Esoteric N-01

Phishphan said:
Same chipset as the Grandioso K1. I chose the K1 because I like to spin discs. It sounds great as a DAC, but put in a CD and it’s out of this world


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I also chose the Grandioso K1 for the ability to spin discs. But according to the Esoteric representative from Japan at RMAF, the N-01, while terrific, is not the equal of the Grandioso K1. Amongst other things, the K1 has superior power supplies to the N-01. I just assumed they were the same because they have the same DAC chip. Maybe they’ll come out with a Grandioso N1 at some point. :)

Ken
 
However, the N-01 can play up to DSD 512 and will soon be able to play MQA! (When MQA licensing is completed).

Ken
 
It was a tough decision for me whether to go for a disk spinner like Grandioso K1 or K01X, N01, or just buy Grandioso D1. Initially I ordered K01X but then I changed my mind and bought N01. I have very few SACD, and very few .dsf files. All the .dsf I have can go on a USB stick and be played in K1, K01X or N01. I don't understand what Network playback on N01 achieves that USB can't? Only now I find out my few SACD can be ripped to .dsf and put on a USB stick. My very few HD Tracks titles could also go on a USB stick. I have a PS Audio DirectStream memory player that can play from USB stick. So in hindsight I think I made a mistake buying N01. I should have bought Grandioso D1 and use the PS Audio as the source for playback from USB. I think this would provide the best sound, and provide all the capability I need.

My N01 is only a week old and I'm already contemplating selling it!

Would G02X be suitable for Grandioso D1, or would the clock in D1 be better than G02X?
 
brodricj said:
It was a tough decision for me whether to go for a disk spinner like Grandioso K1 or K01X, N01, or just buy Grandioso D1. Initially I ordered K01X but then I changed my mind and bought N01. I have very few SACD, and very few .dsf files. All the .dsf I have can go on a USB stick and be played in K1, K01X or N01. I don't understand what Network playback on N01 achieves that USB can't? Only now I find out my few SACD can be ripped to .dsf and put on a USB stick. My very few HD Tracks titles could also go on a USB stick. I have a PS Audio DirectStream memory player that can play from USB stick. So in hindsight I think I made a mistake buying N01. I should have bought Grandioso D1 and use the PS Audio as the source for playback from USB. I think this would provide the best sound, and provide all the capability I need.

My N01 is only a week old and I'm already contemplating selling it!

Would G02X be suitable for Grandioso D1, or would the clock in D1 be better than G02X?
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Don’t sell your N-01! You made the right choice if you’re not spinning discs. The N-01 is the latest and greatest network player on the market. Latest AKM chipset, DSD 512 and full MQA decoding on the way. It is top of the line and extremely versatile. I would not recommend buying the D1. Its chipset is older and it’s in need of a refresh. They are not selling many D1’s now for these reasons.


Best,
Ken
 
I must say, there is nothing to complain about the sound and operation of N01, particularly with CD content via RCA. The sound is a revelation, Esoteric has done a terrific job. And I'm only using an entry level DIY clock cable and an AudioQuest VSD-1 video/digital cable to connect the Kaleidescape player to the N01. I've ordered a Mexcel 7N-DA6100III from Japan and that will be 3 weeks delivery. The price of the clock cable is almost as much as the G02X clock itself! I decided on the Mexcel based on recommendations here on the forum. The VSD-1 is 5m long so there is no way I can upgrade that to Mexcel....it would be cheaper to buy another K-player and sit it next to the N01 with a 1m Mexcel. I'm in the process of upgrading all my cables to Crystal Cable Ultra Diamond or better, except for the clock cable. All this is slowing down my progress to Magico M3, but that's OK as my Magico Q3 on SPOD are doing an outstanding job for the time being.
 
brodricj said:
I must say, there is nothing to complain about the sound and operation of N01, particularly with CD content via RCA. The sound is a revelation, Esoteric has done a terrific job. And I'm only using an entry level DIY clock cable and an AudioQuest VSD-1 video/digital cable to connect the Kaleidescape player to the N01. I've ordered a Mexcel 7N-DA6100III from Japan and that will be 3 weeks delivery. The price of the clock cable is almost as much as the G02X clock itself! I decided on the Mexcel based on recommendations here on the forum. The VSD-1 is 5m long so there is no way I can upgrade that to Mexcel....it would be cheaper to buy another K-player and sit it next to the N01 with a 1m Mexcel. I'm in the process of upgrading all my cables to Crystal Cable Ultra Diamond or better, except for the clock cable. All this is slowing down my progress to Magico M3, but that's OK as my Magico Q3 on SPOD are doing an outstanding job for the time being.
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The N-01 is unquestionably one of Esoteric’s finest components, certainly on the cutting edge of digital technology. With the G-02X clock, you must be getting some extremely fine sound. With the addition of the Magico M3’s at some point in the future, we’re talking state of the art. What preamp and amps are you running?

