Esoteric Technology / System Break-In

It is well known that disc players and amplifiers, even loudspeakers and cable, may require as much as 400-500 hours of time to fully break in. Until that time, system performance will be limited in terms of acoustic capability. For system conditioning and break in, Esoteric uses the Isotek Full System Enhancer. This disc can effectively shorten the time required for break in of high end systems, and enhances the performance of systems that have already been broken in. For more information visit: http://www.isoteksystems.com/cds.asp and for purchase of this product in the USA, please contact your software retailer or call 972-234-0182.

ESOTERIC® disc players use proprietary disc transport systems, each designed to reduce noise, vibration, tracking errors and error correction.

In addition to these designs, Esoteric players utilize a "read until right" (RUR), advanced stage memory buffer. Typically a RUR system is active only when errors are present. Esoteric implements this process for all data. Data is buffered into a much larger SDRAM memory than is typically used, providing higher accuracy for RUR retrieval while also adding power to required digital processing. This helps to eliminate a much higher level of jitter (errors). The "simplicity" of the Esoteric digital signal processor (DSP), as compared to a computer driven device, is ideal. The signal path is very short, there are dedicated digital signal processors with built-in memory controllers and SDRAM memory chips being less than an inch away. Add Esoteric's precise clocking and power supply, plus the massive VRDS-Neo transport that spins a CD at 4 times the normal rate, without any sign of mechanical vibration, and you have the best possible solution. Furthermore, Esoteric's designs do not allow any off axis data tracking so no off axis error correction is ever required. This also provides a higher level of accuracy for data retrieval.

Several transport designs created by Esoteric are used with various options based on product category and cost. Esoteric's VRDS assembly has evolved through over 21 years of engineering. Esoteric's experience in electro-mechanical design goes back to the founding of our parent company, TEAC Corporation in 1953. All Esoteric transport mechanisms and optical pick-ups are conceived, designed, engineered and manufactured in Japan.

Esoteric's 2 major categories of disc transports include:

1. The VRDS-Neo assembly is manufactured in steel and aluminum, steel and magnesium, and hybrid steel with a bulk molding compound. VRDS is a “Vibration Free, Rigid Disc Clamping System.” VRDS-Neo indicates the latest generation of the VRDS system. VRDS has been in use for over 21 years.
2. VOSP assemblies are manufactured with metal, aluminum, hybrid metals and hardened ABS. This is ESOTERIC's "Vertically Aligned Optical Stability Platform." This assembly provides many benefits of VRDS at more affordable price points. Control boards, tray material and clamping options are selected based on Esoteric product specifications and/or by OEM preference.

In addition to use in all Esoteric players, Esoteric provides these proprietary transport mechanisms and control boards to other manufacturers on an OEM basis.

To download a PDF file (1.7 MB), on Esoteric transport mechanisms please click here.

Blu-ray disc players allow playback of regular DVDs and native high definition ("HD"), DVDs at resolutions of 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p. Most Blu-ray players convert regular DVDs to scaled HD resolutions up to 1080p, although conversion quality may not equal what an advanced DVD player already does. Several Blu-ray players also support new HD audio formats (Dolby True-HD and DTS HD-MA), that were initially developed for Blu-ray movies.

ESOTERIC DVD players allow playback of regular DVDs in high definition ("HD"), resolutions of 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p. Esoteric uses an advanced 14 bit video processing system, state of the art scan conversion and proprietary HDMI "EXP" technology. With HDMI "EXP" mode applied, DVDs are further enhanced with additional black level and image detail in all HD resolutions, including 720p and 1080i/1080p. ESOTERIC A/V players also playback CD, SACD, DVD video and DVD-audio in 2 channel and/or in multi-channel. Our players include dedicated high quality 2 channel outputs that are audiophile quality and are separate and distinct to the included multi-channel audio decoders (if applicable). Our disc transport mechanisms are considered to be among the finest in the world insuring highly accurate data retrieval. (We even supply these disc mechanisms on an OEM basis, selectively, to other high end manufacturers).

Additional facts as of March 1, 2010:

There are currently over 100,000 titles available on DVD. At this time, approximately 6000 titles exist on Blu-ray. Blu-Ray disc titles may cost 2 to 3 times as much as DVD titles. Replacing your existing DVD collection, if you can find the same titles, could become an enormous investment.

