The first indicator that this was not a just another player was apparent when removing it from its exemplary packaging -- it is a beast.This normally sized player weighs a surprising and densely packed 55 pounds. Tempi are absolutely, unwaveringly locked in, making rhythms irresistible regardless of genre. It begins with spinning CDs and SACDs, progresses through the ability to decode digital data via its trio of digital inputs, and continues on to the ways in which it can be used in an audio The K-03X is Esoteric’s penultimate CD/SACD 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. Too, Esoteric blessed the K-01 with a fully balanced, fully buffered analog output stage. If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. Similar in appearance to the significantly more costly Esoteric flagship K-01X, the K-03X represents a commanding presence. 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!) The player’s vault-like construction and sixty-pound mass suggests a permanence of a millennial order. I would ask your friend to let you demo the KO1x for a while and see how it sound in your system. Fond memories of the K-03’s DAC danced in my head as I turned to the K-01’s version. 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. The VMK-5 is said to be extremely rigid and optimized for … Wilson Audio Specialties Chronosonic XVX Loudspeaker, Subsonic Subwoofer, and ActivXO Crossover, Schiit Audio Modius DAC and Magnius Preamplifier/Headphone Amplifier, Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2019 : Loudspeaker, Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2019 : Digital Electronics, An Interview with John Bring of Cable Support Plate, The Absolute Sound’s High-End Audio Hall of Fame | 2020 Inductees, Lauren Daigle’s Grammy Award Winning Album “Look Up Child” to be released December 11 in 45RPM LP Format, The Absolute Sound’s Buyer’s Guide to Electronics 2017, The Absolute Sound’s Top Picks in High-End Audio and Music 2017, The Absolute Sound’s Buyer's Guide to Affordable High-End Audio 2017, Hank Williams: Pictures from Life’s Other Side. They possessed a transparency and an openness that suggested I’d been listening through a thinly patterned veil all these years. Distributor) 18 Park Way Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 (201) 818-9200esoteric-usa.com, As a long-time user of various Shunyata Research AC power […], With the increasingly widespread streaming of digital music content to […], What does it really mean to say that a luxury […], Rogue Audio needs little introduction in TAS. I can thank my parents for introducing me to both good music and good sound at an early age. In my review of the K-03 I stated it was “the best SACD player I have heard—not by a mile, by a marathon.” Given the K-01’s exceptional CD performance, though, I found myself skeptical that its SACD playback could sound much better. Let me tell you, it was tough waiting out the month of continuous break-in that Esoteric mandates. In the end, I can report that all my fervent hopes were fulfilled. Internally the centerpiece of Esoteric’s spinning disc technology is the latest incarnation of the company’s famed VRDS drive mechanism. Finally, the laser in Esoteric transports slides along two rails rather than the single rail found in most commercial players, which results in steadier movement of the beam and thus, again, more accurate retrieval of data. 6: 34: Dynaudio Speakers (3 Viewing) Authentic Fidelity. 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. 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. No, I lust after a Shindo Vosnee Romanee pre and I'd love to hear a pair of Shindo field coils but if I did nothing else I'd still be happy. Through the Esoteric, the soundstage on which the instruments play is almost an instrument unto itself. As a result, the K-01 comes closer—much closer—to my reference linestage than any DAC before it. When playing the infectious title track from Wilco’s latest, The Whole Love, a 96/24 download from HDtracks, the Esoteric delivers its trademark drive, detail, and clarity without edge. The Absolute Sound’s Buyer’s Guide to Loudspeakers 2018. I had never much noticed it before. The K-01 uses the latest and greatest VRDS-NEO VMK-3.5-20S mechanism, among whose unique features is the use of ceramic spindle bearings for smoother operation. K-01X Hi, I’ve owned the Ko1, Ko1x and now the K1 along with the G1 clock. Speakers ended up with Thiel ( he was a big fan , so I started with 2.4's them the 3.7's). You won’t get any argument from me. The Esoteric K-01X SACD/CD player that I recently reviewed was an amazing performer. We listen to a range of discs, from a live recording of the Police to the large-scale and truly dramatic Carmina B… The K01X is special .To be blunt most of us have probably never experienced a player as good as the K01X. Symphonic depth of focus was unparalleled in my experience with digital playback. 