Speakers ended up with Thiel ( he was a big fan , so I started with 2.4's them the 3.7's). The Master Sound Discrete DAC was first introduced in the Grandioso D1X as the most innovative DAC in Esoteric history, and its astoundingly realistic sound quality has consistently drawn rave reviews for causing listeners to feel as if they were at an actual live performance. If you can get the KO1x for$9400.00 and it only has a few months on it i would buy it. Indeed it’s the most persuasively “analog” disc player I’ve experienced. Here is a great review from Robert Youman of Positive Feedback: Esoteric K-01X SACD/CD Player 12-12-2016 | By Robert S. Youman | Issue 88 0 163 0 . The K-01 features an asynchronous USB input that Esoteric claims will handle 24bit/192kHz sources due to a proprietary software driver the company has developed. 5 Responses to Esoteric K-01X Super Audio CD/CD Player Review. The K-03X is Esoteric’s penultimate CD/SACD player. Timbres are more natural, too; Simon’s guitar sounds more like a guitar, and on other tracks pianos sound more like pianos, bongos more like bongos, etc. Alison Krauss’ “Slumber My Darling” had a newfound tranquility and lushness that replaced a cooler character that I had experienced from every previous player that had spun this Appalachian Journey disc. Esoteric X-03SE review Esoteric redefines the word 'cheap' By tech.co.uk staff 30 September 2006. Esoteric is well known for its VRDS transport mechanisms, which clamp the disc in order to improve the laser's reading accuracy. Super Audio CD/CD Player - bei … K-01X Take the Jimmy Cobb SACD. Esoteric K-01 is most readily considered a digital-disc player, it goes beyond the well-established feature set for such components -- farbeyond. Consider “With You I’m Born Again” from the Chesky recording of the Billy Cobb Quartet’s Jazz in the Key of Blue. It was my first experience with an Esoteric product and I found it to be extremely impressive—one of the most impressive components that I spent time with in 2016. Fast & Free shipping on many items! After that I spent many more months evaluating the K-01 in all of its copious configurations. When I compared it to the Debussy, using the Mimesis 36 as the common transport, both DACs sounded great—as they should in this price range. 11-27-2018 11:39 PM. They possessed a transparency and an openness that suggested I’d been listening through a thinly patterned veil all these years. Allow me to illustrate using a couple of examples from the Simon and Garfunkel Old Friends box set, lovingly remastered using the always-reliable SBM process [Sony’s Super Bit Mapping]. On the surface, the differences seem pretty minimal. 12-23-2020 10:09 PM. It's a great time to upgrade your home theater system with the largest selection at eBay.com. If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. But, of course, you do give up something by not spending $25k on a separate component. At the other end of the production spectrum is “America,” which features an orchestra, brass, and grand cymbal crashes. Over time, this combination has proven tough— nay, impossible—to beat. ike all of Esoteric’s products, the X-01 D2 is sleek and stylish, with only the most salient controls on its very thick faceplate. I just ordered a new Esoteric K-03Xs CD/SACD player. Clearly, these components are both in reference territory. To start viewing messages, select the … Hi, I’ve owned the Ko1, Ko1x and now the K1 along with the G1 clock. Unfortunately, the company’s distributor at the time could not come through with a test K-01. Listening to this song through the K-01 and an appropriate USB cable is every bit the joyous experience it is meant to be. Taking Sound to the X Dimension. Yet, once again, the Esoteric proved superior in significant ways, all of which were foreshadowed by its CD performance. Esoteric’s Scott Sefton said, “It also has a new USB board supported natively by Mac OS X, so in addition to more functionality (DSD) it is simpler, at least for Mac users.” Finally, the variable-output level has been jettisoned, as Esoteric has deemed that the compromises inherent in digital volume controls were too restrictive on ultimate performance. K-01X. Let me count the ways. Recently, though, Esoteric has done two things that warm my heart. Too, Esoteric blessed the K-01 with a fully balanced, fully buffered analog output stage. zar para cambiar las fuentes de entradas de convertidores D/A (incluyendo el D-02) y de amplificadores Esoteric. It represents some serious upgrades over its predecessors, the K-03 and K-01 that colleague Alan Taffel reviewed in Issues 213 and 230 respectively. We listen to a range of discs, from a live recording of the Police to the large-scale and truly dramatic Carmina B… But the K-01 is another matter entirely. The then-$13,000 K-03, to my mind, represented a perfect combination of capabilities. I find Esoteric bringing digital very close to the best that analog offers. I first crossed paths with Esoteric digital products at CEDIA Expo 2002. $19,500 isn’t chump change, but how often does such a sum purchase three reference-level components? If I could choose just one source component for my system, the Esoteric K-01 would be it. Maybe the distributor will let me hang onto it for a spell. But you would be wrong; the reference sounds awesome! Turning to vocals, even accounting for my familiarity with how artists like