Looking for Esoteric advise/info

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Mr Peabody

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I don't see Esoteric just offering a DAC without some other features, ie. streaming, preamp. First of all is this correct?

If the above is correct which would have the better sounding DAC between the N01 and K03. I could buy a N01 and ignore the network features or a K03 where I could actually use the benefit of the transport, especially for the hand full of SACD's I have.

Or keep looking.
 
I said N01 but that looks to be a wrong model#, the network DAC I heard about was about $11k. I should have done my research before posting.
 
That would be the N05-XD. N-01 is long discontinued, and it's replacement N-01XD is about $24K.

N-01 has a better DAC in it that K03.
 
Mr Peabody said:
I don't see Esoteric just offering a DAC without some other features, ie. streaming, preamp. First of all is this correct?

If the above is correct which would have the better sounding DAC between the N01 and K03. I could buy a N01 and ignore the network features or a K03 where I could actually use the benefit of the transport, especially for the hand full of SACD's I have.

Or keep looking.
Click to expand...

There is a standalone DAC, at a different price point.

When you say K-03, from oldest to newest, there are: K-03, K-03X, K-03Xs, K-03XD.

If you're buying a new unit, you don't want to get an old model. If you're buying a used unit, be careful which generation you're getting. Avoid the oldest K-03 without X - which is not compatible with Esoteric N-03T or Lumin streaming products. There is a significant probability its USB won't be fully compatible with your Aurender.

If you're using it as a transport (digital output to an external DAC), beware that this normally don't work on SACD discs natively (unless there is a matching DAC from the same brand with the correct type of proprietary SACD-supported link).

For Esoteric streamers, check out N-01XD and N-05XD. N-01 was old.
 
In today's streaming ecosystem, from both performance and convenience standpoints, disc transports are becoming redundant. N-05XD would be my choice. Don't underestimate how good 320 kbps can sound with the right hardware.
 
Transports and players are only redundant for people who choose to solely inhabit the streaming ecosystem.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
 
I have all my CD's ripped to my Aurender. So I really don't need the network or tray transport. I have a transport if needed but it don't play SACD, which I have a hand full of. What I really need is a straight forward DAC.
brodricj said:
In today's streaming ecosystem, from both performance and convenience standpoints, disc transports are becoming redundant. N-05XD would be my choice. Don't underestimate how good 320 kbps can sound with the right hardware.
Click to expand...
 
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