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Unsatisfied with Esoteric K-01: Alternatives?

I lived many blissful years with my Reimyo CDP-777, but finally decided it was time to start the transition to PC audio. I opted for the Esoteric K01 in order to have the maximum playback flexibility with CD, SACD, and asynchronous USB DAC. Fast-forward about 6 months and I find myself really missing the warmth, tonal richness, and musicality of the Reimyo when listening to to the rather cold, dry, and neutral K01. It is not a bad player by any means, but I've just come to realize that I'm a musicality guy as opposed to an analytical guy.

Now I'm in a bit of a quandary in regards to how to maintain that flexibility with something more to my taste. Are there any CD/SACD/asynch USB players (or combos) that lean more to the Reimyo's sense of musicality? Harmonix's current line still doesn't do USB input, or decode any thing but PCM up to 44.1. I'm starting to to think my only option is to buy the Harmonix for CD playback and then have a completely separate system for SACD/PC audio playback, but I would love to avoid that if at all possible. Any suggestions are welcome.
no1willfan
azjake's avatar
azjake
285 posts
 
Check out Accuphase.
lloydelee21
1,202 posts
 
good call on Accuphase.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Hi No1willfan, I operated K-01 in a balanced configuration. Did you operate K-01 in balanced or single ended mode? It might make a difference. I would like to have also your observations about K-01 with the DSD engine.... Oddly enough, that was my least favorite: I found it to be a little over the top.... yes very transparent, lots of detail, but also with the slighted burr in the treble, and with a tendency to overemphatic transients.... It prevented me from immersing myself into the musical message, while I could spend hours vanishing into the music with SDly-2 and 4X upsampling.

I had the opportunity of listening to K-01 controlled by an Esoteric G-0S clock at RMAF for several hours, and I found the sound enhanced much further, and even more musically satisfying... But I never had G-0S in my own system.

One thing I found with Esoteric players (K-01 and X-01), is that they are very sensitive to cabling, power cords, and conditioning. I had the most musically satisfying results with Shunyata ICs and PCs, as well as with the Shunyata Triton conditioner or the IsoTec Sigmas conditioners... But this could just be in the nature of digital front ends, rather than a characteristics specific to Esoteric alone.

Saluti, Guido
dob
577 posts
 
I have K-01 and agree qith Guido - with great patience one can achieve great and highly musical sound.

It includes and power cord and vibration control and if using DAC what server you use (I use Musica Pristina Virtuoso) etc etc.

I luuuuuv the sound I have...(I also use highly seductive Joule-Electra LA-300ME preamp).
autosports
43 posts
 
I just traded up from the K-01 from the K-03. I have owned many other players and DACs too. If you are talking musical versus analytical, both two players are among the most full bodied, warm, musical machines out there. There is something very wrong going on if that is not coming through.

BTW, I am using Synergistic Research cabling and power conditioning products. They are truly excellent. I am not sure what you are using, but that may be a good place to start experimenting.
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