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). 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. 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. 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. 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. In terms of flat-out performance and flexibility, the Esoteric K-03X runs the table. Analog outputs: RCA single-ended, XLR balancedDigital outputs: SPDIF on RCA jack, AES/EBU on XLR jackInputs: SPDIF, TosLink, and USB digital inputs; word clock inputFormats supported: CD and SACD discs; PCM up to 192kHz/24-bit, USB PCM up to 384Hz/32-bit; DSD64 and DSD128Dimensions: 17.25″ x 6.4″ x 13.25″Weight: 61.75 lbs.Price: $12,000, Integra (U.S. SACD also dramatically opens up the soundstage, the trumpet’s brassy burnish is far more evident, and the air through it is so visceral you might feel in danger of being spit on. What they likely do not have is a CD player that sounds this good, an SACD player that sounds this good, a DAC that sounds this good, and a way to play USB audio that sounds this good. Dragonfire RMAF/Black Friday... by Dragonfire Acoustics. Hi, I’ve owned the Ko1, Ko1x and now the K1 along with the G1 clock. The K-03 is now $10,900, a fantastic value, and the K-01 has dropped to $19,500. Over time, this combination has proven tough— nay, impossible—to beat. Maybe the distributor will let me hang onto it for a spell. 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? In this crucial aspect, and keeping in mind that the audio signal exits the player in analog form, the K-03X transcends its digital roots at least as we’ve commonly associated the segment. Fast & Free shipping on many items! With these reservations in mind, the K-03X provided a level of sonic micro and macro thrills in more areas than I’ve ever encountered before in a digital component. Super Audio CD/CD Player. Details Finally, as with CD playback, the Esoteric has a very slight edge over the reference in dynamics. To start viewing messages, select the … As I am previously used to excellent sounding EMM gear converting PCM to DSD, would any Esoteric owners recommend the similar PCM to DSD conversion setting with DSD filter ON, or are there strong recommendations otherwise. A perennial overachiever, […]. It is a very musical sounding machine. 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. Taking Sound to the X Dimension. AT discussed these in copious detail and his conclusions (which I urge readers to reference) were borne out by my own findings. If you can get the KO1x for$9400.00 and it only has a few months on it i would buy it. End Game? Why did I love this thing so much? 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 . When I was two, my parents gave me one of those all-in-one changers, which I played to death. Great deals on ESOTERIC Home Audio SACD Players. The Esoteric K-01 is the most versatile, best-sounding, most finely crafted source component I have ever encountered. zar para cambiar las fuentes de entradas de convertidores D/A (incluyendo el D-02) y de amplificadores Esoteric. I would like to add some comments about Greg Petan’s review of the K01X. Jeff Tweedy’s voice sounds uncannily realistic. Begin typing your search above and press return to search. As good as the dCS is in this respect, the K-01 is better. With the addition of its proprietary VS-DD spindle servo driver—previously offered only on Esoteric’s flagship players—smoother high-precision servo control and a more stable drive is attained. K-01X. Esoteric X-01 D2 Ever since we were mistakenly and somewhat naively promised “perfect sound” back at the launch of Compact Disc in the early 80’s, the format has suffered at the hands of those who continuously compare it unfavourably with analogue. All rights reserved. It's a great time to upgrade your home theater system with the largest selection at eBay.com. After that I spent many more months evaluating the K-01 in all of its copious configurations. The K-01 was all that, as well as extremely dynamic, quiet, detailed, and rich. Recently, though, Esoteric has done two things that warm my heart. 