UPDATE (12/23/07): added the MBL 5011 preamp. After living with my Esoteric front end for almost 3 months without a pre, I came to the realization that a pre was definitely needed. Without a pre, the sound was a bit thin and lacking bass. The 5011 addressed these issues and so much more. I did not realize how poor my soundstaging was until I introduced the 5011. This pre does in incredible job of layering the soundstage as well as separating each individual instrument.
UPDATE (12/07/07): added the Ayre MX-R amps. These were broken in by my dealer for 2 weeks before I took delivery. I rarely am taken back by gear but I was startled at how much real these amps sounded to me than my previous amps. There is more detail, more immediacy of notes, very good separation of instruments, and a very nice holographic presentation. I can go on and on but by far these amps are the most realistic sounding I have come across. They are just so enjoyable to listen to!
UPDATE (9/29/07): added Esoteric P-03 transport and D-05 DAC. The D-05 has the latest 32 bit DAC from AKM. Even only after a few hours I hear much better separation between instruments and notes, better sustain and decay, and more authoritative bass. More updates to follow.
UPDATE (8/03/07): added the Oyaide R1 outlet for my amps. Everything is a bit livelier with much better detail. I am hearing so many little nuances I have never heard before!
UPDATE (7/24/07): added the Oyaide SWO-GX Ultimo outlet to my front end. What a difference! The bass now goes lower and there is more detail across the board. I will adding another outlet for my amps next. This is by far one of the best tweaks I have ever done.
UPDATE (7/13/07): I finally got around to adding some heavy silk drapes and they made a world of difference. Everything is much smoother. I will continue to look for ways to judiciously treat my room without making it look like a recording studio.
Beauty:
-The sound is just incredible. Vocals are holographic and textured.
-The MBL 5011 preamp is beautiful to look at. Luckily the sound is just as good.
-The Ayre MX-R amps are just gorgeous to look at. The casework is outstanding. And as my wife said, "they are so cute"!
Beasts:
-The Usher BE-10 speakers are big and thick producing a powerful yet delicate sound.
-The Esoteric P-03 transport is incredibly heavy (75lb) and big but it sure sounds good.
My system has undergone A LOT of changes over the last few years. This has been mainly to me figuring out my own listening preferences and understanding what I wanted to get out of my system. After swapping out a lot of components and spending too much money, I have finally settled down a bit.
I listen to all kinds of music but tend to favor anything with female vocals, particularly acoustic folk and vocal jazz. I also favor simple orchestration and basic instrumentation with a preference for acoustic guitar and piano. The less number of instruments between me and the vocals the better. I mainly go to listen to music in small, intimate venues where I am able to sit within a few feet of the band.
Given my musical tastes, I wanted to put together a system that is able to reproduce the sound as organically as possible. I want to hear every little detail like the quiver in a singer's voice, the sound of the guitar pick striking the string, the feeling of the hammer hitting the piano string. To me, these tiny nuances help to make the music sound as real (i.e. organic) as possible. To this end, I wanted a system that was detailed, dynamic, fast, and immediate with just a hint of warmth. I did not want anything that was too syrupy sounding though. My current system gives me everything I am looking for. It is as close to hearing musicians in my room that I have ever heard with any previous iteration of my system.
I love the Esoteric sound so much I had to get their P-03 transport.
Esoteric D-05
Anniversary model with new AKM 32 bit DAC
Esoteric VRDS-Neo
This transport is a work of art! By far, the best, most accurate transport available. The amount of detail it extracts is amazing!
Sonos ZP-80
Wireless digital music system. Digital output is sent to Esoteric D-05 DAC, a huge improvement over internal DAC. I enjoy my music so much more now that I have instant access to my 40K song library
MBL 5011
A very musical preamp with outstanding soundstaging and separation of each instrument.
Ayre Acoustics MX-R
I am so happy with these amps. They make everything sound so real it is startling! The transparency and dynamics suit my preferences perfectly!
Usher BE-10
Very dynamic and neutral sounding speaker. I am sold on beryllium!
Tara Labs The One
Very transparent and "tight" sounding cable that also offers weight and solidity. These give me all the virtues I admired in my previous speaker cable, the Nordost Blue Heaven while providing what it was missing.
Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II
Used between my source and preamp. Great detail without sounding bright or edgy.
Acoustic Zen Matrix Reference II
Used between my preamp and amp. Very smooth sounding.
Acoustic Zen MC2 XLR
AES/EBU digital cable from Esoteric P-03 transport to D-05 DAC.
Acoustic Zen Silver Byte
Used to synch the word clock from the Esoteric D-05 DAC to the P-03 transport.
Acoustic Zen MC2 RCA
Digital cable from Sonos ZP-80 wireless digital music system to Esoteric D-05 DAC.
