Delivery day has arrived!

**brodricj** · September 30, 2022, 06:33 AM

Greetings from Down Under fellow 'sharks....look what I found at my front door this morning.....

**u-sound** · September 30, 2022, 06:51 AM

another subwoofer?

**XV-1** · September 30, 2022, 07:03 AM

a new streamer for Spotify ?

**brodricj** · September 30, 2022, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by XV-1

a new streamer for Spotify ?

Bingo! you win the prize.

**Mikado463** · September 30, 2022, 07:06 AM

Did you call the bomb squad ?

**brodricj** · September 30, 2022, 07:08 AM

Out of the box and on to the rack....

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**GSOphile** · September 30, 2022, 08:12 AM

So a Grandioso transport and dual mono DAC? Wow!!

**brodricj** · September 30, 2022, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by GSOphile

So a Grandioso transport and dual mono DAC? Wow!!

Yeah, my upgraded Spotify ride. Just connect the PS3 console and I'm cooking with gas.

**exupgh12** · September 30, 2022, 08:50 AM

Congratulations.

**Mike** · September 30, 2022, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by brodricj

Out of the box and on to the rack....

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oooh….pretty! Enjoy. Let us know what filters you end up on.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

**brodricj** · September 30, 2022, 10:08 AM

My starting point was to keep everything zeroed out on factory default settings. The only changes I made were CLOCK>SYNC, REMOTE>ON and INPUT>XLR.

**brodricj** · September 30, 2022, 09:14 PM

Something odd I noticed with D1X. CLOCK>SYNC seems to be a per-input setting rather than a global setting. In N-01 CLOCK>SYNC was a global setting applied to all inputs.

**Mike** · September 30, 2022, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by brodricj

Something odd I noticed with D1X. CLOCK>SYNC seems to be a per-input setting rather than a global setting. In N-01 CLOCK>SYNC was a global setting applied to all inputs.

That’s correct. Per input.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

**XV-1** · September 30, 2022, 10:36 PM

Broderic - please tell us how you can spend 60K on a digital front end and make mostly mp3 Spotify sound good when there are so called better alternatives with high rez Tidal / Qobuz?

I am interested and I am sure others are as well. I believe the user interface and music selection of Spotify so much better than the others.

**brodricj** · October 1, 2022, 03:13 AM

The proof is in the pudding. Spotify Premium can sound insanely good. The Spotify algorithm keeps throwing new content at me that I wouldn't otherwise discover, which keeps me smashing the like button or buying CD's. My list of liked songs is so long now I could play continuously for months. Which for $10/mo I do not feel the need to look elsewhere for content to enjoy.

**mep** · October 1, 2022, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by brodricj

The proof is in the pudding. Spotify Premium can sound insanely good. The Spotify algorithm keeps throwing new content at me that I wouldn't otherwise discover, which keeps me smashing the like button or buying CD's. My list of liked songs is so long now I could play continuously for months. Which for $10/mo I do not feel the need to look elsewhere for content to enjoy.

I thought XV-1 was joking until you just confirmed that you really are using Spotify Premium to play compressed 320 kbps files.

**brodricj** · October 1, 2022, 09:45 AM

Oh yeah, I'm a big fan of the Spotify product. I like listening to progressive house, trance, world, electronic etc genres and Spotify covers all of it. You might not be aware but a lot of that content is authored and remixed at 320 kbps. I asked a record producer why they don't publish on CD as you can only source a lot of this new age stuff on Mixcloud or Spotify, etc. He said from a sound quality perspective there is no point to CD because the masters are all 320 kbps computer files. Much of this content is created inside a computer, it's never seen atmospherics or a microphone or recording device outside of a computer. When a computer has been the sole path to musical existence it can sound very good, even when it's been bounced around computer networks all over the world to eventually arrive in my listening room.

**imprezap2** · October 2, 2022, 03:31 AM

I have a recording from a Dutch band which could be downloaded for a limited time from their website, when playing the recording I was dissapointed because I saw it was MP3 320 but I keep going back to this recording as it sounds absolutely fantastic. Could the result have been better in highres, I will never know but I do know that MP3 320 can sound very good.

**brodricj** · October 2, 2022, 04:38 AM

I have any number of CD's which sound rubbish compared to what Spotify Premium can sometimes deliver up.

**tino27** · October 3, 2022, 11:32 AM

I have several Internet-based "radio stations" which I stream (anywhere from 128-320kbps) and I have to say, I'm often impressed at how good the sound quality can be.

