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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
mmbl622 OP
58 posts
 

Because my friend’s K-01X don’t have any warranty service, but a brand new K-03X is include one year free warranty service.  And I can get t at around USD 7080 after negotiate, so finally I order K-03X and I will receive it this Thursday.

After I order my new CDP, I saw a pair of beautiful, excellent condition’s used walnut burl Avalon Opus Ceramique speaker in a 2nd hand audio shop. I always dreaming to own a pair of maple burl or walnut burl Indra for long time, but I cannot afford Indra. I’m also thinking to upgrade my Ascendant II if I can get a good condition Opus. So this is my destiny to meet this pair of speaker. Immediately I test it, I love the sound and then I use my Ascendant II, add some money to trade in this pair of Opus. A new CDP and a pair of speaker is a big investment for me, I got to be careful when using money in the near future….

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68pete
1,007 posts
 
Hi  mmb1622
If your Esoteric K-o3x is brand new from a dealer, if you register with Esoteric they give you 2 more years of warranty for a total of 3 years. Its a very nice unit, just remember that break in is long.
enjoy Pete 


mmbl622 OP
58 posts
 
Hi 68pete

Unfortunately, only one year warranty service in my region provided by the dealer. And this is one of the reason why the price is cheaper than normal market price.


mmbl622 OP
58 posts
 
I'm using my K-03X about one week, it sound very nice, and I agreed it sound better than my perviou X-03SE, better texture, better 3D dimension, wider soundstage, more smooth like silk. I hope I have enough money to buy K-01X.

The only disappointed for me is I try 8 different up-conversation, PCM and DSDF setting for my CD playback, but seem like the difference is very small with original setting. Does someone has similar experience 
zephyr24069's avatar
zephyr24069
1,245 posts
 
What filter setting are you using?  Did you try 176.4 upconversion with SDLY2 or SDLY1 filter?
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