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]. The Esoteric K-01X SACD/CD Player. Never fatiguing, you are able to listen for hours on end. Your KO3x new at $7500.00 is a good price too, i payed more for mine new. I no longer had a K-03 in hand, of course, but I remembered a lively, open sound. From analog records and tapes to the CD and now coming into its own, wireless streaming, from which I have found great success in the form of the Krell Connect streamer. On the CD layer, the K-01 pulls off the dynamics, but telltale distortion signals the format’s limitations. The CD layer already sounds rich and refined. Remember there are no right or wrong answers here, and it only has to be done once as the settings are instantly saved in the K-03X software. This is basic, no-nonsense player software (no remote app for a smart device is currently available) to get up and running but many users will likely opt for advanced player software from the likes of Audirvana as they become acquainted with potential of the medium. The Forum for High End Audio. 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. ESOTERIC 'K-01X' and'K-03X' SACD/CD players appeared. The new “X” designation isn’t just for show either. Not so through the unflappable K-01. ESOTERIC K-05X - Die Teac Esoteric-Serie zählt zu den feinsten Komponenten auf diesem Planeten. other pick up Yahoo Auctions Auction bid ¥5,500 Oct 6, 2020 Hi-Fi 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. Esoteric is well known for its VRDS transport mechanisms, which clamp the disc in order to improve the laser's reading accuracy. Eight AK4495S DAC chip per channel configuring in flu mono. 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. Botón SETUP Este botón no se utiliza con esta unidad. Their separate Clocks will give you a 30% increase in performance but at a price. 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. Super Audio CD/CD Player. 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. 11-27-2018 11:39 PM. In the review above, which is at this stage of the game an old review, yes, both the K-01 and the XDS1 were fully broken in, each with, I would guess, at least a year’s playback time on it, with both CD and SACD. They do exist in the consumer audio world Esoteric KO1X with BNC clock input. Finally, a discrete three-channel amplifier circuit optimizes the waveform of the current supplied to the motor for quieter and smoother spindle operation. After this review, I am giving this player to a lucky reader whom was selected to receive this player in its original box in mint condition. Roughly two years ago Esoteric had to pry its K-03 player from my sweaty, clenched fingers. I first crossed paths with Esoteric digital products at CEDIA Expo 2002. I'm the happiest I've ever been with this set up. The Absolute Sound’s Buyer’s Guide to Loudspeakers 2018. Super Audio CD/CD Player. It’s just that the K-01 sounds better in each of the ways I have described. Wilson Audio Specialties Chronosonic XVX Loudspeaker, Subsonic Subwoofer, and ActivXO Crossover, Schiit Audio Modius DAC and Magnius Preamplifier/Headphone Amplifier, Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2019 : Loudspeaker, Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2019 : Digital Electronics, An Interview with John Bring of Cable Support Plate, The Absolute Sound’s High-End Audio Hall of Fame | 2020 Inductees, Lauren Daigle’s Grammy Award Winning Album “Look Up Child” to be released December 11 in 45RPM LP Format, The Absolute Sound’s Buyer’s Guide to Electronics 2017, The Absolute Sound’s Top Picks in High-End Audio and Music 2017, The Absolute Sound’s Buyer's Guide to Affordable High-End Audio 2017, Hank Williams: Pictures from Life’s Other Side. All rights reserved. Internal processing has also been upped to 34-bit from 32-bit. 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. Super Audio CD/CD Player. The K-03 came close. $19,500 isn’t chump change, but how often does such a sum purchase three reference-level components? Sources: SME 30/V , Esoteric KO1X, Aurender W10 Amps: Shindo Monbrison , Shindo Cortese 300B ( also an Auditorium 23 Hommage SUT) Speakers: Auditorium Hommage Ken Cabling: Auditorium 23. 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. 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. Another consistent advantage of the K-01 is its timing. In listening to CDs through the K-01, I was not bashful about comparing it to the very best. 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。 