**brodricj** · October 4, 2022, 03:07 AM

I'm using a PS3 as a Spotify Connect device to the D1X, connected via cheap optical cable. It doesn't sound anywhere near as good as N-01. It sounds like.....mp3. I'm going to have to rethink my Spotify Connect hardware options. I don't want to spend $10K on a N-03T just to play Spotify.

**Mike** · October 4, 2022, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by brodricj

I'm using a PS3 as a Spotify Connect device to the D1X, connected via cheap optical cable. It doesn't sound anywhere near as good as N-01. It sounds like.....mp3. I'm going to have to rethink my Spotify Connect hardware options. I don't want to spend $10K on a N-03T just to play Spotify.

If streaming isn’t your thing, I wouldn’t bother. But if you want to, then you need to do Tidal or Qobuz. Lastly, look at a proper streamer from Aurender (n20) or Innuous or Lumin U1. I would never use such a world class DAC with a PS3 connected with a cheap optical cable and playing compressed Spotify and expect anything other than poor results.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

**brodricj** · October 4, 2022, 09:58 AM

When I had the N-01 I could feed it CD's streamed from a Kaleidescape player or spun in the Grandioso transport. Both sources sounded very similar. So much so I didn't bother much with the Grandioso transport, opting instead for the convenience of Kaleidescape. That equation has changed with the D1X. The Grandioso DAC/transport combination flies in a different orbit. It really is quite special, and it's only day four! The pedigree of my power conditioning has caused me to reassess. I've placed an order for a Shunyata Everest and a few Alpha NR v2 power cords. 6 week delivery estimate for Shunyata. The USD is flying strong at the moment, unfortunately.

**MichaelsMinute** · October 4, 2022, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by brodricj

Oh yeah, I'm a big fan of the Spotify product. I like listening to progressive house, trance, world, electronic etc genres and Spotify covers all of it. You might not be aware but a lot of that content is authored and remixed at 320 kbps..

Hello - although I have a wide variety of musical tastes from Frank Sinatra, to Taylor Swift, to opera, my heart is in vocal trance from my younger days - specifically from the 2004-2014 time period before it lost its way to become more mainstream (IMO).

I have Apple Music and Tidal and find the selection of vocal trance to be superior on Tidal along with the sound quality and ease of music discovery. I've never really tried Spotify.

Have you compared Spotify to Tidal? Would love your thoughts if you have. Thanks!

**Ritmo** · October 4, 2022, 04:39 PM

Very nice! Congratulations!

Please share you impressions…

**brodricj** · October 4, 2022, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by MichaelsMinute

Have you compared Spotify to Tidal? Would love your thoughts if you have. Thanks!

I tried Tidal but I had some support issues that didn't get any response so I only used it a few days and let the rest of the free trial lapse unused. I just bought a pair of Airpods Pro v2 for my son. They come with a free Apple Music subscription, so I might give it a try.

**MichaelsMinute** · October 4, 2022, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by brodricj

I tried Tidal but I had some support issues that didn't get any response so I only used it a few days and let the rest of the free trial lapse unused. I just bought a pair of Airpods Pro v2 for my son. They come with a free Apple Music subscription, so I might give it a try.

I think Apple Music is a pretty poor product. I only have it as I received 6 months free with an Apple purchase.

**kzhtoo** · October 5, 2022, 02:23 AM

Originally Posted by MichaelsMinute

Hello - although I have a wide variety of musical tastes from Frank Sinatra, to Taylor Swift, to opera, my heart is in vocal trance from my younger days - specifically from the 2004-2014 time period before it lost its way to become more mainstream (IMO).

I have Apple Music and Tidal and find the selection of vocal trance to be superior on Tidal along with the sound quality and ease of music discovery. I've never really tried Spotify.

Have you compared Spotify to Tidal? Would love your thoughts if you have. Thanks!

I concur Tidal has a wide range of electronic music and quality is better than Spotify. I use Tidal in my main system and Spotify is used in the car and by my toddler.

+1 for vocal trance. It took me a long time to get electronic music sound right in my system. Now, every time I play my favorite vocal trance, it’s all goosebumps city.

**ICUToo** · October 5, 2022, 06:15 AM

So what are some great vocal trance tracks to explore, please?

**brodricj** · October 5, 2022, 06:52 AM

For me, anything Zoe Johnston on Above and Beyond.

Above & Beyond feat. Zoë Johnston - Only A Few Things - YouTube

And whilst not vocal trance, Lisa Gerrard on the Gladiator O.M.P.S. is absolutely spine tingling on my musical reality machine.

