Esoteric UX-1 V Esoteric SA60 for 5.1 Music

Stump

Well-Known Member
Jul 15, 2012
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I run a Esoteric SA 60 for 5.1 music only.I have a chance to buy a Esoteric UX-1 LE.Any surround sound music fans gone down this track with some opinions?What is the best player out there for SACD and DVD-A 5.1
Stump

Esoteric SA 60
Arcam AVR 600
Vaf I-66s x5
Vaf PL sub x3
 

SCAudiophile

Well-Known Member
Sep 11, 2010
1,156
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Greer South Carolina (USA)
Having owned the DV-50S, UX-1, UX-1 Limited and P-03U (and demo-ing the SA-60 at one point) each for multiple years, here is my assessment;

1. P-03U (but you need a multi-channel DAC)
2. UX-1 Limited
3. DV-50S
4. SA-60...
 

Stump

Well-Known Member
Jul 15, 2012
153
75
335
Cheers
I ended up buying a modified UX-1 Limited and couldn't be happier!
Stump
 

SCAudiophile

Well-Known Member
Sep 11, 2010
1,156
435
1,205
Greer South Carolina (USA)
It's a great player...glad to hear you are happy with it! I remember upgrading my stock UX-1 to LE; it was definitely worth the time and the $$$!
 

Stump

Well-Known Member
Jul 15, 2012
153
75
335
Having owned the DV-50S, UX-1, UX-1 Limited and P-03U (and demo-ing the SA-60 at one point) each for multiple years, here is my assessment;

1. P-03U (but you need a multi-channel DAC)
2. UX-1 Limited
3. DV-50S
4. SA-60...


My UX-1 Limited is still going strong.Although I am not doing surround sound anymore I still play DVD-A in stereo mix.A Esoteric P-03 transport / Esoteric D-03 Dac just came up on the local market. Would this make the combo the BEST for DVD-A playback? I wont be selling my SACD or DVD_A CDs anytime soon . Given its age would you expect the Esoteric K-01Xs to blow it away for CD and SACD??? Cheers
 

SCAudiophile

Well-Known Member
Sep 11, 2010
1,156
435
1,205
Greer South Carolina (USA)
While I thought the UX-1 Limited was a great all around unit for all formats and the D-50S was very good, the P-03U (need the "U" model to support all CD,SACD, DVD-V, DVD-A, the P-03 only played CD and SACD)and D-03 was miles ahead in terms of overall sound quality especially when using Dual-AES (ES-Link) and XLR outputs. Performance took a further jump for all formats when using an external 10 mHz master clock. In short, 'yes' the P-03U/D-03 is the best combo for DVD-A of the 3 I ever heard.
 
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