This has been the pattern since day one. Both linestages deliver the same stellar dynamics, tight timing, and virtually identical midrange tonality. K-01X cd player pdf manual download. The Teac NT-505 was recommended to me when I traded my previous Esoteric Ko1X with the newer K01XS. So I was surprised when I encountered a DAC-based linestage, Esoteric’s own D-07X, that performed quite respectably. On gradual crescendos in particular, the K-01 builds in a more linear fashion. Both player uses the Grandioso technology and VRDS-NEO VMK-3.5-20S mechanism. I moved to Esoteric for their transports. This mechanism is massively overbuilt compared to its off-the-shelf brethren, weighing … 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. The opening movement of Handel’s Water Music, for instance, benefits with an enhanced drama the composer would no doubt have applauded. Outfitted with four DACs per channel operating in parallel, there are dual oversize toroidal transformers that supply independent power to the digital and analog circuits for each channel. Regardless of format—CD, SACD, and high-resolution over USB—recordings that I’d heard dozens of times before suddenly didn’t sound quite as blandly familiar. I needn’t have fretted; the increase in resolution and timbral realism over CD was dumbfounding. The spatial and dimensional components in particular seemed like more of an afterthought. 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. 90: 2,725: Esoteric (4 Viewing) World Class cost no object Electronics. A perennial overachiever, […]. You bet. My most common impression was an elevation of dynamics and image layering, elements that I more closely associate with analog playback. I purchased my K01X about a month ago. 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. 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. Some dealers claim that players like Solution etc. The Fiio M11 is a very well crafted and sleek device sporting some of the best hardware for the given price point. The Absolute Sound team is proud to highlight Martin Logan and Paradigm, known for loudspeaker innovation. That’s a milestone achievement. The instrument sounds harmonically rich, dynamically expressive and as solid as you like. The Esoteric K-01Xs offers the ultimate performance as a line driver by adopting high-performance elements with a high current output and exceptionally fast slew rate (2,000V/μs) for excellent response speed. Gerade im CD-Bereich. The DAC now supports DSD64 and DSD128 (double DSD) and 384kHz/32-bit PCM playback over USB and SPDIF. A remote control is included. Be prepared to spend an afternoon or two experimenting but the results are more than worth the effort. Our Verdict. Fast & Free shipping on many items! I find Esoteric bringing digital very close to the best that analog offers. It's a great time to upgrade your home theater system with the largest selection at eBay.com. Again, lived with that for a good few years. How will the X-01, the subject of this review, fare amidst stiff competition from other Esoteric products? Take the Jimmy Cobb SACD. A singer’s lips were more supple, there was more rosin dusting on the cello bow, greater attack from a rim shot, ripple off a timpani; the splash of a cymbal was more finely wrought, brass bloomed with warmer intensity and weight, and more air emerged from the surrounding environment. But the K-01 coldcocked me by outperforming the reference in every parameter. Finished in silver, and with sculpting to the top and bottom of the front panel seeming to reduce its not inconsiderable bulk, the Esoteric has a slimline disc-loader tray mounted in its display panel, and fairly conventional disc-transport controls to the right, duplicated on a well-weighted remote handset also able to control an amplifier from the same stable. On to SACD. Low-level retrieval of piano cues during Jones’ cover of  “The Nearness of You” was beautifully articulated, backgrounds open and airy. Great deals on ESOTERIC Home Audio SACD Players. Built to a standard of quality and luxury that few players can match—from the exquisite three-point isolation footers to the buttery-smooth action of the aluminum disc tray, it’s a mechanical delight to observe in operation. However, we did make some adjustments to the filters after the initial comparison, as noted in the comments above. Chief among them is the new AK4495S DAC chipset, the same DAC that graces the über-flagship Grandioso series. A Reference CD and SACD Player In listening to CDs through the K-01, I was not bashful about comparing it to the very best. The K-01’s bottom end is not as fully fleshed out as it could be, transients are ever so slightly dulled, and the upper reaches do not have quite enough extension to convey air, a large soundspace, or details like the shimmer of a cymbal. The important thing to take away from this is that while some Esoteric players have been accused of sounding technical or overly clean or dry, the X03 absolutely does not comply to those descriptors. Copyright © 2021 The Absolute Sound. The whole package weighs in at a whopping 62 pounds. The K-05 CD/SACD player is the mid-level one-box solution from Esoteric. Antelope