Esoteric XD Series

bizuras said:
Well, I have now the K01XD in my system. New and cold out of the box the presentation is already very nice and pleasant.
I noted lots of detail and it's still very smooth, transparency, solid LF and delicate HF.
First class finish also as usual with Esoteric.

I keep smiling all the time, so thanks Mike.
Click to expand...

Congratulations! Esoteric’s new conversion architecture sounds terrific. And, the transport system is fantastic. A world class performer. Enjoy!
 
Hi guys,
I was wondering if someone could give some suggestions about my K03XD cdp or share their experiences.
A while ago I replaced my Wadia 381i with this Esoteric K03XD. Although there's an considerable improvement in transparency and dynamics/speed, I'm missing some smoothness and warmth. The Wadia had a nice velvety sound, but it was defenitely lacking the detailed sound in the higher frequencies and I certainly could not go back. Some recordings (I only play Redbook) sound absolutely breathtaking on the Esoteric, but on others the sound could have been a bit fuller in the midrange to my taste and less fatigueing.
I have an Audio Research Ref5SE tube preamp, Pass 250.8 poweramp (playing in classA all the time) and Marten DjangoXL speakers.
Would it be worth it investing in a DAC (Aqua La Scala, Bricasti, Mola Mola, Holo Audio ...) or would I than loose the transparency of the inboard Dac?
Or would investing in an external clock (Esoteric G02x, Mutec Ref10 SE120, Cybershaft ...) be advisable? What would the effect on the sound be?
I've tried different upsampling and filter settings, but find that I loose to much of the transparency when I use a slightly smoother setting.
 
Polleke said:
Hi guys,
I was wondering if someone could give some suggestions about my K03XD cdp or share their experiences.
A while ago I replaced my Wadia 381i with this Esoteric K03XD. Although there's an considerable improvement in transparency and dynamics/speed, I'm missing some smoothness and warmth. The Wadia had a nice velvety sound, but it was defenitely lacking the detailed sound in the higher frequencies and I certainly could not go back. Some recordings (I only play Redbook) sound absolutely breathtaking on the Esoteric, but on others the sound could have been a bit fuller in the midrange to my taste and less fatigueing.
I have an Audio Research Ref5SE tube preamp, Pass 250.8 poweramp (playing in classA all the time) and Marten DjangoXL speakers.
Would it be worth it investing in a DAC (Aqua La Scala, Bricasti, Mola Mola, Holo Audio ...) or would I than loose the transparency of the inboard Dac?
Or would investing in an external clock (Esoteric G02x, Mutec Ref10 SE120, Cybershaft ...) be advisable? What would the effect on the sound be?
I've tried different upsampling and filter settings, but find that I loose to much of the transparency when I use a slightly smoother setting.
Click to expand...

I have a K-01XD driving a Diablo 300/Magico S3 MkIIs and have experienced some of the challenges you describe with different CDs. For me it has been difficult to arrive at a really good compromise filter/upsampling setting that brings out the positive attributes of favorite recordings without being fatiguing. My quest was complicated somewhat when I upgraded my power cables/conditioner from AQ to Shunyata. At this point my ears are pretty happy with the M2/4Fs PCM setting. Good recordings from 50+ years ago shine, but, that said, the DAC in this machine will still not put lipstick on a pig (nor do I expect it to).
Like you, I'd like details on what we should expect from the addition of a good external clock to an Esoteric XD player.
 
