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High End Red Book CD Player Opinions? - Page 12

post #166 of 251
7/10/06 at 2:02am
Welly>Congrats on your new source. Have you found any weaknesses in it, considering the fact that no source is perfect?

You have put across I think it is transparency is what you were trying to get at??? Is that what the water analogy was for

Next time I wanna be a typhoon class attack sub. Or failing that can I be a Iowa class warship
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post #167 of 251
7/10/06 at 3:02am
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post #168 of 251
7/11/06 at 2:19pm
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post #169 of 251
7/11/06 at 9:06pm
Welly Wu

I have followed this thread with interest but not contributed thus far. I too have the Ayre CX-7 Evolution and over the past year it has never done less tham impressed and lived up to the rightful praise that it has received in the press and reviews.

I use it as the source for my Omega II/007t combo, and whereas the O2s were, as many describe, slightly dark sounding, the CX-7e really transformed them. It is as you describe - the music comes through with nothing to taint it.

The finishing touch to opening up the O2s was the pair of Stereovox BAL 600 Reference XLR ICs. Even more so the O2s started to sparkle. It was really this cable change from the Chord Chorus to the Sterevox that made me a true believer in the power of cables to change the sound signature of a set-up.

I hope you enjoy the Ayre, it is a remarkably capable player, clean, easy to operate and pure musical enjoyment. The only thing I woud consider replacing it with is the C-5xe universal player. Only problem is that Mikhail said that I have a perfect set-up for the ES-1. He told me he uses the Ayre CX-7e as his source when he makes his amps, maybe because Ayre are a 1/2 hour drive from where he is based. Too tempting by far given the review of the ES-1 here.

Ayre are producing benchmark goods at relatively affordable prices.

Simon
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post #170 of 251
7/12/06 at 3:09pm
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post #171 of 251
7/12/06 at 4:25pm
An excellent review. You managed to put into words what I cannot. To anyone using Omega IIs (with or without the 007t amp) you should listen to them with this source. it is a great match and really does bring out a new level in the performance of the Stax.

Simon
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post #172 of 251
7/13/06 at 2:09am
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post #173 of 251
7/13/06 at 1:38pm
pictures say a thousand words, words that welly cannot express because he is enjoying the music
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post #174 of 251
7/16/06 at 4:51am

This is a great read!

What an absolutely fascinating thread.
And marvelous insight into one consumer's dogged research.
I read all the way through, wondering how this gripping tale would end!
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post #175 of 251
7/16/06 at 11:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hatmann
What an absolutely fascinating thread.
And marvelous insight into one consumer's dogged research.
I read all the way through, wondering how this gripping tale would end!
I like Welly's passion but I find his writing strewn throughout with baffling descriptions.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Welly Wu
It is totally accurate. Maybe it is not the most accurate source component in the world,
That's one example of baffling. It is also probably inaccurate unless welly has had experience with either the original musical event or the mastertape and associative equipment. How can any of us declare something to be accurate?

But Welly occasionally has an insight that's interesting.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Welly Wu
I now suddenly realize that audio reviews are moreso a reflection of the author's personality and the rest of his audio system than the component under review.
Reviewing is hard work.
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post #176 of 251
7/16/06 at 12:08pm

We don't have to agree to find it fascinating reading

eyeteeth --

You may be right.
But it is not necessary to agree with his analysis.

The fact that he lays his thoughts out for all to see -- and clearly is working so hard to find answers to his questions -- is what makes this fascinating to read.
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post #177 of 251
7/16/06 at 12:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hatmann
eyeteeth --

You may be right.
But it is not necessary to agree with his analysis.

The fact that he lays his thoughts out for all to see -- and clearly is working so hard to find answers to his questions -- is what makes this fascinating to read.
I agree. It isn't so much a review as a struggle to understand a component, (which is something we all do). It's sort of like a blog describing a learning process. Learning about a component, learning to listen, learning to write. There are only a few writers of audio that have me understand their subject, such is the difficulty. I'm not comfortable picking out everything that strikes me as odd. I want Welly to continue writing and I hope that if I offer an occasional constructive criticism, as that was my intention, the writings of the future will be always better than the last.
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post #178 of 251
7/17/06 at 3:36am
Speaking of high end CDP, what do people generally think of Esoteric CD players, in particular the X series?
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post #179 of 251
7/17/06 at 3:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by milkpowder
Speaking of high end CDP, what do people generally think of Esoteric CD players, in particular the X series?

The X-01 and X-03 are both excellent pieces with typical clean, detailed Esoteric sound. Their VDRS-neo mechanism is also regarded as one of the best. I almost ordered the X-01 Limited. but opted for the P-O3/D-03 combo instead. IMO, you really can't go wrong with the Esoteric components.
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post #180 of 251
7/17/06 at 4:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sleestack
The X-01 and X-03 are both excellent pieces with typical clean, detailed Esoteric sound. Their VDRS-neo mechanism is also regarded as one of the best. I almost ordered the X-01 Limited. but opted for the P-O3/D-03 combo instead. IMO, you really can't go wrong with the Esoteric components.
Thank you very much for your quick reply. I'm about to go to a dealer to audition the X-01. The X-01 is a little expensive, but it'll give me some idea about how the X-03 will sound. How much more expensive is the P-03/D-03 combo than the X-01 limited?

Also, I got a chance to listen to the P-01/D-01(x2) combo on Saturday. It was connected to a Chord CPA4000E Pre-amplifier and SPM 6000 Reference Monoblock Power Amplifier. The speakers were Diva Utopia Be. Altogether, the combination sounded absolutely stunning! The synergy was excellent. Replacing the Diva with a pair of Grand Utopias (also in the room, along with Nova and L & R) would've been even nicer! (My dad was only looking at the Divas though)

EDIT: I'm off to the dealer now. I'll come back with some pictures.
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