Esoteric K03XD

The DAC in the new XD Line is what makes all the difference in the world over the older players that used Chips.

If he is a good friend, he will let you send it back if you don't care for it.  Won't he?  

Chayro,
Yes I will have the option of shipping back the player if I don't want to keep it.  I am just trying to get some feedback from owners or others who has heard the K03XD.   Shipping back is always a option but also a pain in the butt.

That’s very nice of him. And I agree shipping is expensive and also very risky. I don’t know - I have something against Esoteric since I had my X-05, which I absolutely hated. Nobody ever says anything bad about Esoteric until the next generation comes out and you start hearing how the last ones sounded "dry" and "sterile", but these new ones are the cat’s ass. Just seems to go that way with that brand. But that's strictly my personal prejudice.  

I have an Esoteric K-01XD SACD player. It is fantastic - the best front end source to my system which includes a Luxman CL1000 preamp, ARC 250SE tube amps, and Wilson DAW speakers. Better than a DCS Vivaldi and the MSB high end systems (I have owned these). Although many do not like MQA, it will unwrap those, and does a wonderful job with DSD, SACD, PCM, PWM-adjustable filters. It is also FPGA, and upgradable. The sound is very tube-like, which may be good or bad, depending on your point-of-view.