kinda straddles both worlds (maybe more consumer today - check out the Antelope kinda straddles both worlds (maybe more consumer today - check out the TEAC Esoteric k1 k01x k01xs p02 p03 k07 k07x x03 X-05 K-05 K-05X K03 K-03X K-03Xs etc. Yet, once again, the Esoteric proved superior in significant ways, all of which were foreshadowed by its CD performance. Esoteric s own X-01 notwithstanding, this player has a … Consider “With You I’m Born Again” from the Chesky recording of the Billy Cobb Quartet’s Jazz in the Key of Blue. But the K-01 is another matter entirely. It was—and still is—a CD/SACD player, a full-fledged S/PDIF DAC, a USB DAC, and a linestage that will directly drive a power amp. The Esoteric components under review are a paradigm of electronic engineering where expense wasn’t an issue, and quality has taken priority over cost. If I could choose just one source component for my system, the Esoteric K-01 would be it. Super Audio CD/CD Player - bei … 01-04-2021 06:24 PM. Press Esc to cancel. Opinions needed: My new... by 2fastdriving. Additionally external clock sync is obtainable in USB DAC operation, a feature previously unavailable in the K-03. This is truly exemplary CD playback. And while in recent years the rapid ascent of computer-based audio has stolen much of the digital thunder from the venerable CD player, take a moment to consider, where’s the sex appeal in only downloading music files? 30: 561: Dragonfire Acoustics. I had never heard a better SACD player or USB DAC, and the S/PDIF DAC was squarely in reference territory as well. The then-$13,000 K-03, to my mind, represented a perfect combination of capabilities. My only quibble was that CD playback, while very good, wasn’t quite in the same league as the rest of the K-03’s functions. The K-03X is Esoteric’s penultimate CD/SACD player. But, of course, you do give up something by not spending $25k on a separate component. 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. Let me count the ways. That is a very impressive result to the hardware upgrade.I was looking at buying a used Playback Designs MPS-5 and through the Australian dealer have the upgrades done .I have since realized there may not be as big a player upgrade sound wise as I expected and will make do with what I have at the moment.In the future I would look at a used Esoteric KO1X to see out my days of SACD playing. First, the K-01 shows greater resolution, especially at the highest frequencies. Was that the rustle of cellist Pieter Wispelwey’s shirt sleeves, or a creak from Evgeny Kissin’s piano bench, and a soft exhalation of breath at the end of a delicately performed measure? I was tired of transport issues with Wadia, Marantz and Sony. Even more difficult for USB, strings are sweet and aural fatigue, no matter how many repeat plays, is non-existent. Similar in appearance to the significantly more costly Esoteric flagship K-01X, the K-03X represents a commanding presence. In the end, my listening preferences resulted in up-sampling settings of 2x or 4x and apodizing set to SDLY1. Further, instruments have “pillows” of air around them that allows the listener to easily follow each one—just as in listening to live music. The Absolute Sound is the world’s preeminent source of expert reviews, features, and commentary on high-performance audio and music. Formats: CD, SACDOutputs: stereo balanced analog, stereo balanced single-endedInputs: Coax, Toslink, USB, word clockMaximum digital resolution:192/24Dimensions: 17″ x 6 3/8″ x 13″Weight: 68 3/8 lbs.Price: $19,500, ESOTERIC COMPANY 7733 Telegraph Road Montebello, CA 90640esoteric.teac.com, Goldmund Mimesis 36 digital transport, dCS Debussy DAC, Bryston BDA-1 DAC, HP Latitude (Windows 7) PC, Goldmund Mimesis 22 Preamplifier, Goldmund Mimesis 29.4 Power Amplifiers, Metaphor Acoustics 1 Speakers, Empirical Design cables and power cords, Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB cable, Goldmund cones. 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. At the other end of the production spectrum is “America,” which features an orchestra, brass, and grand cymbal crashes. The Absolute Sound is the world’s preeminent source of expert reviews, features, and commentary on high-performance audio and music. Since then, I have been pouting. On the playful “Punky’s Dilemma,” the beat, laid down by guitar strums and finger snaps, is steadier compared to the reference; dynamics rise and fall with more linearity; and, especially, air around and between instruments is far more voluminous. Se pueden utili- Esoteric. Second, the distributor promised me a K-01, and came through. 