Quote:
Originally Posted by SCAudiophile
The SACD player you reference from Mac came out after this 14 year old Esoteric (really 15 yrs when you consider when design would been frozen). There was a small change in mastering and cutting SACDs subsequent to 2005 when the X-03 design would have been finalized that caused a need for simple firmware update. Not all SACD vendors followed it either.
That does NOT make the X-03 or the SE version only a CD player with SACD play as an afterthought as you claim in any apparent effort to promote the Mac offering which came out later that you favor and would have by design been able to play both gen1 and gen2 SACDs just like later generation Esoteric players (P-02 and others...) . The P-03U and X-01 all required updates, that is a fact. The number of discs affected was small. DCS, EMMlabs Oppo and many others would have had to in the designs that came later.
Esoteric/others are not omniscient,...in 2004 to 2005 they could not have designed for a change that came some years later. If memory serves, the first SACD i bought that showed the gap between player and latest spec that pointed me towards Esoteric tech support for my P03U transport was round about 2011 to 2012 more or less and was 1 out of about 35 to 40 new SACDs I ordered. The fix took a few minutes to call, get support right away and download with basic skills to upgrade. A bootable firmware CD could also have been mailed out if necessary. Have not had a single issue
FWIW...
|
Excellent information. I was
not referring to Esoteric which I believe has excellent SACD players. There are some super expensive digital rigs that are not really SACD players but that can be upgraded to play them. Some do not even play SACD at all.
My MCD1100 had a DIN Out as well as an AES/EBU included. The DIN Out is for the Mac proprietary MCT input into the D1100. The MCD1100 came out in about 2011.
It seems to me that at this point in time any digital player should be a true SACD player. To not have SACD is to miss some super recordings.
And I'm not attempting to promote Mac. May this forever be forbidden or even a suggestion of it. It seems on this website any attempt to say a positive word about Mac generates a false assumption and bitter reaction like yours. The MCD7000 which came out in 1985 cost about 5,000. It had one DAC for
both channels. Mac has held the price of their digital equipment very steady so that folks can afford it. That's not promoting Mac. It's just a fact that the retail cost of an MCD600 SACD Player is 7,000 and is a great sounding player.
I would certainly expect and hope the Esoterics to sound superior (to Mac) otherwise what are you spending your money on? Very few have unlimited budgets. For me it is a question of diminishing returns for the sound improvement you achieve. I think if I have an unlimited budget I would have a Grandioso stack, no question.
____________________
Charles Updated System
Most recent updates: AQ Diamond USB replaces AQ Coffee; Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx replaced by Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic
Amps: McIntosh 1.25KW’s (3) set on floor on custom made cultured marble slabs
Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100
Sources: McIntosh MCD1100 SACD player, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 23)
Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic
Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie and Wilson Watch Controller (abbr: WC)
Cables main system: Audioquest Wel Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); Wel Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for BR player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Diamond USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for tuner; cables for DVD player not listed
Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from WC to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to WC; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords
Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) solid walnut cabinet on large casters; holds all sources and preamp; also, Niagara 7000; 11 feet minimum distance from speakers
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes
AC: Dedicated to this room only, an ultra-high efficiency and quiet recently installed Ruud split system 3-ton heat pump.
Room (mancave): 40’L x 15.5’W A-frame; max ceiling height 8’ min 5’; wall within wall construction built of 2 x 6’s; built over garage with custom hardwood floor with gym seal with over 40 Lowes stiffened wooden I-beams supporting floor; complete isolation from rest of house