Norah Jones or Alison Krauss sound, I didn’t recall these recordings having such levels of warmth and immediacy. Like many audiophiles I strive for reference level gear whenever possible, and based on past experiences with mid priced digital gear, or the red headed step child of the product line as I refer to it, I had anticipated a listening experience fraught with compromise. Opinions needed: My new... by 2fastdriving. I moved to Esoteric for their transports. Before I turn to the K-03X’s performance, I freely admit that as a dyed-in-the- wool LP listener, my early history with digital audio was a spotty one. I was tired of transport issues with Wadia, Marantz and Sony. Great deals on ESOTERIC Home Audio SACD Players. Two of these buffer circuits are employed per channel. Symposium Acoustics Ultra Platform was created in an attempt to push the performance limits for a solid equipment platform further than had previously been possible. “Flat” is one four-letter word that you’ll never utter about the K-03X. … Esoteric k-01xs high-end cd/sacd player in top zustand aus erstbesitz Audio-markt €12,990 1% Dec 18, 2020 Audio Union ESOTERIC K-01 Audio Union ¥698,000 Dec 14, 2020 other pick up Yahoo Auctions Auction bid ¥5,500 Oct 6, 2020 Hi-Fi This is truly exemplary CD playback. Their separate Clocks will give you a 30% increase in performance but at a price. Digital playback seemed to pack on a lot of generally positive sonic qualities: low noise, tight, extended bass, flat frequency response—a lot of calories if you will, but ultimately less filling musically. Roughly two years ago Esoteric had to pry its K-03 player from my sweaty, clenched fingers. The Esoteric K-01X SACD/CD Player It has been an interesting couple of years while ramping up on my knowledge and experience with computer audio and the latest from all things digital. A perennial overachiever, […]. The new “X” designation isn’t just for show either. And the actual physical expression of the artists on the stage whether solo or in full orchestral song appeared flat, dry, almost wraith-like in its lack of texture and harmonic verisimilitude. Chalk up another reference-caliber performance. The volume control is digital, which normally exacts a resolution toll at lower levels. This mechanism’s massive architecture and the 10mm-thick turntable bridge ups the unit’s weight to over nine pounds—and to more than 22 pounds including the rigid base. The Esoteric K-01X SACD/CD Player. Esoteric unveiled its new X-05 SACD/CD player ($5600), which employs a new VRDS-NEO "VMK-5" drive mechanism that includes a precision machined aluminum turntable and a polycarbonate clamping mechanism. Reviewers constantly see gear come and go, but, as you can imagine, we regret the parting of some pieces more than others. The Fiio M11 is a very well crafted and sleek device sporting some of the best hardware for the given price point. How we consume recorded music has been evolving steadily over the last 40 years. The opening movement of Handel’s Water Music, for instance, benefits with an enhanced drama the composer would no doubt have applauded. Internally the centerpiece of Esoteric’s spinning disc technology is the latest incarnation of the company’s famed VRDS drive mechanism. A tour de force. I had never much noticed it before. Many of us have already rediscovered with the vinyl LP’s latest comeback that there’s something satisfying and seductive about physical media and the precision components that support that media. Move on to SACD and things get even better. Super Audio CD/CD Player. Copyright © 2021 The Absolute Sound. These provide a level of flexibility that later permitted me to connect a trio of digital sources—a DVR, Apple TV, and a MacBook—without a hiccup. The whole package weighs in at a whopping 62 pounds. Built to last and offering playback solutions that represent the best of both digital worlds, could the K-03X be the last player you’ll ever buy? Jeff Tweedy’s voice sounds uncannily realistic. K-01X The primary differences between the two models are the transport mechanism (the K-01 uses a VRDSNEO “VMK-3.5-20S”, the very same mechanism found in the company’s P-02 stand-alone transport, which costs $23,500 all by itself!) Hi, I’ve owned the Ko1, Ko1x and now the K1 along with the G1 clock. Fast & Free shipping on many items! ESOTERIC 'K-01X' and'K-03X' SACD/CD players appeared. Playing the SACD layer, though, the Esoteric accomplishes the feat while retaining absolute purity at the limit. However, I suspect those looking at twenty-grand sources already have a more than satisfactory linestage. The satisfying crackle and pop of percussion dynamics during the Police’s “Tea in the Sahara” and “Murder By Numbers” presented even wider gradations of expression and audacious impact. I would like to add some comments about Greg Petan’s review of the K01X. On the CD layer, the K-01 pulls off the dynamics, but telltale distortion signals the format’s limitations. The DAC now supports DSD64 and DSD128 (double DSD) and 384kHz/32-bit PCM playback over USB and SPDIF. 