Esoteric’s SA-50 Super Audio CD/CD Player

As any enthusiast of high-end audio worth his salt knows that an Esoteric product will always be backed by solid engineering with top-quality parts and performance-per-pound bragging rights. Such can certainly be said about the SA-50, Esoteric’s relatively new Super Audio CD/CD player. You mean manufacturers still make SACD players and enthusiasts still buy and play them? Well, yes. And with an integrated player such as the SA-50, you cover all bases. (And you’ll also be laying out around $5,000, so those bases need to be covered pretty darn well.)

Here’s some of what makes the SA-50 a standout.
•    A specially design shaft mounted laser pickup assembly
•    D/A conversion with 32-bit processing
•    DSD to 32-bit PCM conversion for SACD
•    PCM to DSD conversion for Redbook CD
•    High-quality 2-channel dedicated analog output (allowing a more precise and deeper soundstage)
•    Jitter reduction with dual PLL circuits

And as you would expect for the price, the SA-50’s chassis shows industrial-grade, art-level craftsmanship with its front panel of thick extruded aluminum; top and side panels are 5mm-thick aluminum; and the bottom is a 5mm-thick steel plate (which all explains the SA-50’s 37-pound heft).

True, a $5,000 SACD/CD player isn’t for everyone. But for those who want to know more, you’ll find it at http://www.teac.com/esoteric/.