Columns Retired Columns & Blogs |
December 28, 2009 - 8:43pm
#1
Ayre C5xeMP vs Esoteric X-05
Loudspeakers Amplification | Digital Sources Analog Sources Featured | Accessories Music |
Columns Retired Columns & Blogs |
Loudspeakers Amplification Digital Sources | Analog Sources Accessories Featured | Music Columns Retired Columns | Show Reports | Features Latest News Community | Resources Subscriptions |
I don't know which is better, but FYI, Jeff Dorgay, of Tone, is selling his Ayre. Here's one link (he probably has it listed elsewhere as well)...
http://www.martinloganowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10289
He probably bought a Sony SCD-XA5400ES. I replaced my Ayre C5-Xe with one. The Sony is so much better than anything else under $10,000 that it is absolutely incredible...and for $1500!!!?
I am going to get my Ayre upgraded to the MP specification when I can , but there is a long wait; and I question whether it will match the Sony even then. We will see. How Sony can make a product this good for this price is quite a miracle to me.
My vinyl recordings were the closest I had ever heard to bringing the full dynamics and tonal colors of a major solo piano work right into my living room, but the Sony betters even my turntable. This is the first time I could ever say that it really sounds "LIVE". Silly grin time.