraded to a K-01xd with a large improvement over the K-01x ( 3 revisions later) with Esoterics own dac rather than bought in as previous. Vast improvement, even more with the clock, but it then becomes a 2 Box player.
I’ve heard good things about the latest luxman players, and have always had a soft spot for Accuphase, only the gold anodizing putting me off.
Good luck with your search and ultimate purchase

Similar story here. I upgraded from an Esoteric K-03X to a K-01XD. The new XD series (and the K1X Grandioso) with Esoteric's discrete component DACs replacing AKM chips was a big step up in performance.... and gives them independence from DAC chip makers.

 

[chuck]

The Playback Designs MPT8 and MPD8 are my candidates for the best in SACD playback or for about half the cost, the MPS8. My prior player was the Esoteric K01.

 

[Cellcbern]

I guess the best one-body sacd player in the market must be the Vivaldi One.
Does it exceed your budget?

The T+A has very good built but I have never been impressed by its sonic performance.

If you are considering Esoteric K-01sx, I suggest you to consider the Grandioso K1 instead. Their sonic diff is clearly audible.

Ayon and Accuphase belong to musicality camp.
Esoteric is in the neutral camp.
Playback is in the middle of the above 2 groups.

If you could find one a used Modwright modified Sony ES-5400 or Marantz SA8005 sacd player (I own both) might surpass all of the above mentioned players because of the custom analogue tube output stage and separate tube rectified power supply. So might the PS Audio sacd transport combined with a good tube DAC.

 

[Birdwatcher]

Do you have compared an Esoteric K-01XD with Accuphase DP-750? Any informations?

 

[Nemal1]

Last Accuphase I owned was the 800/801 combination and heard none of the later models unfortunately. It was a superb player and sure it would hold its own today.
Esoteric had an earlier reputation for being very clinical and possible lacking some “emotion” but cannot say that applies to the ones I have owned.
I’m sure you’ll make the right choice for your own taste.

 

[Birdwatcher]

…that’s why I ask specifically for the mentioned latest models, because they are quite different to the former ones. The long-year-opinions made on the former models don’t help us further.

Nemal, are you still absolutely happy with your K-01XD? No regrets, no downsides, no critics?

 

[Nemal1]

Hi Birdwatcher,
absolutely no regrets buying the K01-XD, considerably better then the K01-X used previously.
Again though, it’s to my own taste.