Other "HD" video disc formats exist as possible successors to Blu-ray, although none of these are currently in the consumer market. For more information please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_Versatile_Disc and: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_optical_data_storage

As other major competitors to Blu-ray we are seeing more HD video programming and HD movie downloads become available through broadband streaming and Internet based services such as: http://www.vudu.com/product_hdx.html, , http://www.hulu.com/search?query=hd&st=1 and http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/musicandvideo/hdvideo/contentshowcase.aspx

Even NetFlix, Inc. and Blockbuster Video are offering HD video services. Furthermore, FIOS (Fiber optics) by Cox Communications and Verizon now offer HD video & HD movie services as does DIRECTV and DISH network. In fact, all major cable TV networks now offer HD video programming and DVR capability. With the capability to store uncompressed 1080p video on media servers, PC hard drives and/or on network attached storage, where does all this leave Blu-ray players in the long term?

These are important questions and technologies for you to consider. If and when Blu-ray becomes more dominant, Esoteric may participate. In the 1970s and 1980s, Betamax was considered as a new video standard (with a superior picture), and it ultimately failed. As a small specialty manufacturer, Esoteric cannot afford to build a Betamax, nor can we invest in a technology that may be surpassed? At this time we elect to wait for a more dominate software catalog (while we also evaluate the growth of services mentioned above for the delivery of uncompressed 1080p content).

Our current suggestions:

For those in the market for a disc player, ESOTERIC continues to suggest an ultra high end player such as the UZ1, DV60, UX3/UX3Pi, UX1/UX1Pi or P03 universal transport, to fully guarantee high quality playback for CD, SACD, DVD audio and DVD video. Based on the current state of the market, ESOTERIC also suggests that users who want Blu-ray compatibility now, purchase a low cost player from a mass market manufacturer or perhaps a Sony Play station for Blu-Ray disc playback (and support for video gaming).

What the reviewers have said about ESOTERIC audio video players:

In an evaluation of our DV-60, a reviewer stated: "Conclusion: It took both the Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD player and Anthem AVM 50 A/V processor to perform the [video] duties of one Esoteric DV-60." For the actual review please see: http://www.hometheatersound.com/equipment/esoteric_dv60.htm

Another reviewer, the editor in chief at www.positive-feedback.com wrote..." "Blow me down!" said Popeye-and so do I about the Teac Esoteric DV-60. Over the past year, I've lived with this superb universal player, and have gotten to try it with just about everything you could feed it on an optical disc. It has been flawless in operation, is impeccable in ergonomics and fittings, and is glorious for both video and audio playback. In every test, the DV-60 passed with flying colors, and impressed not only myself, but also every visitor that I've had in my listening room and home theater room with its unusual collection of virtues. when placed into a demanding home theater setting, it pulled ahead of my previous standard, the Linn Unidisk 1.1, for both DVD video and audio surround playback. .........the folks at Teac Esoteric mentioned that they believed the DV-60, configured as they recommended (HDMI "EXP" mode at 1080p), would be "very close" to Blu-Ray when playing back DVD video.... Is this hype, wishing thinking, or was it an accurate prediction? Based on what I saw over many months, I've concluded that Esoteric's claim is not hype; my DVDs have never looked better, and the best of them really narrowed the gap with Blu-Ray." For the actual review please see: www.positive-feedback.com/Issue38/esoteric_dv60.htm

Robert Harley, the editor in chief for The Absolute Sound and also formerly of "The Perfect Vision," said of our P-0UNI..."The Esoteric P-03 and D-03 combo are simply state of the art, both in picture and sound quality. I was shocked at how good 480p video from a DVD player could look.....Starting with the P-03's video performance, I was slack-jawed the first time I saw its picture quality (HDMI output at 720p). It all added up to a phenomenally great picture that was the best I've seen from DVD, and even approached the performance of HD in the sense of three-dimensionality and color rendering."

Finally from SoundStage Networks/UltraAudio.com: "... If you want a universal player that can serve double duty for video and music in a home-theater system, TEAC's Esoteric DV-60 should be on your short list of models to audition." For the full review please see: http://www.ultraaudio.com/equipment/esoteric_dv60.htm

For more information on ESOTERIC audio video disc players please visit: http://esoteric.teac.com/audio_video_players/.