*NEW* Esoteric Grandioso C1X solo

**brodricj** · January 5, 2023, 02:46 AM

The first of the Esoteric Grandioso solo series is on the horizon. Looks like Esoteric is downsizing the 2 box components to a single box option, starting with the C1X solo pre-amp. I've got a hunch the P1X solo will follow later. Maybe also a single box D1X?
It's a great product idea, distill the best out of their Grandioso flagship products into a more modest stack height. A full Grandioso stack (C1X, P1X, G1X, D1X) is 7 boxes tall which is too much of a physical presence for some.
From what I understand production starts in March.

I'm very tempted by this.

"Grandioso C1X solo", "Grandioso S1X", and "K-05XD" will be unveiled at the "Tokyo International Audio Show 2022" | News Details | ESOTERIC:Japan high-end audio manufacturer | エソテリック

**brodricj** · January 6, 2023, 12:35 AM

C1X solo has just been posted on the Esoteric website

Grandioso C1X solo | OVERVIEW | ESOTERIC:Japan high-end audio manufacturer | エソテリック

**crwilli** · March 23, 2023, 08:36 PM

My order is placed with Mike

**SCAudiophile** · March 23, 2023, 11:14 PM

Congratulations Craig!

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

**brodricj** · March 24, 2023, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by crwilli

My order is placed with Mike

C1X Solo to be used with the Bricasti DAC?

**crwilli** · March 24, 2023, 06:52 AM

Yes - I have had a C-02X in my system to demo and the combination sounded great. I am taking the leap of faith the C1X Solo will be similarly voiced.

**gadawg** · March 24, 2023, 11:34 PM

A D1X solo would be tempting indeed ….

George

**brodricj** · March 27, 2023, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by crwilli

My order is placed with Mike

Be careful not to sit on the remote control for the C1X Solo. I sat on the remote for my C1X tonight and it got into some weird operating mode shown on the display, but which said weird operating mode is not mentioned in the manual. The C1X would only output silence despite the volume level on the display showing normal operation. I exhausted all options in the menu tree to no avail. Eventually I gave up and did a factory reset. Which of course meant I then had to reprogram it. Normal operation restored.

**crwilli** · April 25, 2023, 07:51 AM

My C1X Solo arrived and has been playing for about 40 hours. Coming from my DAC/PRE driven system to inserting the C1X Solo is night and day. The improvement in SQ is immediately noticeable. My words fail me but call it drive, force leading to improved dynamics and a huge soundstage.

The C1X Solo is pure Esoteric. It’s beautiful, operates flawlessly and is dead silent. I love the way its volume control operates sensing when you want to move up or down quickly but also allowing micro changes if needed.

**Mike** · April 25, 2023, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by crwilli

My C1X Solo arrived and has been playing for about 40 hours. Coming from my DAC/PRE driven system to inserting the C1X Solo is night and day. The improvement in SQ is immediately noticeable. My words fail me but call it drive, force leading to improved dynamics and a huge soundstage.

The C1X Solo is pure Esoteric. It’s beautiful, operates flawlessly and is dead silent. I love the way its volume control operates sensing when you want to move up or down quickly but also allowing micro changes if needed.

That’s GORGEOUS!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

**Ritmo** · April 25, 2023, 10:32 AM

Congrats! Looks great and happy that it sounds great as well! Happy listening!

**rrwmd** · April 25, 2023, 10:40 AM

Congratulations Craig! A top tier preamp is definitely a game changer.

**SCAudiophile** · April 25, 2023, 05:25 PM

CONGRATULATIONS Craig!!!

Esoteric preamps kick ass!

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

**crwilli** · April 25, 2023, 05:30 PM

Thanks guys!

**brodricj** · April 26, 2023, 04:02 PM

What about the operation of the input select dial, do you find it stiff? There is no tactile feedback when changing input sources, I'd rather feel a "click" in the dial when it's crossed over to the changed source.

**crwilli** · April 26, 2023, 04:14 PM

Ha, I have not touched it other than to press it in to first turn it on. I will turn it later today and let you know. I only use XLR 1…for now.

**The Bodiezaffa** · April 26, 2023, 04:28 PM

How many hours on are it now.
Getting better with each passing day?
Congrats, amigo.

