The N1T is terrific, straight out of the box. I had a minor issue connecting it to my network, it wouldn't get an IP from the router with "LAN!" warning showing on the display, even though the router was showing it as a client. I have robust security on my network which automatically blocks new devices. So I unblocked it but that didn't solve the problem. So I tried a power cycle. That didn't solve the problem. So I tried a factory default but the unit would restart without the factory parameters. All very strange. There is no way to give the N1T a static IP, it relies on DHCP. Then for unknown reasons it was happy to play, Spotify Connect found it on the network, then I was good to go. Or so I thought. When I cycled through the inputs on the D1X DAC to choose ESL-L2 it was very slow to sync, and then eventually I only had sound in the R speaker. And it was like this for a while. The system does not like changing inputs on the fly while a source is playing. So I stopped playback, tried again and everything has worked as advertised since. No issues at all.
The owners manual says the RCA and XLR outputs can be clocked to an external 10 MHz reference clock. It also says the USB output can't be clocked to an external clock. But it does not mention the use of ESLINK and an external clock. The Grandioso SACD transports can be clocked with ESLINK output. So I've just connected the N1T to my G-02X clock and it has sync'd with the DAC and it's playing very nicely.
N1T has the new design pinpoint feet that was first introduced with the Grandioso SE models. No felt pads come with the unit. Before the SE models there were stick on felt pads in the accessory kit that are applied to the bottom of the feet to prevent scratching the lid of whatever you sit it on. I have no idea why Esoteric aren't including felt pad protectors any more.
I had the N1T playing Qobuz on a Magico M7 system yesterday and it sounded INCREDIBLE!!
www.esoteric.jp
