[nathanm]

This has bugged me ever since I first saw it and I just can't make sense of it.    This company Esoteric makes these wicked expensive disc players.  Okay, so far so good.  Disc player the price of a car, what else is new, right?  But the price isn't what makes no sense to me.  It's the models they offer.  You've got the UX-1 which plays DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, DVD-R/RW, Video-CD, SACD, and CD.  



Ahh but then there's the X-01 player which just plays CDs and SACDs.  Not DVDs.



Both decks are a cool $13,000 give or take.  So, why would anyone in their right mind buy the X-01? As far as I can tell the specs are identical except the UX-1 uses an extra 5 watts of power and of course has the video circuitry.  Am I missing something here?  What's the advantage of the SACD-only player?

[sts9fan]

I think the point is that at these prices practicality is not really in the picture. Anyway I am sure most people who buy them get both

[Watson]

Fewer compromises, in theory.  You only need two fixed-frequency clocks with the CD/SACD player.  In reality there's probably no reason, other than to satisfy the quirky tastes of the high-end.

[Jon L]

I can't tell you whether UX-1 or X-01 is better, but it might surprise you to know there are people who think stock UX-1 and X-01 are not nearly good enough and mod the hell out of them.

http://www.aplhifi.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=253

[Watson]

I don't doubt it.  The stock UX-1 is really dry sounding.  I didn't like it.  Haven't heard the X-01.

[nathanm]

It might make a sliver of sense if the one that played DVDs DIDN'T play SACDs, but it plays SACDs too!  If $13,000 meant nothing to me, if I had $13,000 in the cushions on my couch still I wouldn't buy the SACD-only version.  This one I really don't get at all, it's like they're not even trying to be crafty about the marketing.  The things even look identical!

[WEEZ]

Isn't the Esoteric line made by Teac?

I remember the Teac open reel decks from years ago; and even own a Tascam cassette deck. But I never thought of Teac/Tascam being in THAT price category...

..I guess some purchasers have more dollars than cents (er, sense..)...

For $13k, the damn thing oughta play lp's; FM radio; XM radio; MP3's; and whatever else there is out there. And have a good quality pre-amp/power amp built in. And speakers....

Give us a review when you buy one, Nathan.

WEEZ

[Red Dragon Audio]

Isn't the Esoteric line made by Teac?

Yes.  

[ScottMayo]

Both decks are a cool $13,000 give or take. So, why would anyone in their right mind buy the X-01?

Wrong question. Why would anyone buy either? As much as I believe that it takes big dollars to get good sound, I just don't see needing to spend that to make SACD sound good. You can get just about as good as it gets for a fourth of that or less. You don't need to spend that much to get *vinyl* to sound good.

Rich people do silly things, and they do them without consequence. That's why it sucks to be poor. And, oddly, why I'm glad I'm not actually rich.

[Parnelli777]

My rule of thumb is as follows: if a CDP costs more than $2000, it's an absurd waste of money. Buy a turntable. When one can buy something like a VPI Scout rig for well under $2000, or a Clearaudio Emotion set-up with a decent cartridge for less than $1200, or at the real budget end, a ProJect Debut III for less than $300 COMPLETE, uhh, well, you get the picture. Vinyl is just plain fun. You digital only peeps- try it, you'll definitely like it :^)

The fascination with high dollar CD players is absolutely bizarre to me. Ain't much reason to go beyond something like the Jolida JD 100A, one hell of a CDP for less than $1000 new. Used, it's a ridiculous bargain. AMC also makes a tubed output player for well under $1000. There are others that many are aware of, of course.

[scottielee]

there is at least one difference in the main dac (L+R)

X-01 Main DAC: separate board for L+R


UX-1 Main DAC: one board for L+R


http://www.teac.com/esoteric/

why only mention Esoteric? what about other megadollar digital gear from dCS, EMMLabs, Reimyo, Zanden, Wadia, Goldmund...of which some only offer CD playback?

it's all about supply and demand. some designers spent 20+ years working on this stuff and didn't get paid while they experimented and lost hair. when a product is widely acknowledged and desired while the manufacturing process of it is tedious, costly, and time consuming, the price naturally increases to reach an equilibrium.

when you have trouble justifying the price of top audio gear, think of them as precious musical instruments or works of art.

in my opinion, it is only a sin to overcharge when offering crappy performance.

[Rob Babcock]

I did try it- that's why I'm now a digital only guy!  And as tempting as it is to say "anything over $2k is crazy" lots of people whould say $1k.  Or $250.  Who's to say what's right?  Different strokes and stuff...

[Parnelli777]

I did try it- that's why I'm now a digital only guy!

A digital only guy.

That is funny, but kinda sad, too. But mostly funny.

[Rob Babcock]

Yeah, but a lot of guys like the mechanical sound of LPs.  Go figure.


           




         




           

[nathanm]

why only mention Esoteric? what about other megadollar digital gear from dCS, EMMLabs, Reimyo, Zanden, Wadia, Goldmund...of which some only offer CD playback?

Because I'm not concerned with the value of expensive gear itself, I am only questioning the fact that you are paying the exact same price for each deck and getting one less format compatibility if you choose the X-01.  If the X-01 deck was cheaper that would at least be logical.  But they cost the same!  Usually there is a clear feature that one product is marketed another in the line, some kind of linear progression of quality and features; but this is the only time I've seen somebody offer product A which does everything product B can do and more, but at the same asking price.

But at least the dual boards is A difference.  Thanks for pointing that out.  Now I can rest easier.  Oh sure, it's all a bit loony to me personally, but that's besides the point.  I do like how they show the insides.  Clearly that's a very full-ass transport mechanism.  I'd be interested to see what the sales are of the two models, though.  Weird stuff...

[scottielee]

now i see where you are coming from. thanks Nathan for clarifying.

i think i have read more discussions about X-01 than UX-1...

[Jon L]

I did try it- that's why I'm now a digital only guy!

A digital only guy.

That is funny, but kinda sad, too. But mostly funny.

I'm with Rob on this one.  Maybe you could have said the same thing about digital vs. vinyl 5 years ago and be right.  Today, best digital is at least as good as best vinyl and modest digital is at least as good as modest vinyl, and I'm only talking about redbook.  Forget SACD, but once you talk about well-done, true 24 bit/192kHz DVD-A audio, vinyl cannot compete, period.  

I know this is blasphemy for you vinyl die-hards, and I understand you guys honestly prefer vinyl sound subjectively.  But that wouldn't be because vinyl has more truth, resolution, or less distortion.