Esoteric Grandioso P1/D1


Hello, wanted to start a thread on the new flagship Esoteric Grandioso P1 D1 digital system. Haven't seen any out there and also there is not much information on the web either. Just a couple of reviews and that is about it.

Idea is to share experiences and knowledge on this digital playback system from owners, people that has listened to it, with first hand experience for whatever reason, or just for those who may be interested to ask questions as potential future owners...

If you are reading this, you probably know the system is composed of 4 pieces: A transport, the power unit of transport, and 2 mono DACs for each channel.

Additionally, you can use (and I do recommend it to a great extend) the clock G01, so overall a 5 pieces system.

This digital replaces the old 01 which has been in the market for a long time and brings new interesting features it will be nice to discuss in depth.

Some are quite new or at least not seen before in high end audio like the use of a proprietary transfer protocol (ES-LINK 4) using HDMI cables.

it allows direct DSD and 352.8kHz/48bit PCM ultrawideband digital transmission using an HDMI cable for each DAC.

http://www.esoteric.jp/products/esoteric/p1d1/indexe.html

But most importantly, to discuss it's music reproduction qualities and different configurations and experinces.

Despite being out there for a while already, I can't understand why there hasn't been much said about them. I guess Esoteric should expend a bit in adds to get the atention of the pro audio publications... :-)

Anyway, I have these for less then a month, and despite having very little hours on them, they are quite something. However they are still evolving so will wait on my side a while still to talk in detail about the sound.

Hope this thread is of use and helps owners, potential ones, and others gather and share lots of information.

Thanks
Eli
eelii08
Sorry,...meant Firewire-based iLink, not HDMI. Apologies for the brain spasm.....
01s at 400 or so hours and still improving. Nice change from 300 to 400 hours. It keeps surprising me how good these things really are. Nothing to do with any digital I've heard before. Pure magic and flow, detail, PRAT... Incredible.
Hey Guys, Trying out for rent clock set-up, so far like the results. The G-01 is very flexible with outputs, and I am auditioning the 10Mhz outputs. It brings everything into sharp focus, and really puts performers in the room. I will keep you posted!
Tom
Where is everyone, Summertime is not so good for blogging forums I guess. Will a couple of significant differences in the presentation after 4 months. I know I am repeating myself, but the Redbook performance of this rig is substantially better than anything else I have heard. I was listening to a 30 year old Copy of Rhyming Simon. This disk has always sounded anemic and soft, Paul Simon very forward, everything else just there. This rig brings it to life as good as I think it could possibly be. Usually the albums of these old CDs blow away the CD, in this case everything snaps into place, and without the problems associated with a thirty-five year old album. Of course I could buy new vinyl, but that is what the P1/D1 does so good. And think I saved $30.00 ! Pretty cool, hah! Just think, with every CD this rig resurrects I save $30.00, in 20000 playbacks the rig will have paid for itself!
Good Morning! We are busy trying to split time between work, a couple of vacation days and listening! Summer is tough,....give me a call sometime so we can catch up. Glad to hear you are enjoying that nirvana setup of yours :-) !!!!

For the clocking,....have you gone beyond the 10Mhz output yet?