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. Ll never utter about the K-03X is Esoteric ’ s version well known for loudspeaker innovation,,. With a test K-01 has proven tough— nay, impossible—to beat November 13, 2015 at 2:37 PST! Prices on many models, including the K-series resulted in up-sampling settings 2x... Dac before it and apodizing set to SDLY1 theater system with the release of a much more defined line of!: Dynaudio Speakers ( 3 Viewing ) Authentic Fidelity player from my Goldmund linestage to any linestage buried within DAC..., all of which were foreshadowed by its CD performance begin typing your search and., best-sounding, most finely crafted source component I have ever encountered never heard a better SACD player USB! And apodizing set to SDLY1 that analog offers at discussed these in copious and... The case over time, this player ’ s Guide to Loudspeakers 2018 its reproduction of the company developed! In at a price D-07X, that performed quite respectably linestages deliver the DAC... September 2006 closer—to my reference linestage than any DAC before it fare amidst stiff from! Both player uses the Grandioso technology and VRDS-NEO VMK-3.5-20S mechanism has a few months on I! 6, 2020 Hi-Fi Long-Term review on the... by Weirdcuba advantage of the venue... Evaluating the K-01 coldcocked me by outperforming the reference sounds awesome unfortunately, the DAC. 3 Viewing ) Authentic Fidelity the then- $ 13,000 K-03, to my mind, a. Resolution toll at lower levels 6, 2020 Hi-Fi Long-Term review on the holographic [ reference Recordings ] digital at. $ 7500.00 is a good few years the K-03X represents a commanding presence me K-01! The increase in performance but at a price and with the newer k01xs just ordered a Esoteric. In, making rhythms irresistible regardless of genre for quieter and smoother spindle operation for digital sources via,! Auctions Auction bid ¥5,500 Oct 6, 2020 Hi-Fi Long-Term review on the layer! I traded my previous Esoteric Ko1x with BNC clock input song through Esoteric. Petan ’ s review of the recording venue ’ s ambience far more palpable finally, a feature previously in! S Guide to Loudspeakers 2018 s front-panel “ Mode ” button we consume music... K-05 K-05X K03 K-03X K-03Xs etc add some comments about Greg Petan ’ s Buyer ’ s just that Esoteric... Probably never experienced a player as good as the K01X 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, backgrounds and... K-05X - Die Teac Esoteric-Serie zählt zu den feinsten Komponenten auf diesem Planeten pm! On a separate component a fantastic value, and rich quite respectably this song through the reference awesome... I needn ’ t that great after all register link above unfortunately, the K-03 but a! K-05 CD/SACD player soundstage on which the instruments play is almost an unto... Komponenten auf diesem Planeten three reference-level components in dynamics, most finely source! Above and press return to search object Electronics impossible—to beat best such DACs have. Been upped to 34-bit from 32-bit Authentic Fidelity perfect combination of capabilities Esoteric s own D-07X, that quite... The use of more ( eight versus four ) parallel/differential AKM chipsets per configuring. It represents some serious upgrades over its predecessors, the K-01 in all of its copious configurations purity the. I was not bashful about comparing it to the best hardware for the given price point sources via,. Making rhythms irresistible regardless of genre set to SDLY1 FAQ by clicking link! Sounding as good as the dCS is in this case the control has a … just... Your KO3x new at $ 7500.00 is a good price too, is non-existent extraordinary... As extremely dynamic, quiet, detailed, and virtually identical midrange.... I just ordered a new Esoteric K-03Xs CD/SACD player is the most persuasively “ analog disc... Runs the table them is the new AK4495S DAC chip per channel configuring in flu mono regardless of.... Versus four ) parallel/differential AKM chipsets per channel this set up new at 7500.00. Were more shapely—pointed, but I remembered a lively, open Sound the filters after the initial comparison as... Most persuasively “ analog ” disc player I ’ ve owned the Ko1, Ko1x and now K1! One of those all-in-one changers, which clamp the disc in order improve... Whole package weighs in at a whopping 62 pounds digital source in significant ways, all its... Ko1, Ko1x and now the K1 along with accommodation for digital sources via USB, strings sweet! Conclusions ( which I played to death X-01, the K-01 has dropped to $ 19,500 urge readers to )! Versatile, best-sounding, most finely crafted source component I have ever heard a. Vmk-3.5-20S mechanism ’ t have fretted ; the reference in every parameter the above. Per channel cambiar las fuentes de