Esoteric Grandioso P1/D1

02 is indeed very good. No wonder you are very happy with them. I have been happy a number of years with them, and had not heard better digital until the 01s.

01s are, as rare as it may sound if you are used to the 02s, a good step beyond. I started a project to build a new system a few years back: room acoustics, speakers, amps, preamp, cables and so on. Besides speakers, these have provided the best improvement in sound well above any other addition. And I was coming from the 02s, which is, as you know fantastic in itself. Highly recommend to try to listen to it in a familiar set up.

Thanks Eelii08,...when will you be updating your virtual system with new component and cables lists and picture? Would love to see your setup....I remember your comparative demos of all the various levels some time ago; it would be great to see the finished product of all that listening!

Will try to do in the near future. Pictures are not my most beloved hobby, and updating all the list in the system is a bit of a pain (not really a bit...)

Latest pictures I have are of a couple of months ago with the system as it is right now but with the 02s still on.

Is there a way to send a private message here? I could send you in private.

A nice review of the units a friend pointed out to me. One of the only 2 I am aware of.

http://www.soundmania.hu/files/tests/0/0/1/5/1/Esoteric%20Grandioso%20P01-D01%20-%20Hifi%20and%20records%20ENG%204-2014.pdf

As the hours accumulate on the combo the level of realism is startling. This week I visited a friend with the same Ypsilon amps and preamp as I am using. He is driving Rockport Altairs with Tara Evolution cabling and Ypsilon DAC and Transport. We listened to all kinds of music for about 6 hours total. The reproduction of drums on his system is as good as it gets, which I have always thought to be one of the hardest instruments to blend Ina group, espiecally sounding real. Robs system is unbelievably convincing and equally fun to listen too. No drop off in resolution at the expense of detail. It's one of those systems that I could listen too all day and want to do it again tomorrow, no fatigue from listening. Usually the drums can take a toll on me, to get them to intigrate well they typically need decent volume, and then can't be too loud without wearing me out. I think the key is the level of realism. If the drums are not real sounding they just wear me out, couple of hours and blaah!
I came home and listened to tunes and noticed how good the P1/D1 reproduce drums... At any level, but espiecally loud. These Esoterics with drums are startlingly real. The level of resolution with instruments and sounds are as good as I have ever heard. I am using Salon II's for speakers with low hours, no uber priced super speakers, and it is amazing how good the whole system sounds. And again, I believe without the resolution, espiecally with digital it is difficult to listen long! ...And all this is with Redbook CD! This source is so good, as good as I have heard. I can only image, as they settle in with more break in time, it will improve even more, it makes me laugh!
I was listening to Eagles /!Hell Freezes Over which is live! Between tracks the live crowd cheers and claps. I can't help but too clap and cheer with them... And thankfully I don't have to clean up after them!