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Esoteric Audio World Class cost no object Electronics |
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#1
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Esoteric X-3SE SACD playback issue
Hello,
I had bought this cd player years ago but incredibly I had never played a SACD disc on it. Regular CD's sound OK. So, I recently bought MOFI's Supertramp"Breakfast in America" SACD. I expected great things. What I got was a very muted, dull "low-ish type of volume sort of a playback. On my other "regular" Meridian CD player, the same disc sounded great. Vibrant detailed and dynamic. The Esoteric has "SACD" on the front panel during playback. Is there some button or function or setting that I need to address on this player? I am puzzled. It can't be the disc right? I don't have any other SACD's at this time. thanks mike |
#2
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problem solved:
I called Esoteric. The SACD disc sampling rate is 2.8Mhz. This SACD player does not go that high so it reverts to regular CD rate 44.1. I would actually need to find some "older" SACD'S to play within the limits of esoteric...oh well. |
#3
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Quote:
I just assumed that SACD had a defined set of format standards, just as CD does.
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Primary sources: VPI TNT III/SDS turntable, SME-V arm; Bryston BDP-3 digital player; Bryston BDA-3 DAC; McIntosh MVP-881 disc player; McIntosh MR-80 tuner. Preamplifier Audio Research Ref 5SE; Audio Research Ref Phono 2SE; Moon 430 HA. Amplifiers Conrad Johnson Premier 1B; Audio Research D-300; Bryston 4B. Speakers Infinity IRS Beta. Recorders Tandberg TD20A; Crown SX-822; Nakamichi 670ZX; Alesis Masterlink ML-9600. Power Tice Power Block/Titan (x2); McIntosh MPC1500; API Ultra II-20; multiple 20A derated dedicated lines. |
#4
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Quote:
Edward
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Analog Sources: Oppo 203, Oppo 105, DirecTV, AppleTV 4K, Roku Ultra, Nvidia Shield Digital Sources: Aurender W20 via USB and dual XLR, dCS Rossini and Clock HT Processor: Anthem AVM90 PreAmp: Audio Research Ref 6 Amp: ML 536 (2), Rotel 1552 (3), Rotel 1585 Speakers: Focal Maestro EVO, Focal 1000 Utopia Center, Focal 1000 IW6 side/rear surrounds, Focal 1000 IW6 X4 Ceiling, Rel G2 X 2 subs, Martin Logan 1500 X 2 subs, B&W 805D2 in master bedroom Video: JVC NZ8 Projector Power: Shunyata Everest, Sigma XC (1), Sigma NR (1), Sigma Analog (2), Alpha HC (2), Alpha Digital (2), Alpha Analog (1), Viper(1), Venom Digital(1) Cables: Shunyata Anaconda SC, Anaconda IC (2), Shunyata Sigma USB, Shunyata Sigma XLR X 2, Shunyata Sigma Ethernet, Shunyata Clock Alpha X 2, Sigma x 1 |
#5
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from X-01se manual(circa 2006?)===The main unit can accept and synchronize to the followingfrequencies received from external devices:44.1kHz, 88.2kHz, 100kHz, 176.4kHz (rectangular wave)
from current K-01 manual===The K-01/K-03 can accept and synchronize to the following frequencies received from external clock devices:44.1 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 10 MHz (±15 ppm) It seems the new K series can accept a much higher resolution( up to 10MHz) So, the tech told me because my cd player cannot go as high as the new disc has to offer it reverts to the next lowest level ==44.1 So, apparently, this new MOFI re-issue probably plays amazingly on the newest SACD players p.s.==I have to retract my opinion that the regular CD plays dull on the esoteric. It actually sounds good, but not as good as when I play the same disc on my Meridian 808.2 Last edited by michael paul; 03-09-2020 at 05:23 PM. |
#6
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Not a Esoteric owner but this is odd. I was under the impression that ALL SACD discs have the same format. Also if listening to the regular CD version (44.1) sounds “dull” I wonder if there is an issue with this particular player.
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#7
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SACD discs do have a standard spec and its 2.8MHz (single bit rate). CD is 44.1kHz (per 16 bits). If you player is playing an SACD at 44.1, it must be playing the CD layer of an SACD/CD hybrid disc.
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#8
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Michael Paul,
Data rates from external sources say nothing about the unit's ability to play discs. The Esoteric X-03SE is called an SACD Player by Esoteric and at least one review on the internet describes its SACD performance (reviewer was not impressed). Consequently, my conclusion regarding SACDs is that either your player needs repair or you have an operational issue. |
#9
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The frequencies you are referring to are those sent to the Esoteric from a master clock.
These frequencies have nothing to do with the sampling rate of a SACD except that it is a multiple of the CD rate of 44.1, exactly 64. Another think to consider is a setting on the Esoteric that is messing with things like 2ch playback vs multichannel, etc. May want to check that out. The fact that the SACD light comes on means it recognizes the SACD as such so an output setting must be set to the wrong setting. Edward
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Analog Sources: Oppo 203, Oppo 105, DirecTV, AppleTV 4K, Roku Ultra, Nvidia Shield Digital Sources: Aurender W20 via USB and dual XLR, dCS Rossini and Clock HT Processor: Anthem AVM90 PreAmp: Audio Research Ref 6 Amp: ML 536 (2), Rotel 1552 (3), Rotel 1585 Speakers: Focal Maestro EVO, Focal 1000 Utopia Center, Focal 1000 IW6 side/rear surrounds, Focal 1000 IW6 X4 Ceiling, Rel G2 X 2 subs, Martin Logan 1500 X 2 subs, B&W 805D2 in master bedroom Video: JVC NZ8 Projector Power: Shunyata Everest, Sigma XC (1), Sigma NR (1), Sigma Analog (2), Alpha HC (2), Alpha Digital (2), Alpha Analog (1), Viper(1), Venom Digital(1) Cables: Shunyata Anaconda SC, Anaconda IC (2), Shunyata Sigma USB, Shunyata Sigma XLR X 2, Shunyata Sigma Ethernet, Shunyata Clock Alpha X 2, Sigma x 1 |
#10
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hi thanks for all the responses,
I checked all the settings and then a second time with the tech on the phone . We were on the phone for over 40 minutes going over everything. Somehow , somewhere, he read to me the stats for this particular cd player and concluded that it was " unable to play this newer sacd and I would have to dig up some of the older ones". In essence it's obsolete. There is not a firmware update. He did mention a way I could play it with a laptop and a downloaded driver from esoteric(and my laptop would be part of the whole process connected by usb etc etc). This is waaaaay beyond anything I would ever trouble myself to do. And I would never send it in for service at this point. The player is from 2006 and I never bothered to play a sacd. I am not missing it really, although it would've been nice. Like some of you said =something is probably wrong with it. It works fine otherwise and I am more focused on my digital gear(streamer/dac combo) right now which I think is as good as if not better than sacd?? Happy listening guys! Last edited by michael paul; 03-09-2020 at 09:25 PM. |
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