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Esoteric DV 50 Audio Questions

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Posted on May 12, 2012 at 13:23:09
stereo5
Audiophile

Posts: 566
Location: New England
Joined: June 22, 2008
 I just purchased a used Esoteric DV 50 Universal Player. I will be using this strictly for audio only, both cd and sacd. After downloading and reading the owners manual, I am very confused in setting up the unit. As I will be using this for strictly audio, does anyone know what I have to set in the setup menu to insure the best sound? From what I gather, I can choose either pcm or dsd output via the coax digital output jack. I will be sending the signal to my Wyred4Sound DAC 1. What would be preferred, pcm or dsd and why?

I am also interested in others feelings on the 3 filter settings and what you consider to sound the best. Please chime in if you have any experience with this model or a similar Esoteric unit.

This is replacing my Sony SCD 777ES sacd player which will find a home in my secondary system.

Thanks.........

"Far away across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spells."

 

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RE: Esoteric DV 50 Audio Questions, posted on May 12, 2012 at 13:50:51
Awe-d-o-file
Manufacturer

Posts: 8734
Location: 100 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
Contributor
  Since: October 31, 2005
 First I'm sure I'd do comparisons between the DV-50's analog out vs using its digital out to go to the DAC 1. I think I'd be disappointed if it didn't do better than the DAC1. This from stereophiles review:

""three digital outputs (not SACD)"

And even it does DSD digital out I'm almost sure the DAC1 just reads PCM. Good luck.


ET

 

RE: Esoteric DV 50 Audio Questions, posted on May 14, 2012 at 08:19:01
Fitzcaraldo215
Audiophile

Posts: 897
Location: Philadelphia
Joined: September 7, 2008
 I think licensing agreements restrict player output from SACD. They can output converted analog, but digitally, they can only output hi rez via HDMI, either in DSD or in PCM. The only thing available from SACD via coax on this player would be PCM from the CD layer. There is no signal via coax when playing the DSD layer of an SACD.

Some player mods have circumvented this to output hi rez PCM via coax from SACD. One will be reported on soon in The Absolute Sound by my friend Andy Quint. DSD is never sent via coax, at least not in consumer products.

The latest trend toward DSD via USB by Playback Designs, et. al. works for certain DRM-free DSD downloads only, not for SACD disks, which are DRM protected. The PD player or the Mytek USB DAC are the only devices able to handle this at this point, AFAIK.

 

RE: Esoteric DV 50 Audio Questions, posted on May 14, 2012 at 14:00:02
stereo5
Audiophile

Posts: 566
Location: New England
Joined: June 22, 2008
 Thanks for the info but I wasn't implying that I wanted to output sacd to my dac. I plan on playing sacd's via the line output jacks. I will also be able to a-b the sound from the Wyred dac and the players internal dac when playing redbook cd's. I am asking so that I may use my Wyred dac to decode redbook cd's as I assume the Wyred dac is better than the 9 year old dac in the Esoteric. From reading the owners manual at least 5 times, I believe I need to set the output to dsd-pcm out. I would still like to hear others impressions of the sound with the different filter settings.

Anyone?

Bob

"Far away across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spells."

 

RE: Esoteric DV 50 Audio Questions, posted on May 14, 2012 at 18:26:32
Karltoo
Reviewer

Posts: 211
Location: South Florida
Joined: November 25, 2005
 I would have to wonder if that would have better musical audio quality
than if you had the "full VSEI + clock, upgrade" done to your SCD-777ES?
That is for both CD and SACD.....

 

RE: Esoteric DV 50 Audio Questions, posted on May 14, 2012 at 19:27:28
stereo5
Audiophile

Posts: 566
Location: New England
Joined: June 22, 2008
 Parts for the Sony are getting harder to get, that is my main reason for getting the Esoteric. Esoteric still has a full line of replacement parts for the DV50.

"Far away across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spells."

 

RE: Esoteric DV 50 Audio Questions, posted on May 15, 2012 at 09:14:01
Karltoo
Reviewer

Posts: 211
Location: South Florida
Joined: November 25, 2005
 On that basis, you could consider doing exactly the same thing to a new
or nearly new Sony SA 5400. I have both, equally upgraded and backup
players for parts and use: Differences are subtle and really in only 2 'areas'.

 

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