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Advice for CD-transport - Esoteric, Accustic Arts, or else?

Posted by hassel (A) on April 20, 2007 at 02:03:40

I recently took my combo of Audionet Art V2 CD-transport , and my Chord DAC64 to compare to the Accustic Arts Drive MkII, and DAC MkIV. For two hours, I listened to all combinations: the Audionet with the Chord, and the DAC Mk IV, the AA Drive with its brother-DAC, and with the Chord. Cabling was LAT International Signature line, Furutech Reference, amps Chord Electronics preamp and amp, speakers were ProAc D100. To my surprise, the differences between the two DACs were quite small. The AA transport, however, showed the Audionet second place in all regards: bass, instrument placement, more analogue-like sound, air around instuments, better voices, you name it. It was a huge difference, that is improvement - much larger than between the two DACs. So the upgrade-virus is upon me again: What to do? Go for the AA, or rather for an Esoteric X-03SE, which I could use as transport, but get SACD on top? Or is there anything else which makes a terrific transport without breaking the bank, like e.g. dcs does? I would like to stay with the Chord DAC64 for the time being.
Thanks for any advice,
Florian Hassel

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