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Esoteric K-01X or K-03X??

I just sold my 6 years old Esoteric X-03SE CD player and 2 years old G-03X Master Clock today. So it’s time for me to decide which is my next CDP: Esoteric K-01X or K-03X?

 I have a friend who bought a K-01X four months ago, he listen to it about 2 months but not happy with the sound (He said not musical and lack of emotion…), then he put it into the box and continue enjoy his Vinyl. Because of our close relationship and this guy is rich, I can get his K-01X around USD 9400 only. If I buy a brand new K-03X, I pay around USD 7500. I know this is a very good deal, and I know many of you will say just go to get this K-01X. Yes, I saw hundred of posts about the good thing of K-01X, but I never have chance to compare it side by side with K-03X. Does K-01X really sound much better than K-03X? 

I’m thinking if we can use quantization to measure these CDP, if you give K-01X 100 scores, then score you give K-03X? 95? 90? 85? ....

So what about compare to K-03X and the my old X-03SE? If you give K-03X 100 scores, then what score you give X-03SE?

I’m thinking maybe I can save some money to buy other things like a 4K color new TV if I choose K-=03X. BTW, I’m not interested in CAS, so DSD has no meaning to me. I just use my CDP to pay my normal Red Book audio CD and SACD. Thanks a lot and have a nice weekend!




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mmbl622
jl35
3,982 posts
 
I cannot compare the two, but Esoteric players have a reputation for needing way more than 200 hours to sound good...
dgarretson
2,598 posts
 

The selectable upsampling and filtering options apply to both RBCD and SACD from the transport.  My opinion of these options has evolved through the break-in process. After extended break-in is I gravitate toward RBCD upsampled to unfiltered DSD and SACD unfiltered.  However the 10Mhz Rubidium clock makes more of a difference than the upsampling and filtering options.

BTW, the K-01X is sensitive to PCs and platforms.  Hopefully your friend played around with the ancillaries before forming critical judgment.  I'm using a Starsound Sistrum Rhythm rack and a DIY shielded PC with 10awg silver conductors.

A well broken-in K-01X is big, bold, and emotionally involving.

68pete
1,001 posts
 
Hi mmb1622
The up sampling rates and filters do apply to cd play back as well as sacd play back. You want to make sure its a KO1x and not a KO1 they are different. Same with a KO3x and a KO3. the "X" is a upgrade in chip and build. I am pretty sure the older KO1 can get a "X" up grade, but it is not the same as a original factory KO1x same with the older KO3. Best to check with Esoteric.
Enjoy Pete

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

R2R multibit is the magic, for "bit perfect" Redbook replay, as Delta Sigma (bitstream) is just a facsimile (approximation) of PCM conversion process.

You just have to take a look what the latest high end flagship dac’s like MSB, Trinity, AMR, Schitt, and many others are going back to R2R ladder now to get Redbook right.

But the OP wants to be able to do SACD as well, so he’s stuck using Delta Sigma conversion, even though it’s a step down from R2R for Redbook conversion.

Cheers George

mmbl622 OP
58 posts
 

Thanks! Seem like the up-sampling rates and filters are very interesting thing to try. May I know is that mean different up sampling rates and filters produce different sound character? For example:

 

Up Sample-1 = Very clear, very high analytical and transparency sound

Up Sample-2 = Rich, more thicker and transparency sound

Up Sample-3 = Between sample 1 & 2

Am I correct?


About the Stanford Research PERF-10 : 10 MHz rubidium audio clock. As I know many 10M rubidium Clock/ Oscillator need to work with an external master clock like Esoteric G-03X, G-02 or G-02. But according to dgarretson, it seem like Stanford Research PERF-10 can WORK with K-03X/ 01X directly and without necessary an external master clock, am I correct?

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