**crwilli** · April 27, 2023, 10:38 PM

It has been playing pretty much every hour since Sunday night so it is approaching 100 hours. I haven’t really noticed any significant changes, which is good, it’s still awesome! 😁

**crwilli** · April 27, 2023, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by brodricj

What about the operation of the input select dial, do you find it stiff? There is no tactile feedback when changing input sources, I'd rather feel a "click" in the dial when it's crossed over to the changed source.

I connected my cheap ass TT today and played with it for a while. That requires me to change the input which I did via the left controller on the unit. I found it to turn easily and the display to show the input without issue.

**gadawg** · April 28, 2023, 10:38 AM

Congrats on an awesome preamp! Bet it gets better around 400-500 hours. At least my D-02X DAC did. Enjoy that beautiful Pre!

George

**brodricj** · April 28, 2023, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by crwilli

...I found it to turn easily and the display to show the input without issue.

On my C1X the input select has about 10 times the turning resistance compared to the volume control. The C1X solo input select must be fundamentally different in design, aside from also functioning as the on/off control (C1X on/off button is on the power supply not the main unit).

**GSOphile** · July 24, 2023, 06:22 PM

I recently completed the second step in replacing my Gryphon Diablo 300 with a Luxman M-10X amp and a Grandioso C1X solo preamp. Prior to buying the C1X solo, I had installed three positively reviewed solid state/tube preamp loaners in the solo's price range. Results were positive but not so much as I’d hoped for. After speaking with crwilli and Mike (thanks, guys!) and seeing the Stereophile review of the solo’s big brother, the C1X, I decided to take a chance. To sum up, for my music (classical and jazz), in my system, to my ears, this is an outstanding preamp! Dynamics and bass, which were Diablo strong points, are here with this amp/pre combo. But the additional refinement, soundstage precision and dimensionality (especially depth), and lack of treble glare set the solo apart. There have been a number of goosebump inducing moments with this pre, and, surprisingly, I have re-discovered and enjoyed a number of older, previously painful-to-hear recordings that I'd relegated to the archives.

Perhaps worth noting: My source is an Esoteric K-01XD SACD Player, and there are synergies here. These units are connected with XLR links, but shortly after installation I decided to configure the units to exploit Esoteric’s proprietary ES-Link protocol via the XLR physical links. The sonic result seemed slightly positive, but certainly not definitive as I was early in the break-in process when I made the change. I have not revisited this. A second point: Both Esoterics can be conveniently controlled via the Player’s remote. Third point: Pictures don't do this thing full justice; it is beautiful!

**SCAudiophile** · July 25, 2023, 12:27 AM

Congratulations!

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

**brodricj** · July 26, 2023, 04:34 AM

Originally Posted by GSOphile

..These units are connected with XLR links, but shortly after installation I decided to configure the units to exploit Esoteric’s proprietary ES-Link protocol via the XLR physical links.

Just to be clear, ES-Link is a digital protocol which uses a HDMI cable. C1X solo does not support ES-Link. What you are using is ES-Link Analog. The main advantage of ES-Link Analog is it's a current mode interface which is virtually agnostic to the interconnect cable. So you can use a really cheap XLR interconnect cable without losing audio fidelity.

**GSOphile** · September 23, 2023, 03:07 PM

In a post above, I mentioned that I chose to use Esoteric's ESLA link protocol between my K-01XD Player and my new C1X solo over standard XLR interconnects, thinking it's a proprietary feature so it must be at least marginally better. My initial impression was that it sounded more refined. Didn't do any follow-up, in part because specifying the link protocol to be used in both units is a PITA setup process. But as time passed, I started to feel less involvement with some favorite music, less bass, maybe less air. Was I imagining this or ....? So I went back to standard XLR protocol. Wow! The magic was back! If you have a solo, I doubt that setting up ESLA INPUT links will prove worthwhile. As always, YMMV. (ESLA OUTPUT links, however, may be another story - can't say because I don't own a supporting Esoteric amp).

So what happened? The protocol used between my K-01XD and the solo appears to be first generation ESLA requiring only setup definition for connecting XLR links. A second generation (?) is promoted* as a new solo output feature. It is implemented by reversing physical XLR links between the outputting solo and a new XLRA equipped Esoteric amp (via new reversed XLR sockets on both units), and thus not requiring link setup definitions.

* The prior generation ESLA input links were not mentioned/promoted as a solo feature.