30: 561: Dragonfire Acoustics. I would ask your friend to let you demo the KO1x for a while and see how it sound in your system. Further, the Esoteric’s ultra-quiet background allows tasty details—like the percussive flourishes that vary delightfully with each verse—to emerge in a clear but unforced way. and improved DAC linearity through the use of more (eight versus four) parallel/differential AKM chipsets per channel. Press Esc to cancel. Second, the distributor promised me a K-01, and came through. Super Audio CD/CD Player. Fond memories of the K-03’s DAC danced in my head as I turned to the K-01’s version. However, in this case the control has a bit-depth of 32, allowing it operate at high attenutation without the usual compromises. In the end, my listening preferences resulted in up-sampling settings of 2x or 4x and apodizing set to SDLY1. The two are lashed together via the superb (and eminently reasonably priced) Empirical Design 120 digital cable. So I was surprised when I encountered a DAC-based linestage, Esoteric’s own D-07X, that performed quite respectably. Purposefully designed to spin Super Audio CD discs, the VRDS-NEO VMK-3.5-10 is a high-precision, stable duralumin turntable that improves reading accuracy by mechanically correcting for surface run-out. The K-01 was all that, as well as extremely dynamic, quiet, detailed, and rich. Welcome to the AudioAficionado.org. You could live with this linestage, and it soundly trounces every other such unit I have heard, but personally I would not want to sacrifice even a smidgen of what the K-01 does as a source. The X-1, Esoteric’s first CD player, was succeeded by the X-01 in 2003, followed by the K-01 (2010) and K-05 (2011). I had never heard a better SACD player or USB DAC, and the S/PDIF DAC was squarely in reference territory as well. Finally, a discrete three-channel amplifier circuit optimizes the waveform of the current supplied to the motor for quieter and smoother spindle operation. 90: 2,725: Esoteric (4 Viewing) World Class cost no object Electronics. They are expensive, but offer to the consumer a no-holds-barred playback system, the likes of which can not be found in any other design of which I know. Vocal sibilances were more shapely—pointed, but not prickly. When I was two, my parents gave me one of those all-in-one changers, which I played to death. 2015年12月、逸品館3号館でTannoy Prestige シリーズから、Stirling GR、Turnberry GR、Turnberry GR/LE、Kensington GRの4モデルをEsoteric KO1X、C03Xs、S-03の組み合わせで比較試聴しました。 Tannoy Stirling GRの試聴です。 The Absolute Sound team is proud to highlight Martin Logan and Paradigm, known for loudspeaker innovation. Just remember break in is … And there is again that difference in spatiality; the reference renders voices in the usual 2-D perspective, but through the K-01 they are downright holographic. It’s just that the K-01 sounds better in each of the ways I have described. Beyond basic configuration—display, power saving, etc.—pressing that button unleashes a bevy of sound optimization options, four up-conversion picks (2x, 4x, 8x, and DSD) and four filter selections: FIR1 (steep roll-off), FIR2 (slow roll-off), and apodizing variants, SDLY1 (short delay/steep roll-off) and SDLY2 (slow roll-off). On gradual crescendos in particular, the K-01 builds in a more linear fashion. Esoteric's pedigree is distinguished -- it has had great success with both the DV-50 and especially the P-70/D-70 transport/DAC combo, which we named our Edge of the Art award winner for 2003. New products from Esoteric this year include the flagship K-01 "Digital Source Device" (pictured above) available now and retailing for $22,000. The instrument sounds harmonically rich, dynamically expressive and as solid as you like. All rights reserved. Not so through the unflappable K-01. The K-03X is much more than a single-box disc player however; the dual mono design houses an independent, fully fledged and equipped high-resolution DAC that supports hi-res files over USB, SPDIF, and TosLink. TEAC Esoteric k1 k01x k01xs p02 p03 k07 k07x x03 X-05 K-05 K-05X K03 K-03X K-03Xs etc. Never fatiguing, you are able to listen for hours on end. Ordinary CD players tend to struggle with complex instruments like pianos, but the K-05 sets up a convincing three-dimensional acoustic space and plants the piano firmly in the middle of it. Given these upgrades, I figured the K-01 should do at least as well as the K-03 in every category, and I hoped against hope that its CD performance would achieve full reference status, making the K-01 something of a perfect source component. Vinyl lovers like me will find in it a digital source they can live with over the long haul -- the Esoteric has a remarkably vivid and visceral sound, and provides a thick, palpable, organic umami for the ears. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. In unfiltered, non-oversampled default mode, the sound was flat, thin, dry, and rhythmically uninvolving, but with preferred settings I observed greater focus, presence, dimension, and ambient energy. The Absolute Sound is the world’s preeminent source of expert reviews, features, and commentary on high-performance audio and music. Eight AK4495S DAC chip per channel configuring in flu mono. The only overtly noticeable problem is during Roy Hargrove’s trumpet solo, which at times gets loud so quickly and intensely it’s scary. The Absolute Sound’s Buyer’s Guide to Loudspeakers 2018. After all Esoteric X-03SE review Esoteric redefines the word 'cheap ' by tech.co.uk 30... Player ” is one four-letter word that you ’ ll never utter about the K-03X conveys that same.! Is now $ 10,900, a fantastic value, and commentary on high-performance Audio and music, sure... 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