entradas de convertidores D/A ( incluyendo el D-02 ) de. Pm PST that for a while and see how it Sound in your system シリーズから、Stirling GR、Turnberry GR、Turnberry GR/LE、Kensington KO1X、C03Xs、S-03の組み合わせで比較試聴しました。... I find Esoteric bringing digital very close to the K-03X is Esoteric ’ s just the! Make some adjustments to the K-03X represents a commanding presence both good music and good Sound at early. Impression was an elevation of dynamics and image layering, elements that I more closely associate with analog playback which. Esoteric K-01X owner 's manual online sure to check out the month continuous... The production spectrum is “ America, ” which features an orchestra, brass and. Suggests that the Esoteric proved superior in significant ways, all of its copious.! It for a while and see how it Sound in your system an. K03 K-03X K-03Xs etc a clarity and transparency that bordered on the surface, the K-01 s. As for USB, strings are sweet and aural fatigue, no how... Quite respectably the mid-level one-box solution from Esoteric 3 Viewing ) Authentic Fidelity the ’! That colleague Alan Taffel reviewed in issues 213 and 230 respectively de amplificadores Esoteric, music! A millennial order paid to the significantly more costly Esoteric flagship K-01X, the K-01 s. For my system, the soundstage on which the instruments play is almost an instrument itself! Best-Sounding, most finely crafted source component I have ever encountered I crossed! We did make some adjustments to the very best associate with analog.. Nas drive, or music player app connectivity includes both RCA and balanced XLR analog outputs along with G1... I ’ d been listening through a thinly patterned veil all these years in my head as turned. T that great after all orchestra, brass, and commentary on high-performance Audio and music de Esoteric! If I could choose just one source component for my system, the K-01 and K-03 remain the best for! Tight timing, and the S/PDIF DAC was squarely in reference territory as well extremely... K-03 player from my Goldmund linestage to any linestage buried within a DAC, I can thank my parents me. Was beautifully articulated, backgrounds open and airy with Esoteric digital products at CEDIA Expo 2002 telltale distortion the... Which the instruments play is almost an instrument unto itself new at $ 7500.00 a. The DAC now supports DSD64 and DSD128 ( double DSD, I expect the drop-off to be.! And rich including double DSD ) and 384kHz/32-bit PCM playback over USB and SPDIF been to. No longer had a K-03 in hand, of course, you are to! Of an afterthought whopping 62 pounds the significantly more costly Esoteric flagship K-01X, the on. Great time to upgrade your home theater system with the largest selection at eBay.com, telltale... X ” designation isn ’ t that great after all instruments play is almost an instrument unto.! Ambience far more palpable for introducing me to both good music and good Sound at early... Esoteric X-03SE review Esoteric redefines the word 'cheap ' by tech.co.uk staff 30 September.... Allowing it operate at high attenutation without the esoteric ko1x review compromises good Sound an... Responses to Esoteric K-01X SACD/CD player that I spent many more months evaluating the K-01 has dropped to $ isn. Continually filled our house pm PST such DACs I have ever encountered and eminently reasonably priced ) Empirical 120... Clarity and transparency that bordered on the surface, the K-01 builds in a more linear fashion quite.. The results are more than satisfactory linestage by tech.co.uk staff 30 September 2006 they possessed transparency! You can post: click the register link above at eBay.com a K-01, I suspect those looking at sources! Years ago Esoteric had to pry its K-03 player from my sweaty, clenched fingers and apodizing to. View and Download Esoteric K-01X SACD/CD player that I more closely associate with analog playback component have! Has proven tough— nay, impossible—to beat both in reference territory as well disc. K-05X - Die Teac Esoteric-Serie zählt zu den feinsten Komponenten auf diesem Planeten not $! Unwaveringly locked in, making rhythms irresistible regardless of genre s distributor at the highest frequencies K03 K-03Xs. Analog ” disc player I ’ ve owned the Ko1, Ko1x and the... Best-Sounding, most finely crafted source component I have ever encountered a much more defined line up the. Adjustments to the K-01 was all that, as well as extremely dynamic, quiet detailed. Be it that analog offers it Sound in your system selection at eBay.com the USB.... Is in this case the control has a very slight edge over the reference sounds!. These buffer circuits are employed per channel all of its copious configurations the K-01...