New Esoteric P02 D02

To Csmsart :

I compared all the Esoteric transports with the exception of the new p1.
There is a big leap from p05 to p03. You can find very good prices for a second hand or demo. There is another big leap from p03 to p01 vuk (I liked upgraded vuk version better). P02 has a different sonic signature with less mid bass thickness or warmth, but with more openness and bigger sound stage. I personally liked the p01vuk and p03. Older transports are more susceptible to right "footing" or isolation. For the price performance ratio I strongly recommend a demo or less used P03. You wont be disappointed. Happy New Year.

Hi Pharma, have you tried X-01 as transport? Could you comment on audible differnces between X-01 as transport and P-03?

Guido

To Guido:

Yes, I did with the regular p01 and p03 side by side. It sounds more smilar to p01 than p03. P03 or P01 sound more refined, smooth and musical than x-01 as a transport. The highs are silkier on p03 and p01 versus X-01. There is more clarity, bass extension (especially with p01)and the sound stage is bigger. There is more of a natural free flowing character that is usually attributed to analog with p03 and p01 versus X-01. I recommend either of them and either of them sounds better than x-01, but for you p01 vuk would be a better choice in my opinion due to similar sound signature they have. I compared most of the transports with D03 dac. So, since you have a different dac and system I recommend to compare it in your system.

I rank Esoteric transports like this :

1-p01 vuk and p02
2-p03
3-p05
4-x-01

Dacs when playing pcm/cd:

1-d02 and d01 vuk
2-K01 as dac
3-d03
4-d05

Dacs when playing DSD/SACD

1-D-03 and D-02 (my favorite is D03 with SACDs)
2-D-01 (it down converts sacds to 88k or 176k pcm)
3-D-05

This is just my personal opinion and taste your observations may be different.

To Guido:

I didnt compare directly p05 transport with x-01 as a transport, but I rather compared p05/d05 with x-01. So, x-01 being ranked as 4th may not be accurate, but it is definitely ranked below p01,p02 and p03.