Upgrade Esoteric K03XD to K01XD?

Thanks for your suggestions.

I can see the thinking behind the idea of repIacing the current streamer and cd player with the N01XD but I have a fair few cds and I'm not quite ready to abandon the possibility of playing discs altogether. 

I'm not sure how transparent my current system is.  It's certainly the best system I've ever had.  At the moment I've got a Bryston 4B3 amp and a BP26 pre, PMC fact 12 speakers supplemented by 2 Velodyne DD10s.  I'm considering replacing the amps with a Gryphon Diabolo.  Once the 333 is out and about it would be worth listening to.

I will peruse the Audioshark forum, thanks for that. 

I hope my local dealer here in the UK will be able to get hold of a K01XD to try it out at home.  I thought it would be a good idea before doing so to draw on the knowledge in this forum.

I like the N03T streamer very much; I see both Esoteric devices more or less as one machine.  It is a huge improvement over just plugging the Roon NUC into the K03XD.

I hope my local dealer here in the UK will be able to get hold of a K01XD to try it out at home. 

That would of course be the best path forward 

I can see the thinking behind the idea of repIacing the current streamer and cd player with the N01XD but I have a fair few cds and I'm not quite ready to abandon the possibility of playing discs altogether

Or you can get a simple CD transport for that purpose, hooked up to the N-01XD via AES/EBU or S/PDIF. 

Or you can get a simple CD transport for that purpose, hooked up to the N-01XD via AES/EBU or S/PDIF. 

I second that thought emphatically.

Good transports are still available, including esoteric's own under the TEAC brand name. Just get a used TEAC -- or a pro-ject if you insist on new! Regards 

Interesting ideas, thanks. 

Do you know if the DAC inside the N01XD is the same as the one in the K01XD?

My local hi-fi dealer stocks CEC transports which might be worth looking at.  I find the idea of a belt-drive CD transport intriguing.

I think the DACs are very similar if not the same.  The K-01XD would have connections to the disc drive, but I don't think that would affect the sound.  Esoteric has diagrams on their website that you could check for differences.

Do you have many SACDs?