{"product_id":"esoteric-sz-1-sacd-player-extraordinary","title":"Esoteric SZ-1 SACD Player - Extraordinary!","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnter the Elegance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith a number of accolades and a series of successful product introductions, favorable press from both print and online magazines, the much heralded Esoteric name doesn’t need an introduction. All of \u003cstrong\u003eEsoteric's\u003c\/strong\u003e products are extremely well built, have a well executed upgrade program, seem to last forever and are some of the most expensive line of CD players on the market, including their $50,000.00 state-of-the-art combo, the monaural D-01 D\/A converter and P-01 SACD\/CD transport.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003eThe Elegance line consists of the \u003cstrong\u003eSZ-1 a SACD\/CD player\u003c\/strong\u003e for $3995.00. The design is so gorgeous that it could easily be on display at MOMA or for the uninitiated, New York’s Museum of Modern Art. This deck appear as though it were sculpted from solid aluminum billet with rounded edges and highlighted with extremely attractive faceplates.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003eAs you can see from our photographs, this player is very attractive, and with its slim line features can blend into anyone's setup. So Esoteric was not only up to the task of designing a great sounding player, but a smaller, sleeker looking model as well.\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SZ-1 is only 3” inches high, a little less than 16” wide and 13.5” deep. It is not extremely heavy but at 18.5 pounds you won’t toss it around lightly. Esoteric has always believed in using higher grade materials and all of the control buttons on the front and the circular feet on the bottom are also made of aluminum just like the exterior chassis. The SZ-1 has the standard play, pause, stop, forward, reverse, and standby buttons, and the digital display on the front is a soft blue. Velvet pads are on the bottom of the aluminum feet and reduce ringing just in case some owners have glass equipment shelves. The rear of the unit is laid out nicely with both XLR and RCA outputs, coaxial and optical digital outs (that needs a little further explanation), a BNC word clock input and an i.link connector for connections to amplifiers such as the AZ-1. This output can also be used for two channel and multi channel SACD output. To the far right is an IEC plug for the power cord connection. The SZ-1 uses a Cirrus Logic CS4398 chipset for decoding of both DSD and PCM data streams. Esoteric has always been in the business of building a better mouse trap and with the Elegance line of products they continued the practice of creating a transport mechanism from the ground up. This new conventional transport was designed by Esoteric as a vertically aligned optical stability platform or VOSP for short. VOSP is used in the Esoteric SZ-1, UZ-1, SA-60 and DV-60. The only differences in the implementation of this transport between the Z series and the SA\/DV series are in the size of the top weight and cover plates that aid in stabilizing the disc during rotational playback.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe VSOP transport mechanism in the SZ-1 is made of aluminum instead of plastic and has a scratch resistance coating on the aluminum tray. It has its own isolation and framing mechanism that utilizes CNC precision built gears that allows the servo controlled laser beam to move across the CD with great accuracy. Some lesser transport mechanisms are made of plastic molds, have plastic gears and rubber pulleys. This metal mechanism is fairly heavy which should improve longevity and help to reduce vibrations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SZ-1 also does some interesting things regarding optical pickup. According to Esoteric: \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMost disc players allow for “off axis,” vertical tracking which requires a need for extensive off axis error correction. Esoteric’s tracking ability and VSOP greatly reduces the need to error correct embedded data because the unit never tracks data other then in a circular (rotational), pattern or vertical plane. The sliding shaft structure in the SZ-1 and UZ-1 is also designed to prevent laser pick-up, off axis tilting during movement of the lens. This structure ensures stable motion of the pick-up and much more precise reading of all embedded material within the disc. - Esoteric\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo this is the most solidly built confidence inspiring SACD player we've experienced. Its breathtakingly beautiful and performs as great as it looks. Its just top to bottom a remarkable piece of audio engineering. You gotta know how rare this component is here in the US. They are NEVER offered in the preowned market and this is a US spec machine, even MORE rare. Still have CD's? have some SACD you want to get back to?, this IS the piece. Fully tested and performing as it should, next level! Comes w\/remote and and PC.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCome give this fine high-end player a spin, you'll leave with it of that we're certain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEsoteric SZ-1 SACD Player: $2,499.00 plus sales tax and shipping when applicable\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Holt Hill Audio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43289821872195,"sku":null,"price":2499.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2197\/6387\/files\/PhotoMay212026_31952PM.jpg?v=1779393145","url":"https:\/\/holthill.com\/products\/esoteric-sz-1-sacd-player-extraordinary","provider":"Holt Hill Audio","version":"1.0","type":"link"}