Polleke said:
Hi guys,
I was wondering if someone could give some suggestions about my K03XD cdp or share their experiences.
A while ago I replaced my Wadia 381i with this Esoteric K03XD. Although there's an considerable improvement in transparency and dynamics/speed, I'm missing some smoothness and warmth. The Wadia had a nice velvety sound, but it was defenitely lacking the detailed sound in the higher frequencies and I certainly could not go back. Some recordings (I only play Redbook) sound absolutely breathtaking on the Esoteric, but on others the sound could have been a bit fuller in the midrange to my taste and less fatigueing.
I have an Audio Research Ref5SE tube preamp, Pass 250.8 poweramp (playing in classA all the time) and Marten DjangoXL speakers.
Would it be worth it investing in a DAC (Aqua La Scala, Bricasti, Mola Mola, Holo Audio ...) or would I than loose the transparency of the inboard Dac?
Or would investing in an external clock (Esoteric G02x, Mutec Ref10 SE120, Cybershaft ...) be advisable? What would the effect on the sound be?
I've tried different upsampling and filter settings, but find that I loose to much of the transparency when I use a slightly smoother setting.
Click to expand...

I have the N-01XD, which similar to K-01XD, but with a network bridge built in and no transport. Somewhat different DAC implementation than the K-01XD.

I couldn’t be happier with N-01XD, and it’s surely my endgame DAC, until / unless it breaks down. So perhaps upgrade to K-01XD if you dig Esoteric sound? And if the built in transport is a must. Having said this, we are all different people with different preferences. No one-size-fits-all. No absolutes in audio, just preferences.
 
GSOphile said:
I have a K-01XD driving a Diablo 300/Magico S3 MkIIs and have experienced some of the challenges you describe with different CDs. For me it has been difficult to arrive at a really good compromise filter/upsampling setting that brings out the positive attributes of favorite recordings without being fatiguing. My quest was complicated somewhat when I upgraded my power cables/conditioner from AQ to Shunyata. At this point my ears are pretty happy with the M2/4Fs PCM setting. Good recordings from 50+ years ago shine, but, that said, the DAC in this machine will still not put lipstick on a pig (nor do I expect it to).
Like you, I'd like details on what we should expect from the addition of a good external clock to an Esoteric XD player.
Click to expand...
IMHO 99% of the time, fatigue is caused by the room, not the gear. Although the gear can certainly make it worse. Look at the first reflection points on all your walls and ceiling, try putting something there temporarily to see if it goes away.

I had chased fatigue for years. I finally figured it out myself and my room is well treated now!

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using Tapatalk
 
Polleke said:
Hi guys,
I was wondering if someone could give some suggestions about my K03XD cdp or share their experiences.
A while ago I replaced my Wadia 381i with this Esoteric K03XD. Although there's an considerable improvement in transparency and dynamics/speed, I'm missing some smoothness and warmth. The Wadia had a nice velvety sound, but it was defenitely lacking the detailed sound in the higher frequencies and I certainly could not go back. Some recordings (I only play Redbook) sound absolutely breathtaking on the Esoteric, but on others the sound could have been a bit fuller in the midrange to my taste and less fatigueing.
I have an Audio Research Ref5SE tube preamp, Pass 250.8 poweramp (playing in classA all the time) and Marten DjangoXL speakers.
Would it be worth it investing in a DAC (Aqua La Scala, Bricasti, Mola Mola, Holo Audio ...) or would I than loose the transparency of the inboard Dac?
Or would investing in an external clock (Esoteric G02x, Mutec Ref10 SE120, Cybershaft ...) be advisable? What would the effect on the sound be?
I've tried different upsampling and filter settings, but find that I loose to much of the transparency when I use a slightly smoother setting.
Click to expand...
Clock. I feel that a clock is damn near mandatory for an esoteric dac. It is a huge upgrade.

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using Tapatalk
 
Polleke said:
Hi guys,
I was wondering if someone could give some suggestions about my K03XD cdp or share their experiences.
A while ago I replaced my Wadia 381i with this Esoteric K03XD. Although there's an considerable improvement in transparency and dynamics/speed, I'm missing some smoothness and warmth. The Wadia had a nice velvety sound, but it was defenitely lacking the detailed sound in the higher frequencies and I certainly could not go back. Some recordings (I only play Redbook) sound absolutely breathtaking on the Esoteric, but on others the sound could have been a bit fuller in the midrange to my taste and less fatigueing.
I have an Audio Research Ref5SE tube preamp, Pass 250.8 poweramp (playing in classA all the time) and Marten DjangoXL speakers.
Would it be worth it investing in a DAC (Aqua La Scala, Bricasti, Mola Mola, Holo Audio ...) or would I than loose the transparency of the inboard Dac?
Or would investing in an external clock (Esoteric G02x, Mutec Ref10 SE120, Cybershaft ...) be advisable? What would the effect on the sound be?
I've tried different upsampling and filter settings, but find that I loose to much of the transparency when I use a slightly smoother setting.
Click to expand...