**brodricj** · October 6, 2022, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

...I would never use such a world class DAC with a PS3 connected with a cheap optical cable and playing compressed Spotify and expect anything other than poor results.

My bad. Novice operator error. Having previously discovered clock sync is per input on D1X I hadn't engaged clock sync on the optical input for Spotify streamed from the PS3. Wow, what a difference. N-01 Spotify magic restored. What a difference the master clock makes, musicality in spades from a gaming console connected with a 15m $15 plastic optical cable streaming 320 kbps! For anybody owning Esoteric hardware do yourself a favor and buy a master clock generator, even the entry level G-02X. A Shunyata Sigma Clock-50 is the other essential ingredient of the secret sauce. I'm wondering now whether the next upgrade step is Lumin U2 mini or G1X master clock?....OK, I stopped wondering, G1X is 10+ times the price of U2 mini

**MichaelsMinute** · October 6, 2022, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by brodricj

For me, anything Zoe Johnston on Above and Beyond.

Above & Beyond feat. Zoë Johnston - Only A Few Things - YouTube

And whilst not vocal trance, Lisa Gerrard on the Gladiator O.M.P.S. is absolutely spine tingling on my musical reality machine.

Most Above and Beyond is GREAT.

Also - old Tiesto before he went mainstream. Check out his Just Be album. Also like his Elements of Life album - though not vocal

Audrey Gallagher is great; so is Emma Hewitt.

And Dash Berlin was really the last of the great Vocal Trance era. Check out his song "Waiting" though he's got a bunch of great ones.

IMO the golden years were about 2004-2012 trailing off into 2014 then it hits a brick wall except for a few. Above & Beyond is pretty spectacular with how they can be so versatile - check out their Acoustic at the Hollywood Bowl as an example.

**brodricj** · October 6, 2022, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by MichaelsMinute

check out their Acoustic at the Hollywood Bowl as an example.

I have the limited edition special pressing version with hard book cover. It's great, for sure.

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**MichaelsMinute** · October 6, 2022, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by brodricj

I have the limited edition special pressing version with hard book cover. It's great, for sure.

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NICE!!!

**brodricj** · October 13, 2022, 10:11 AM

The display on my D1X is sending my OCD haywire. D1X-L display is a completely different color to D1X-R. I complained to Esoteric about it. They said, send them a photo. But when I take a photo and view it on my computer screen they have the same color display. But to the naked eye they are very different. Explain that?

**adol290** · October 13, 2022, 04:33 PM

RM

**SCAudiophile** · October 13, 2022, 09:06 PM

A bit late.....Congratulations!!!

**brodricj** · October 13, 2022, 09:15 PM

What has surprised me most about D1X is what G-02X continues to bring to the party. I would have thought the newly-developed Grandioso Custom VCXO II clock in D1X would outperform G-02X, making G-02X redundant. It doesn't. D1X sounds considerably better synchronized with G-02X clock than on internal clock alone.

**SCAudiophile** · October 13, 2022, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by brodricj

What has surprised me most about D1X is what G-02X continues to bring to the party. I would have thought the newly-developed Grandioso Custom VCXO II clock in D1X would outperform G-02X, making G-02X redundant. It doesn't. D1X sounds considerably better synchronized with G-02X clock than on internal clock alone.

The new VCXO modules in the D1 and D1X are damned good. I am not surprised though that the G-02X being what it is (an extremely capable OCXO implementation in a dedicated component
with it's own power supplies, separating out the distribution board necessary to fork the master clock signal to multiple outputs, etc...) would have superior impact as it is OCXO first and foremost
which many have always found yields better results than even the best VCXO approach, and a full & separate bespoke component.

**brodricj** · October 13, 2022, 09:57 PM

I have been contemplating G1X. I have a buyer for my G-02X if I choose to sell it. G1X is taller than G-02X so an adjustment of a YG rack shelf would be necessary, which is not something I look forward to doing.

