Esoteric SA-60 universal player

[Κώστας Φ.]

Description: Multichannel, audio-only SACD/CD/DVD-Audio/DVD-Video player with choice of 8x oversampling FIR and upsampling RDOT low-pass digital filters, PCM-to-DSD (1-bit, 64x) upsampling.
Digital audio outputs: coaxial, optical/TosLink.
Analog audio output: dedicated 2-channel outputs (balanced, XLR, and unbalanced, RCA), plus multichannel RCA outputs.
Maximum output level at 1kHz: 2.2V RMS, unbalanced and unbalanced.
Output impedance: not specified.
Frequency range: 5Hz–88kHz (DVD-A).
Signal/noise ratio: 130dB.
Dynamic range: 107dB.
THD: 0.002%.
Dimensions: 17.4" (445mm) W by 5.9" (150mm) H by 13.9" (355mm) D.
Weight: 37 lbs (17kg).
Price: $4600.



"Conclusion

At the heart of the Esoteric SA-60 is a high-quality, custom-designed transport the likes of which are found in few CD, DVD, or SACD players priced as low as $4600. That this transport was able to improve CD playback when coupled with the Musical Fidelity kW DM25 DAC tells me that if you buy an SA-60 now, in the future you could add an outboard "Red Book" DAC to further improve its already excellent sound quality. But even as a standalone player, the SA-60 offers superb sound that will satisfy most buyers now and far into the future. The SA-60 is an excellent player of "Red Book" CDs.

The SA-60's playback of DVD-Audio and SACD discs exceeded that of any CD player because of the discs' far higher resolution. It's as simple as that. I'd rather listen to a DVD-A or SACD edition of a given title through the SA-60 than the CD version of that title through any CD player at any price." -- Michael Fremer


Full Review: Stereophile.com

 

[Κώστας Φ.]

Απάντηση: Esoteric SA-60 universal player

"If you are looking for a sub-$5000 CD player that can revive your disc collection, the SA60 should be on your short list. The fact that it will also read your occasional hi-rez discs in stereo or 5.1 is an added bonus thrown in by Esoteric. If, on the other hand, you already have built a substantial multi-format collection to look for a way to ensure continued stereo or surround enjoyment for years to come without re-mortgaging the house, the SA60 should be at the top of your extremely short list, with the satisfaction of knowing that it comes close to squeezing every last drop of performance possible from about all formats short of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. "The best sound from any disc" as was claimed in another review then? Probably not in every system, but with the right ancillaries, it unquestionably has the potential to be that rare one-stop wonder."

Full Review: 6moons.com