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Esoteric k-03 sacd players

I am thinking of buying a used Esoteric k-03 player...I see a few posts on here complaining about noisy transports on some of these players....how much of a problem is this? Also, would I be likely to be able to get Esoteric to fix this kind of a problem if the unit was bought used? Obviously the warranty would not apply in that case but I have heard of some manufacturers refusing to touch their eqpt if not from the orig. owner.
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phillyb's avatar
phillyb
401 posts
 
I own one and I am quite happy with it. Little noise from transport at start up but after that zip. The spin noise I've heard from many top drawer CD players, due to the over kill transport and its design you may hear a bit more but once the CD plays and as the tracks advance you hear zip.

In the end you buy this quality of player for its sound. In any format the sound reproduced is superb.
maxboy00's avatar
maxboy00
277 posts
 
I have the K-07 not exactly the same level as the K-03 but I can attest to the noise of the transport opening, its like a dump truck going across railroad tracks, with that said once the CD loads it's dead quite. The player is simply fantastic elsewise.

If you ship the player to Esoteric for a nominal fee they will recertify and issue a warranty, don't know how long that period is, but check with Esoteric.
phillyb's avatar
phillyb
401 posts
 
Only sound I hear is the disc starting up to spin. My drawer is smooth as butter. If it sounds like a truck going across a railroad track something happened in shipping. I've owned 2 Esoterics and never heard them sound like that opening. The more I listen to the K-03 the more I apprecate how good it reproduces music regardless of format it superb as the mastering of the disc allow, just like vinyl garbage in and garbage out.
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
I am thinking of buying a used Esoteric k-03 player....

Normally they should run quiet :-)

Anyway, even when you get a noisy one you can send it to Esoteric to repair because they offer from Sept. 14 the "X" upgrade for K-01 and K-03. The Player has to be sent to them for implementation. Cost for the upgrade is about 1000 USD excl. shipping. It is an upgrade Board to enable DSD Streams.
The new versions will be called K-01X / K-03X
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