I have N05-XD. I’d say AQ power cable, minimum Hurricane source. I find AQ PCs are smoother than Shunyata in my system (have tried Sigma V2).

I also second Clock, which myself is thinking of getting one, possibly Cybershaft. Although I do not experience any listening fatigue whatsoever, I believe Esoteric digital sources are meant to use with a competent clock to bring out the best.
 
brodricj said:
The clock cable is also critical. So much so, the clock is almost pointless without a good clock cable.
Click to expand...
I have not played with them, I got a shunyata clock 50, several years ago and called it a day. I might try their latest.

I'm also clocking my etherregen.

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using Tapatalk
 
kzhtoo said:
I have N05-XD. I’d say AQ power cable, minimum Hurricane source. I find AQ PCs are smoother than Shunyata in my system (have tried Sigma V2).

I also second Clock, which myself is thinking of getting one, possibly Cybershaft. Although I do not experience any listening fatigue whatsoever, I believe Esoteric digital sources are meant to use with a competent clock to bring out the best.
Click to expand...

I replaced a Niagara 5000/Hurricane PC system with a Denali 6000S V2/Sigma V2/Alpha V2s. In my system I'm hearing significant improvements in noise reduction, dynamics, and resolution - an 'upgrade' at a similar MSRP.

I will probably pursue a Cybershaft clock next.
 
GSOphile said:
I replaced a Niagara 5000/Hurricane PC system with a Denali 6000S V2/Sigma V2/Alpha V2s. In my system I'm hearing significant improvements in noise reduction, dynamics, and resolution - an 'upgrade' at a similar MSRP.

I will probably pursue a Cybershaft clock next.
Click to expand...

Forgot to mention I have Everest. In an ideal situation, I’d like to try all combinations. But I can’t possibly and Everest + Hurricane loom sound pretty good to me.
 
Has anybody tried out connecting a K03XD to an external dac like MOla Mola, Bricasti, Aqua La Scala Ayon or other quality dac?
If so, what did it sound like, compared to the internal dac, particularly on Redbook?
 
My Esoteric K-01XD arrived this past Tuesday and first impressions are excellent. Only have ~30 hours on it but it is already the equal of the dCS Puccini DAC/SACD-CD transport/U-Clock it replaces in terms on bass definition and dynamics. The soundstage is still relatively flat and ambient cues/reverberant decay are mainly amplitude based (2D) rather than spatial (3D) if that makes any sense. Currently the emphasis is more on the fundamental of the notes rather than the harmonics but I can readily hear the inherent musicality it possesses.
 
mxk116 said:
My Esoteric K-01XD arrived this past Tuesday and first impressions are excellent. Only have ~30 hours on it but it is already the equal of the dCS Puccini DAC/SACD-CD transport/U-Clock it replaces in terms on bass definition and dynamics. The soundstage is still relatively flat and ambient cues/reverberant decay are mainly amplitude based (2D) rather than spatial (3D) if that makes any sense. Currently the emphasis is more on the fundamental of the notes rather than the harmonics but I can readily hear the inherent musicality it possesses.
Click to expand...

Have you played with any of the filters? Try 8fs. I find the new master discrete products to be the MOST 3D. Give it time to break in and try some filters.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Mike said:
Have you played with any of the filters? Try 8fs. I find the new master discrete products to be the MOST 3D. Give it time to break in and try some filters.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...
Yes, I have experimented a bit and I’m bouncing between 4fs and 8fs with M1 as the filter of choice at the moment (F2 for DSD).
 
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