**brodricj** · October 17, 2022, 09:37 AM

My first 2 weeks listening has been with all D1X settings zeroed out and PCMM>M1 filter. CD playback sounds way better with AOUT>XLR2 setting compared to ES-LINK. The XLR cable is Shunyata Sigma v1 AES/EBU, the ESLINK cables (pair) are supplied with the D1X. For the Link cable which connects the D1X-L to the D1X-R I am using a PS Audio i2s-12. It carries R channel audio for the single XLR connection, together with communication and timing information. SACD playback ESLINK sounds better (which is ESLINK-4 protocol, the ESLINK-2 protocol is used for SACD with single XLR).
Tonight I am using UPC>2Fs mode in the D1X. This upconverts 44.1 kHz CD sample rate to 88.2 kHz (2X). So on the D1X display it shows 44.1 which is the native sample rate received from the transport, and UPCONV2Fs which is being processed inside the DAC (you can also do this upconversion in the transport which is the way I used to operate it with the N-01).
2X upsampling is brighter, more detailed/lively, more forward in presentation, with more precise instrument separation. This is the first time I've used this setting in the D1X. From what I understand "break-in" happens on a per setting basis, because the logic gates in the FGPA which do all the black magic flip-flopping for this process aren't called into action until the setting is invoked. So I expect the sound will evolve for this specific setting over time.
I do like this setting, there is more to it than "just another flavor of good". I had an immediate preference for the upsampled (processed) sound compared to post-2 week of zeroed out setting break-in.
With three different filter settings (M1, M2, M3), each with 2x, 4x and 8X upsampling settings, the combination of different settings gives you 9 different sound signatures per input to choose from. Which increases further when you start tweaking the settings in the transport.

**Mike** · October 17, 2022, 09:39 AM

Interesting that you found XLR better than the ESLINK.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

**brodricj** · October 17, 2022, 09:47 AM

XLR is only better for CD. There might be something in the D1X firmware which is adversely manifesting itself in this specific configuration. It's been reported to Esoteric and they are investigating.

**brodricj** · October 18, 2022, 02:29 AM

I bought a MQA-CD x UHQCD Hi-Res CD sampler from Japan and loaded it in my Grandioso transport. Sure enough the D1X recognizes it as MQA Studio 352.8 kHz/24 bit.

2x upconversion setting is automatically cancelled when it detects the MQA flag.

How does it sound? PHENOMENAL!!!!

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**brodricj** · October 19, 2022, 01:28 AM

New arrival.

Audio Replas RWC-2RU (wall outlet), CPP-2 SZ/HG (power socket plate) and SCB-2SZ (outlet base).

It's the most insane after market product I have ever seen. It belongs on a nuclear submarine!

Just waiting on the Shunyata Everest and power cables.

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**brodricj** · October 19, 2022, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Interesting that you found XLR better than the ESLINK.

Esoteric have confirmed my observations, which they have now explained. The issue is being caused by the clock sync mode setting in the transport. When the transport is set to CLOCK>MCK10M mode a data bit is being dropped from the PCM data stream in the D1X ESLINK input circuit. DSD signals are not affected by this, and the other digital inputs are not affected. In MCK10M mode during CD playback the PLL circuit is not used in the transport and the 10mHz signal is used as the master clock for audio output. Whereas CLK>IN mode the built-in crystal oscillator is syncronized to the external clock. The fix is to change to CLOCK>IN mode. Esoteric says this sounds better, which is consistent with my earlier findings.

**brodricj** · October 26, 2022, 09:03 PM

I've learned that D1X should only be clocked when the input source is also clocked (this is stated in the D1X owners manual). I found if the D1X is set to CLK>SYNC you get random popping noises when listening to un-clocked sources. Set CLK>OFF and the random popping noises stop. This is why CLK mode is a per input setting and not a global setting. Whilst the N-03T has a clock input, when connected to the USB input of D1X communication is asynchronous and the external clock is not used.

What this boils down to is an external clock is only used when the source is an Esoteric CD/SACD transport.

**brodricj** · October 27, 2022, 08:04 PM

I keep tripping over stuff left at my front door by the delivery fairy....occupational hazard for the occasional audio hobbyist. I wonder what this could be?

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**brodricj** · October 28, 2022, 08:39 AM

The D1X is far more sensitive to the G-02X clock than the N-01 was. From a clock cold start the N-01 didn't care, it just did its thing (my G-02X PREHEATING function is switched off). However the D1X doesn't like a cold start clock, there are low level sonic artifacts/crackle/pops/haze for about the first 10 minutes after clock cold start. After that it is happy, the haze disappears and it sings perfectly well. I'll stay environmentally friendly and conserve power with clock PREHEATING off, save a few watts of standby power. One thing common to all my Esoteric components, they draw very little power in full flight.

**brodricj** · November 12, 2022, 09:52 PM

DHL does Sunday deliveries. Nice surprise. Shunyata Sigma V2 NR power cord. Only waiting on the Everest. Apparently its built and will be shipped soon.

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