Unsatisfied with Esoteric K-01: Alternatives?

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

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).

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.

@Azjake: The Accuphase gear does look very interesting, but super-expensive as well, especially for the two-box combo. I'll make it a priority to try it out, though.

@Guidocorona: I do have the K-01 in balanced mode. I'm not a fan of the DSD filter on CDs, though it does seem to sound different than the DSD filter on SACDs. The only thing I dislike about its performance on SACDs is a dry, recessed midrange that over-emphasizes the treble and bass. I'm a mids freak so this is a major con for me. Luckily, my SACD collection is small compared to my CD/FLAC collection. As for the Esoteric clock, I did audition and honestly couldn't tell any difference at all. I can't imagine why a clock would be at all useful for a single-box player. As for cabling, I use Virtual Dynamics, which are copper cables with a house sound that's very rich and full, so the lack of warmth/richness I'm hearing in the K-01 certainly isn't a cabling problem. I don't have any conditioning, but have my system running directly to two dedicated lines. I usually listen late at night so I've never thought power conditioning would help much on my system.

@Dob: For Vibration control I have a Monaco Modular Rack. Getting a wood-based stand might help, but I can't imagine it helping to the degree I'm talking about. As for a server, I had a custom PC built to the specifications that Goodwin's audio recommended (basically the PC is isolated and dead-quiet, built specifically as use as a server, accessing my music from an off-network Synology NAS).

@Autosports:

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.

I think the only thing that's "wrong" is that it isn't as full bodied, warm, and musical compared to my old Reimyo. I haven't changed any of my equipment since I went from the Reimyo to the K-01, so it would be awfully strange if my other equipment was the problem as opposed to the K-01.