Esoteric D-07

[mgard]

Sweet Jim, you have all the cool toys! As you know, I am waiting to hear your critique. Especially how it compares to the DACs in the MCD500.

~ Mike

[jdandy]

Jim.......Very nice. I am looking forward to your review, and the comparison with the MDC500.

[Still-One]

As promised here is a short update on having the Esoteric D-07 handle the DAC duties in my system in lieu of the MCD-500.
For almost two years the MCD-500 has acted as the DAC and controller for most of my daily listening. From day one the vast majority of listening has been my MS-300's digital output connected to the RCA digital in on the MCD-500. When I added a SonoS unit in my 2-channel room I connected this to the Optical input on the 500. For critical listening it was the 500 itself for SACD's or CD's. I could easily jump between these three sources thanks to Dan hint that the (am) button on my C-1000's remote would cycle thru the MCD-500's inputs.
When I added the Olive 4HD for its Hi-Rez (and sizable storage) capabilities, you may remember that I spent quite a bit of time comparing the DAC's in the two units. Although they were very close and I doubt anyone could have readily identified which was playing without some serious A/B'ing, I noted that in the end I preferred the DAC's in the MCD-500. Since the 500 only has the two digital inputs one RCA and one Optical those being used by the MS-300 and SonoS units, I was happy to use the Olive connected directly to my C-1000.
As previously noted the D-07 gives you more options than the MCD-500 used as a DAC. There are a total of (4) inputs. Two are digital phono, one is optical and the last USB. I have connected the MS-300 and the Olive 4HD to the two RCA type inputs and the SonoS uses the optical inout. Via the set-up menu all three of these inputs are set for 4 times oversampling and I have chosen to use the Short Delay (or apodizing) filter. (each input can be set-up individually).

How does it sound. In a word, Fantastic. I cannot remember enjoying better sound from my system. There is a ease or smoothness to the music that I do not think was previously there. The bass, though maybe not a tight, seems fuller (crappy word) and more musical. Bass notes sound more like bass notes.

Within the next couple of days I will compare CD's played on the MCD-500 connected directly to the C-1000 with those same songs using the D-07's DAC's played from the MS-300 or Olive 4HD. I will be able to switch back and forth listening to the same passage seconds apart to see how close the two units are.

Don't get me wrong, I like the MCD-500 a lot and I am not criticizing it nor dumping on it.

More to follow.
Jim

[cmalak]

So Jim...if you decide the D-07 outclasses the MCD-500, are you going to sell the MCD-500 and get an Esoteric transport so you can also play SACD through the D-07? If yes, which transport are you thinking? Thx

[jdandy]

Jim.......The Esoteric D-07 sounds very promising. It is a gorgeous looking DAC.

Here's the Esoteric D-07 New Product Literature: http://esoteric.teac.com/resources/p...nformation.pdf

For those interested, here is the D-07 Owner's Manual: http://esoteric.teac.com/resources/pdf/D-07_OM_E_vA.pdf

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by cmalak

So Jim...if you decide the D-07 outclasses the MCD-500, are you going to sell the MCD-500 and get an Esoteric transport so you can also play SACD through the D-07? If yes, which transport are you thinking? Thx

I have been considering either the P-05 or the P-03. There are some differences in the way the two transports process and pass the digital output. Size wise the P-05 looks better with the D-07 but the P-03 does have a little better transport. Also, I know that the P-05's remote will allow me to cycle thru the D-07's digital inputs, not sure about the P-03.

I hate the thought of selling the MCD-500 especially since I own the lowest serial number that might be out there (#3).

[jdandy]

Here's a nice nudie of the Esoteric P-03

[jdandy]

My MCD500's are #67 and #73. I waited until the worked the bugs out.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Still-One

I hate the thought of selling the MCD-500 especially since I own the lowest serial number that might be out there (#3).

Actually, mine is the loneliest number (#1)

[1KW]

Congrats Jim on your new toy. Another option is that you sell the MS300 and just use the sonos and Olive 4HD with the MCD500 DAC inputs ? The reason I bring this up is after reading your findings that you posted, it seems that you feel any differences are very subtle between the Esoteric and MCD500 .