Re: Esoteric New Product Launch
Dual AES/EBU connection with a Shunyata Sigma will set you back $4K. An ES-Link connection will cost zero. There is your price difference for starters.
And you are not correct with your understanding...the programming of the FPGA and allocation of embedded memory on the chip has a big influence on jitter and hence resultant sound.
Re: Esoteric New Product Launch
I have no doubt that potential improvements may exist, will they be anything more than a spec on a sheet? I dont know. Everything has an influence on the resultant sound, its the extent to which it does that matters. Can I hear a little more or a little less jitter? I doubt it. What I can tell you is that I can definitely hear a SNR difference between 120DB and 113DB, assuming both were measured the same way.
Also, If ES Link uses Ethernet cabling for transmission would you not want to use the best quality cable there as well?
Knowing Esoteric, I also doubt that they will be releasing new FPGA programming. Its more likely that you buy the unit with the programming that was developed for that device and new programming wont be introduced until the next generation of that device. Probably not backwards compatible/install-able either.
Re: Esoteric New Product Launch
ES-Link does not use ethernet cabling. There is black magic marketing out there about HDMI cables for audio use (which is the cable ES-Link uses), but I can't readily hear any difference between the expensive ones and cheap ones. Esoteric have released a number of software updates for N01 so I would expect them to do the same for N01XD. The software updates are end-user installable.
Re: Esoteric New Product Launch
I would consider an FPGA program change to be something completely different from the usual software/firmware updates. I voted with my money so lets see how it plays out.
Re: Esoteric New Product Launch
Japanese demos comparing K1X with K1 using multiple formats (in case your Japanese isn't up to snuff, see what's playing displayed in the right margin). I have a MacPro with small B&W speakers (not great but decent), and I can hear clear differences in favor of the K1X.
https://youtu.be/dMoNfaanXrM
https://youtu.be/guHysEd47-k
Impressive new product but at an impressive price.
Re: Esoteric New Product Launch
You have owned the K1 and K1X? or are you referring to you listening to those YouTube videos?
Re: Esoteric New Product Launch
Listening to YouTube videos. (I own a lowly K-03X.)
Re: Esoteric New Product Launch
Hopefully you do realize that you cant draw any conclusion from that, certainly not that one is better... you literally don't even know what you are listening to.
Re: Esoteric New Product Launch
Of course. I just remarked what sounded better to me via YouTube on my modest laptop rig. Have you listened to these? Can you tell any difference?
Re: Esoteric New Product Launch
The new Esoteric sound is much less digital and hashy sounding. I heard the new Esoteric stuff at Axpona and Munich and was very impressed. It’s right up there with Chord, Emm, DCS, etc. The sound to me of Esoteric still isn’t as meaty and fleshy and organic as MSB, but it was very pleasing none the less and a big step in the direction of sounding much more organic. And no one can not love the build quality and looks!
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