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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
no1willfan OP
31 posts
 
Thanks for the excellent info, Elberoth. At this point I'm definitely leaning towards Accuphase, though the 901 combo is a bit more expensive than what I was looking for. The 801 may hit the sweet spot with regards to price and the sound I'm looking for.
dctom
111 posts
 
You should have a listen to the Playback MPS-5. It is a very musical disc player and has an excellent external connection to it's DAC
decibell
69 posts
 
I'm a bit late but found your discussion about the K-01 and hope you didn't sell it after all? I had exactly the same problem with mine and was frustrated that the player did not musically satisfy even though it had amazing and holographic resolution. Fast forward appr 1000 hrs and I can tell you that I will not look for any other player! My unit took much more than 500 hrs to break in to combine highest resolution with breathtaking musicality. I listen to vinyl a lot, but since the K-01 is broken in I find myself listening more and more to CDs again.
A big step up for me came with an active vibraplane platform for the K-01 and very good silver interconnects. I use slow delay 2 and 4x upsampling setting. It is an amazing player - you just need to give him enough time to break in, a quiet base, first class interconnects and electronics of the highest caliber and the K-01 will amaze even vinyl freaks like me ...
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
It is always the same story since 1980....when it sounds horrible from scratch, but the price was so high that one can't afford to kick it out (because he got a "good" deal on it or whatever) give it min the "recommendation" follows to give 500 or 2000h break in and after that it is heaven. I think, after 500h the break in was done in owners brain ...
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
"Fast forward appr 1000 hrs and I can tell you that I will not look for any other player! " ... "It is an amazing player - you just need to give him enough time to break in"

I'll drink to that DecibelK-01 takes a long time to mature and bloom into glory.

G.
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