Esoteric K-01X & K-03X

[bmichels]

Since your headphone system sounds rather portable, I would take it to an Esoteric dealer and audition the K-01X with your own gear.

Best,
Ken

well this is indeed organised for thursday after christmass with an Esoteric dealer. I Will bring my BHSE + Headphone and try them with the K-01x but also with a NADAC DAC and a Forzatto music server.

I also will try to listen to the VITUS SCD-025 mk2 CD/DAC which is at the same price (anyone heard the VITUS?)

 

[Mike]

Esoteric K-01X & K-03X

well this is indeed organised for thursday after christmass with an Esoteric dealer. I Will bring my BHSE + Headphone and try them with the K-01x but also with a NADAC DAC and a Forzatto music server.

I also will try to listen to the VITUS SCD-025 mk2 CD/DAC which is at the same price (anyone heard the VITUS?)

The Vitus is outstanding and may be the winner. Very liquid and organic sounding. Esoteric is great too. I look forward to your findings. You're definitely on the right track.

 

[Melbguy1]

I also will try to listen to the VITUS SCD-025 mk2 CD/DAC which is at the same price (anyone heard the VITUS?)

bmichels ,I've already posted detailed replies to your questions about this player on this forum & another forum, so i'll just say It is one helluva spinner. Very engaging, liquid & analogue-sounding. I'll avoid throwing around "best" as that is a subjective term. Hence i'd definitely recommend seeking out an audition if you can swing one.

The beast!..

 

[bmichels]

I own that player & It is one helluva spinner. It had a major re-design in 2015 incl: an upgrade to the psu's, boards, EngineeRed (formerly Anagram) Q8 upsampler, master clock module, analogue output stage etc & is pretty much a new player. It has a very good transport based around a heavily modified Phillips Pro 2 LF transport mech mounted on a huge milled aluminium base. Vitus said this is the most analogue sounding cd player he has designed, and I have to agree. This player has good bass, tube-like liquidity/flow, excellent resolution & has an engaging sound with plenty of body. It sounds smooth & non-fatiguing, but requires 250-300hrs to mostly run in. Obviously it doesn't play SACD's, but when you have XRCD2, XRCD24, K2HD, DXD, SHM, SHM Platinum, Audio Fidelity 24kt gold, Mofi 24kt gold & many other audiophile cd's to choose from, it's not a really big negative. Besides that, you can stream DSD from a HDD. I'll avoid throwing around "best" as that is a subjective term. Hence i'd definitely recommend seeking out an audition if you can swing one.

Thanks.
So I definitively need to find a way to listen to it ;-)