I am loving my Grandioso K1. The performance via CD, SACD or DAC is stellar. I’m planning to add the Grandioso G1 clock next. Based on what I heard at Axpona and RMAF, the sound quality should be other worldly!

Best,
Ken
 
Alpinist said:
The N-01 is unquestionably one of Esoteric’s finest components, certainly on the cutting edge of digital technology. With the G-02X clock, you must be getting some extremely fine sound. With the addition of the Magico M3’s at some point in the future, we’re talking state of the art. What preamp and amps are you running?

I am loving my Grandioso K1. The performance via CD, SACD or DAC is stellar. I’m planning to add the Grandioso G1 clock next. Based on what I heard at Axpona and RMAF, the sound quality should be other worldly!

Best,
Ken
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I’d love the clock too. But my bank account is telling another story after my recent purchases


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Alpinist said:
...With the addition of the Magico M3’s at some point in the future, we’re talking state of the art. What preamp and amps are you running?
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Halcro dm88 and dm8. Fingers crossed I might be getting the new Halcro Eclipse mono and pre-amp soon. Halcro asked me if I would be interested in testing some of their new electronics, so I’ll wait and see what pleasant surprises might land at my front door.
 
Alpinist said:
Don’t sell your N-01! You made the right choice if you’re not spinning discs. The N-01 is the latest and greatest network player on the market...
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In hindsight, for the cost of N01 + G02X + 7N-DA6100III I probably could/should have bought Grandioso K1. 75% of my music listening is played via Kaleidescape and 20% is Spotify via MacBook. The other 5% is disc spinning or HiRez music on USB stick.
I’m guessing K1 without clock would sound better that N01 with clock.
 
brodricj said:
Spotify via MacBook
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A future upgrade for native support for Spotify was mentioned in a press release of N-01. When this happens you'll no longer need a MacBook in the playback chain for Spotify.

The description of the clock inside K1 and N-01 seem close enough if not identical, with the same numeric accuracy level. I fail to see how a K1 can be better than an N-01 with a better external clock.
 
I just got a quote from my dealer for K1, it is cheaper than N01 + G02X + Mexcel....and actually cheaper than N01 + G02X without the Mexcel. Sigh.....
 
wklie said:
A future upgrade for native support for Spotify was mentioned in a press release of N-01. When this happens you'll no longer need a MacBook in the playback chain for Spotify.
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Now that gets my attention as I'm a Spotify premium user. Spotify from my MacBook to the N01 sounds terrific. To do Spotify without the need for the computer would turn N01 into a keeper for me....
 
brodricj said:
In hindsight, for the cost of N01 + G02X + 7N-DA6100III I probably could/should have bought Grandioso K1. 75% of my music listening is played via Kaleidescape and 20% is Spotify via MacBook. The other 5% is disc spinning or HiRez music on USB stick.
I’m guessing K1 without clock would sound better that N01 with clock.
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I think you made the right choice getting the N-01 if you only spin discs less than 5% of the time. The rubidium master clocks provide a significant boost in performance, so it may not necessarily be the case that the K1 without clock would sound better than the N-01 with clock. However, I’ve only heard the rubidium clocks (G1 and G-01X) but never the G-02X. I’m not sure how much the G-02X with its oven controlled crystal oscillator boosts performance in comparison to the oven controlled rubidium oscillator, which is much more accurate.

Best,
Ken
 
I'm just re-contemplating all of my options...perhaps K1 + N05 and a Cybershaft clock will tick all the boxes. Throwing an Esoteric clock in that mix probably puts it outside my price range.
 
brodricj said:
I'm just re-contemplating all of my options...perhaps K1 + N05 and a Cybershaft clock will tick all the boxes. Throwing an Esoteric clock in that mix probably puts it outside my price range.
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K1 and Aurender N10 is a fantastic combo.


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Phishphan said:
K1 and Aurender N10 is a fantastic combo.
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K1 is on my radar, but Aurender certainly isn't. I have a $40k investment in Kaleidescape, and CD quality music playback from Kaleidescape player on the N10/G02X sounds terrific. Actually, CD playback on N10 sounds better than .dsf played back via USB stick.
 
Esoteric posted this pic advertising the N01 on Facebook. I noticed the Aurender N10 and asked why it was there. They said it was feeding the N01, which I found odd.
5f9629425cb8552ed8899f37213e4f75.jpg



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