Thread: Upgrade K-03 XD firmware?

Hi,

I have recently updated the firmware of my Esoteric N-03 T so that it could operate in RAAT mode. It’s still early days, but there seems to be an improvement in sound quality, though possibly a slight narrowing of the sound stage. More listening will tell…

I approached this update with some trepidation, not being particularly knowledgeable about techie things. There was a .pdf with instructions explaining how to start the update: which buttons to press to get the unit into update mode, all cables other than the power cable needed to be disconnected etc. After some faffing about, I got it done.

I noticed there is also a firmware update for the Esoteric K-03 XD which I use mainly as a DAC. I can’t find the equivalent instructions for this update on the Esoteric website, nor can I find out which firmware my unit has. It does not show in settings 1 or 2, which I believe means that the unit still has firmware V1.x.

I would be very grateful if someone could let me know if they found an improvement in sound quality when they performed this upgrade, and how this process is started off.

Many thanks

If you are on the original firmware, the version is not displayed. When you update the firmware it does appear in the 2nd mode(settings 2). Download the Firmware and unzip it. There is a PDF included with instructions how to apply. Same for the USB update. I have not gone to the newest release yet, but did the previous update. Cannot say if it was an improvement. Waiting for someone to go to newest version and report back.

Thanks for your response.

The .pdf included in the download does not show how to put the unit into update mode, unlike the instructions for the steamer. Do those instructions appear on screen once the update process has started? I find the Esoteric instructions a bit skimpy and don't want to commit a major blunder, due to my own ignorance, making the player a rather expensive door stop.

You do not have to put it in update mode. Connect the USB cable from the player to the PC\Mac. Power on the player.

As per the PDF. Step 1. 1 Double-click aaa_IFvxxx_updater_E_withDriver.exe. The “aaa” is the model name to be updated.

You probably don't have the DFU driver installed on your PC\Mac. So follow those instructions.

Thanks, I may well give this a go. I'll report back if I do.

I've updated to the last 2.60 version some weeks ago and I did find some benefits. More softness would perhaps be the most noticeable. I recommend the update.

Thanks, that's good to know. Esoteric don't err on the side of softness as a rule so that sounds good.