Virtual Dynamics Nite 3
Being used to power by MBL 5011 preamp. Like all VD power cables I immediately noticed more dynamics, speed, and authority. The soundstage with the VD power cables are incredible!
Star Sound Technology SP-4 Sistrum Stand
Great amp stand that helped to add smoothness to my system.
Oyaide SWO-GX Ultimo
Double cryo'd outlet with 24K gold plating - used for cdp and preamp
Oyaide R1
Cryo'd ac outlet with Beryllium/copper and palladium plating - used for amps
HiFi Tuning Fuse
I added this "audiophile" fuse to my MBL 5011 preamp. I am not sure it made any difference but it was cheap and lord knows I have spent much more money on things that actually made my system sound worse! My previous preamp, Classe CP-700 did respond positively to these fuses though. I still may try some in my other components.
thanks T -but in the last year have 7 new pwr cords -1 new intecon-a new sub --since my beloved muse mod 18 died--and of course the esoteric replacing my old transport and dac-and 2 furman ref 15it pwr cond-trust me that doesn't include the HT system upstairs --remember early on in this hobby -I got networked with a group of audiophile crazies :):)and bought and sold lots of stuff trying to get it right--this was all pre internet--just get a good pre amp --and pwr conditioner-then just relax for awhile and enjoy your great system---rich
hey--were you able to find any more info on the symphonic line gear from Klaus?-I have had my amps and preamp for over 10 yrs and still love them also have you thought of the pass pre--sometimes all in the same brand sound better-then mixing and of course sometimes they don't--and have you received the isotek yet --rich
T --when you get the isotek--put it on program 2 and let it play for 24hrs--then run it thruough your system at low vol for just 1 cycle then listen should help --agree with Zephyr needs at least 250-300 hrs --rich--you could also put your preamp back in to see the diff --
Tommy --go to the odysssey-web site--in the audiogon manufact- list --klaus is the us importer for symphonic line --at their web site there is a link to symphonic line --just great amps and pre amps ---don't forget your pass amps are great as well ---nelson pass is one of the grandad's of high end gear--rich--btw the furman stuff is wonderful--any ? email me --
zephyr--bass with the symphonic line pre was in spades --also using a furman ref 15--one for my cd player and preamp and another for amps, sub and my speakers --they truly made a huge difference --agree with what you said --rich
hi T--glad the esoteric is jumping :) did you order the isotek system enhancer ??if you are not familiar with the jazz at the pawnshop cd and like jazz it is a must esp the XRCD--my speakers are transparent and system is pretty nat sounding so I don't know whaat I would do with the the p3d5 combo --how is that for rationalization--haha--I previously had a tube preamp to go with my symphonic line rg4mk3 monoblks and my electrostats --and switched to the sl rg3mk3 solid state pre and it just blew away the tubed one midrange was better just glowing and had greater dynamics and detail--so don't be afraid to try a ss pre --it just has to blend with your system--also looking at your system -you have great components and you will go wild when you can get them into a better room --imho--take care --rich
good discussion--live music is the standard we are looking for but not a spice girls concert with 10k screaming 11yr old girls--next time you are listening to live jazz in a small venue --look around and ask whether or not you are the only person trying to figure out how far back the drummer sounds from the piano etc or whether you can hear the hammer hitting the pads etc--this what we all do trying to remember that natural sound and get our systems to get as close as possible too--then to just enjoy the music and not only listen to the electronics--remember these are systems and finding the right blend of components to make it sound great is the key imho--rich
go to the esoteric web site-look under technologies and they talk about breakin and give you a link to the isotek site--it works well just don't have anyone around while it is playing or they will lock you up and ask me for bail:):)--250 hrsplus using the cd and I still think it is changing--yes it is lots of fun the esoteric is just so dynamic--I thought my old transport and dac were great til i got talked into the so3se --soundstage detail and bass just have gone to another level--then added a couple of furman ref it 15's with bptL10 pwr cord and I was hearing things that I never heard on music that i had listened to for years --if you want to have fun --buy the jazz at the pawnshop XRCD--from audiophile resource it will make you just think you are there !!!--any ? just email me --going to watch the WAR on pbs --rich
do it while you can:) I just finished a home theater up stairs that got way out of hand --go figure then just have upgraded -my dedicated 2ch system downstairs thinking of another sub and getting a xover made if I get another sub--pretty happy with my toys for now--it is also amazing -how much better the esoteric sounds after it breaks in --did you get the rec cd for breaking in the player??
congrats--you should be thrilled when the esoteric breaks in--I have an xo3se and just love it--also have the same oyaide outlets hard to believe that they can improve bass the way they do--will have to hear about the esoteric later --got one more in college so can't make the jump yet--happy listening----Rich
