Esoteric P03 - D03

Read this thread with interest. I upgraded from the X-01 Limited to P-03/D-03, added the G-ORB clock more than a year later. I've never heard the D-2 version of the X-01, so don't know how much better the D-2 is than the Limited, although the upgrade to Limited was pretty significant. The P-03/D-03 was a dramatic improvement over the Limited, especially in SACD, in precisely the ways you have all noted. But the real point I wanted to make is by themselves the P-03/D-03 did red book best, at least to my ears, with DSD conversion. But the minute I added the G-ORB clock, there seemed something a bit over-inflated about the DSD conversion, which I had never heard before. When I switched to 176.4 there seemed to be something cleaner and more natural about all red book playback. Whether this means the clock so improved 176.4 upconversion that it outperformed the DSD, or uncovered some negative artifact in DSD conversion, I don't know. But just as taking out the clock after listening for a week demonstrates how important the clock is by its absence, switching back to DSD conversion after a week of listening at 176.4 (with the clock) made it clear to me that I didn't want to go back. Anyway, that's what my ears tell me; certainly you have to listen to yours. (P.S. For purposes of completeness of information, I use Stealth Varidig Sextet digital cables between the P-03 and D-03.)

Thanks for feedback Mgottlieb,

That is more close to what I've read in other places, when comparing X01 to the Combo.

Regarding Limited vs D2, I don't think there is a difference in Red Book reproduction (not at least big), since it is basically the same set up and digital conversion scheme. What the D2 added is native DSD reproduction with a new set of capable DACs on top of the PCM capable ones. I would imagine the D2 is an improvement vs limited in SACD, but not that much when it comes to Red Book.

If you say that P03-D03 was a dramatic improvement vs Limited, it should be the same vs D2.

However the step forward regarding SACD, on paper should not be as great when compared to the Limited for the reasons above. Still although P03-D03 shares the same chips for native SACD DSD conversion than the D2, the combo implements a quad diff scheme per channel, while the D2 has only one chip per channel. This alone, plus design improvements and superior power management should yield a good advance in SACD.... All in theory according to tech specs.

The improvement over CD PCM should be basically the same from D2 to combo and from Limited to Combo..

Do you fell either with DSD without clock, or at 176,4 with the clock, the combo also was a big improvement when playing redbook?

For cables I intend to use Synergistic Research: D3 digital interconnects, and Hologr. D power cord. The power cord works great on the D2 already. I will need an extra one if I decide to go this path for the transport. The D3 never hear it, but will revert on it if I finally go for it.

Thanks
Eli

Yes, everything about the P-03/D-03 was better than anything else I've heard in either redbook or SACD, but I haven't heard either the P-01/D-01 or the Scarlatti stack.

Sacarlatti neither have I. The P01/D01, well they don't sell it in Europe; at least not in the EU. Seems they have an homologation problem with the power supply., so that is not an option. Regardless, if it was, asking price is just too much. Not really willing to pay that much for digital. I think P03/D03 + clock is already a bit over the limit. I don't think beyond this point there is really an absolute improvement, but liking one over the other is more a matter of taste. In my personal opinion and for what I've heard, once you get here, if you want a big jump you need to go into analog, with its pros but also its cons.

A little update on my digital. Last Friday dealer passed by and delivered the P03-D03 combo by "surprise". It did arrive a week or two earlier than expected...! Maybe production pipeline is not that strong these days...

He basically dropped them and left. I guess didn't really want to take the D2 out of rack, unpack, move thing around, correct placement and the like. Not in the best of shapes. I didn't mind really. I enjoy doing it and also at this point things are quite loaded back there with all the cables and stuff. I take great care on placing them in the right order and really prefer not to have anyone messing around.

Anyway, into the task I went. Unpacked. I'm already used to the Esoteric packing system, form the D2 and X03se. Still impresses me the quality and convenience. First thing I thought when i saw them: man this things are MASSIVE. I was expecting something like 2 sets of D2 (in size and termination). Not quite. These 2 units are quite more impressive to the aye. Quite something, I have to admit, and very nice looking.

Placed them in the rack and found myself the only cable I had to connect them was a single digital low end RCA from Van der Hull. SInce the unit came in early the cables I ordered to connect them had not yet arrived...

So plug them in with this unit and started playing. Of course no DSD capability. DId not really pay attention to the unit that night, since it had 0 hours in and poor connection.

Next morning I spoke to my dealer. He lend me a brand new pair of Esoteric Mexcel DA6300 balanced. They are supposed to be, according to Esoteric, THE cables to use with this units, period. He will confirm to me price on monday, but I suspect they will be EXPENSIVE. Not sure how they compare to the also expensive Synergistic Research D3 pair I already ordered. Still no cable to clock the transport to the DAC.

Today Sunday, I did my first listening session with the unit. Very preliminary findings to follow. Consider the unit only has about 40 hours of playing in, the Mexcel cables are quite new as well, and I don't have the units clocked to each other. For what I read this units need LONG 200 to 300 hours of break in.

So, that may be the case. But still I can advance this unit is much much superior to the D2 on SACD playing. It is really much more pronounced than I would have expected. If this is going to get better over time, I can't even imagine. I am surprised on the findings, really, considering short time in, not perfect connection the like. SACD playing, just got into a nee dimension, when you compare. Bass is crazily deep and detailed. Soundstage just raised and expanded all over the place (this is something remarcable). More detail, and much more definition. In two wordsrealy re SACD playing: IN CREDIBLE.

With redbook had only listened for short periods, and haven't tried DSD mode still. Can't really comment much here, but for the little listenign I've done there seems to be lees of an increase in quality in for this format. This could change when I do a more detailed listening and try different settings.

So just a little advance of my findings, D2 vs Combo, from very early stages still. More to follow if you are interested, let me know.

One question regarding cables: anyone has experience in direct comparation between the Mexcel DA6300 and the SR D3 cables? Or at least with any of them? Any feedback on either one of them

Best
Eli