**brodricj** · September 23, 2023, 08:17 PM

Where is second generation ESLA promoted in any Esoteric marketing?

**GSOphile** · September 23, 2023, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by brodricj

Where is second generation ESLA promoted in any Esoteric marketing?

Under solo features on the Esoteric website (it's not called second generation ESLA - that's me):
"ES-Link Analog
"With the flagship Grandioso amplifier models, Esoteric is breaking new ground by pushing the limits of fidelity in pre-preamp-to-amplifier signal transmission. Esoteric’s unique current transmission system “ES-Link Analog” is the ideal method for preamp to amplifier transmission where the signal level is extremely low. Compared to the conventional voltage transmission, it transmits approximately 100 times more current, making it less susceptible to noise and sending the full energy of the music to the amplifier.
"Also, it is not affected by the impedance of the interconnects running between the preamp and amplifier, so it maintains a perfect integrity between the output signal of the preamp and the input signal to the amplifier."

**brodricj** · September 23, 2023, 09:24 PM

It's not a second generation iteration of ESLA. I read into it some marketing trickery. I'm not sure how much uniqueness there is about the Esoteric current transmission method. Halcro does current mode, so does Krell. And some others also. I've got a hunch they might all be compatible with each other with the right connectors on each end of the cable (Halcro uses a standard RCA connector, Krell has its own connector). The Esoteric marketing you mentioned focuses on preamp-to-amplifier signal transmission. The electrical characteristics of that part of the signal chain are different from source>preamp. It might be the case the main advantage of the current mode is for a long cable run preamp>amplifier. I use ESLA between D1X>C1X, and I use current mode Halcro preamp>Halcro amplifier.

**GSOphile** · September 23, 2023, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by brodricj

It's not a second generation iteration of ESLA. I read into it some marketing trickery. I'm not sure how much uniqueness there is about the Esoteric current transmission method. Halcro does current mode, so does Krell. And some others also. I've got a hunch they might all be compatible with each other with the right connectors on each end of the cable (Halcro uses a standard RCA connector, Krell has its own connector). The Esoteric marketing you mentioned focuses on preamp-to-amplifier signal transmission. The electrical characteristics of that part of the signal chain are different from source>preamp. It might be the case the main advantage of the current mode is for a long cable run preamp>amplifier. I use ESLA between D1X>C1X, and I use current mode Halcro preamp>Halcro amplifier.

"Second generation" was my speculative term for the pre -> amp ESLA implementation because the physical implementation differs from the K-01XD->CiX solo (and I think your D1X->C1X). Electrically they may well be the same and my speculation unjustified. At any rate, my K-01XD->C1X solo ESLA experience was negative vs. XLR. As always YMMV.

**brodricj** · September 23, 2023, 10:02 PM

Yep, but my point was, if you had an Esoteric power amp the ESLA link from the C1X solo might win over the voltage mode connection. I don't have an Esoteric power amp to make that comparison for myself.

**GSOphile** · September 23, 2023, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by brodricj

Yep, but my point was, if you had an Esoteric power amp the ESLA link from the C1X solo might win over the voltage mode connection. I don't have an Esoteric power amp to make that comparison for myself.

Completely agree.

**crwilli** · September 23, 2023, 10:22 PM

And honestly, Stereophile didn’t do the new M1X any favors with its review. Makes me pause before even considering them as an option to allow the ESLink connection. I pull love to be able to test it out with their latest monos but having to keep Class A mono locked on 24/7 is a non-starter here in the low country of S.C.

**brodricj** · September 23, 2023, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by crwilli

And honestly, Stereophile didn’t do the new M1X any favors with its review. Makes me pause before even considering them as an option to allow the ESLink connection. I pull love to be able to test it out with their latest monos but having to keep Class A mono locked on 24/7 is a non-starter here in the low country of S.C.

Actually it was Esoteric who didn't do themselves any favors. There is a YouTube video of the Esoteric guys discussing the new M1X and they recommended leaving it on 24/7 for five days to reach its sonic peak. No thanks, not for me. And I told them so.

**crwilli** · September 24, 2023, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by brodricj

Actually it was Esoteric who didn't do themselves any favors. There is a YouTube video of the Esoteric guys discussing the new M1X and they recommended leaving it on 24/7 for five days to reach its sonic peak. No thanks, not for me. And I told them so.

Fair point.

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