K-03xd vs K-01x
- Thread starter adol290
- Start date
Yes. The Master Discrete DAC in the K-03XD clobbers the old X. XD is so much more natural, bigger sounding and 3D.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
GSOphile
Active member
Similar experience here going from a K-03X to a K-01XD.
Totally agreed. It even beats the older K1 IMO. The new Esoteric Master Discrete is the real deal.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
- Thread Author
- #7
I have owned the K-03XD for a year now, and i have the itch to upgrade to the K-01XD.
My dealer has offered to take my k-03xd in on trade, along with an extra 9K usd/plus taxes.
Don't have the chance to hear the K-01xd, so would like to know if anyone has head both and could give a good comparison.
One other thing i did notice that my K-03xd does not sound as good with my c-03x pre as my old K-01x did. The sound stage is a bit smaller and less clear. Voices sound a bit back. Almost a bit muddied. To test this i brought my C-03x over
to a friends and it did the same thing, to their system. I didn't notice this with the K-01x. Soundstage was huge and incredibly detailed but it had a sibilance to it, that i tried to tame. So i decided to borrow a Bryston Br-20 preamp from my dealer.
The soundstage opened up, the voices were more forward, and it was less muddied. It lacked the smoothness and micro detail that the c-03x gave. So i am also wondering if there is a better preamp choice for the k-03/01xd players.
On the esoteric side the only other option in the grandioso C1, which is way beyond what i could spend. All other esoteric preamps have been discontinued. No real options to test drive any preamps where i live.
My dealer has offered to take my k-03xd in on trade, along with an extra 9K usd/plus taxes.
Don't have the chance to hear the K-01xd, so would like to know if anyone has head both and could give a good comparison.
One other thing i did notice that my K-03xd does not sound as good with my c-03x pre as my old K-01x did. The sound stage is a bit smaller and less clear. Voices sound a bit back. Almost a bit muddied. To test this i brought my C-03x over
to a friends and it did the same thing, to their system. I didn't notice this with the K-01x. Soundstage was huge and incredibly detailed but it had a sibilance to it, that i tried to tame. So i decided to borrow a Bryston Br-20 preamp from my dealer.
The soundstage opened up, the voices were more forward, and it was less muddied. It lacked the smoothness and micro detail that the c-03x gave. So i am also wondering if there is a better preamp choice for the k-03/01xd players.
On the esoteric side the only other option in the grandioso C1, which is way beyond what i could spend. All other esoteric preamps have been discontinued. No real options to test drive any preamps where i live.
Oh yeah baby, I'm salivating more and more each day, counting down the days.