So Does All The Hype On That Other Site Add Up - Esoteric K03

radioactive

radioactive

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Title says it all. Everyone was herded like cattle towards a group buy for Esoteric K03's and were buying. I'm just curious what the real, unfiltered, opinions are about the K03 here.

Personally, I went and listened and here's my take:

I found it bright -- just like Wireworld Silver cables. Perhaps both are a great match for McIntosh gear, but I found it not a good match for what I heard it on (Magico Q5 on VTL). Everything is about harmony and I preferred a different source than the K03. It could have been a lot of things and I have no doubt that it can sound very good on specific rigs. Curious to hear everyone's thoughts -- and preferences for digital sources.

Bryan
 
I've never heard Esoteric in my system but when I have heard them in other systems, I thought the same. A little bright for me and a little fatiguing. I do not remember the model number of the Esoteric player.
 
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I was never a fan of Esoteric product, but if I was going down that road it would be DCS all the way..
 
Interesting question.

I was quite surprised by some of the member's comments from that other site.
And using an averaging measure, and some very nice words used to describe the sound by some of them members over there, some people even suggested to me to purchase one of them Esoteric K-03 CD/SACD players for ten grands or so!

I did not disagree with them comments; how could I when I've never heard it personally in my own setup? ...So I kind of felt under the spell, but without committing my money on it.
{Did it sounded like a sale pitch to few of you, by some of them?}

I usually trust more the owner's reviews than many pro reviews out there; unless I'm familiar with them pro audio reviewers, and know for sure that they aren't bias in any way. ...Not many of those around, I'll tell ya.

Anyhow, personally $8,000 to $12,000 for a two-channel stereo only CD/SACD player is not in my doctor's prescription, or voodoo child card reader. ...It would have to be way up there in the audio sound quality heaven, and much much better than say an Oppo BDP-105 Universal and Multichannel Blu-ray player, for $1,199, and with all the extra goodies attached to it.
And that is without mentioning the ModWright 105 (approx. $2,500-3,000). ...Tubed, or Solid.

I got no bias myself, in anything about life and what's in it or not.
I like what I like, and have my own experiences about this and that.
But I got nothing to sell other than my freedom (it's free)! :D

* Conclusion: I believe in the happiness of people who claimed it. :)
And that, I encourage 100%. ...Not the toys, but the music listening joy that it contributes to its own rightfully owner. If that is what rocks their boats, many other things rock mine as well, and it certainly doesn't have to be the same thing as their thing.
...And for the 'sample' reason that no two people are the same. :)

For some, ten grands for a CD player is like a flower in the park. ...Easy to grab.
For others it is unimaginable; their wife would kill them right away by hanging them to the biggest tree in their own backyard!
And for others, never they would even consider; anything less than $20,000 is not to the caliber of their dignity and role model in the society. :D

At the end it all depends; of your own set of ears, and bank account. ...Plus the right wife! :D ...Or even better; single, and with tons of girlfriends (abso!ute freedom, independence, and state of all happy affairs; or the fifth sense, the touch).

Soooo, who here, in our lovely forum, has an Esoteric K-03 stereo CD/SACD player, and with some CDs, and few SACDs to play in it? ...Albums need not to apply (that's for another analog thread all together). ;)
 
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A/V Solutions said:
Nothing adds up on that other site!
Click to expand...

I was just going to say the exact same thing, honest! ...The only decent thing are a bunch of really nice people; but now sailing from a much better wind (here). :)
...All the rest of the good gang should be here with us. I'll give it a year or so before they're all here; then the cruise ship will hit rock bottom quite hard.
 
Bob is absolutely correct. What matters most is the sincerity of new Esoteric owners' happiness. Whether they were steered that way by a deliberately planted review by a certain master's puppet boy is, at the end of the day, immaterial.

FWIW, I agree with Bryan in that I have found the sound signature of Esoteric to be a bit bright after the initial "wow" from its impressive detail had passed.
 
I have the K-03 well not anymore I sold it today to finance something else. I can say there is nothing bright or analytical about it. I describe the sound as very natural with nice detail and air all around. And yes when they get to 500 hours they sound the best. Use a good power cable and a good interconnect and you will be rewarded. This is hand s down one of the best CD players out there only better by the K-01.
Angel
 
you got to be kidding me, you are wondering how good is the K-03 and i deliver, I buy with my ears and yes I have to like what I see. I could care less if 30 or 40 bought the K-03 because of a group buy. To me is all about the music
 
iamhifi said:
you got to be kidding me, you are wondering how good is the K-03 and i deliver, I buy with my ears and yes I have to like what I see. I could care less if 30 or 40 bought the K-03 because of a group buy. To me is all about the music
Click to expand...

Angel...I believe Bob was saying that you are confirming what he thought to be true, which is that onwers of the K-03 (whom he trusts over pro and "non-pro" :D reviewers) seem to think very highly of the K-03, and your post was another confirming data point. Do you mind my asking what you plan on replacing it with? Are you going up the line to the K-01 or different source altogether? Just curiious. And glad you sold the K-03 and know you have been trying to do so for a little while now, so congrats on that
 
cmalak said:
Angel...I believe Bob was saying that you are confirming what he thought to be true, which is that onwers of the K-03 (whom he trusts over pro and "non-pro" :D reviewers) seem to think very highly of the K-03, and your post was another confirming data point. Do you mind my asking what you plan on replacing it with? Are you going up the line to the K-01 or different source altogether? Just curious. And glad you sold the K-03 and know you have been trying to do so for a little while now, so congrats on that
Click to expand...

+1
 
cmalak said:
Angel...I believe Bob was saying that you are confirming what he thought to be true, which is that onwers of the K-03 (whom he trusts over pro and "non-pro" :D reviewers) seem to think very highly of the K-03, and your post was another confirming data point. Do you mind my asking what you plan on replacing it with? Are you going up the line to the K-01 or different source altogether? Just curiious. And glad you sold the K-03 and know you have been trying to do so for a little while now, so congrats on that
Click to expand...

I read it the thread and yes Bod is right to think like he does and his points are right on target. And yes I was validating the point on how good the K-03 is. However I answer to "And now following us right here. ...By the good people."

I sold the K-03 today, and thought about getting the K-01, but I think I'm going for a full analog rig. You never know I might end up getting the K-01 sometime next year.
 
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iamhifi said:
I read it the thread and yes Bod is right to think like he does and his points are right on target. And yes I was validating the point on how good the K-03 is. However I answer to "And now following us right here. ...By the good people."

I sold the K-03 today, and thought about getting the K-01, but I think I'm going for a full analog rig. You never know I might end up getting the K-01 sometime next year.
Click to expand...

I don't think he meant it the way you took it. You are of course always welcome here and we look forward to your contributions/opinions/input and certainly when you pull the trigger on the analog rig, post a lot of pics :D We love analog porn
 
iamhifi said:
I read it the thread and yes Bod is right to think like he does and his points are right on target. And yes I was validating the point on how good the K-03 is. However I answer to "And now following us right here. ...By the good people."

I sold the K-03 today, and thought about getting the K-01, but I think I'm going for a full analog rig. You never know I might end up getting the K-01 sometime next year.
Click to expand...

Takes a big man :D
 
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