Upgrade Esoteric K03XD to K01XD?

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?

Thanks for your reply.

I had a look at the Esoteric website but don't know what differences in diagrams would mean regarding sound quality.

I have very few SACDs.

If the DACs are the same in the 01XD devices, and better than in the K03XD, and as I play CDs not that often anymore, it makes sense, as thyname suggested, to buy the N01XD and add a reasonably priced transport.  The N01XD is somewhat cheaper than the K01XD and I would be able to trade in my K03XD and the N03T.

The N01XD has a clock output which I could attach to the transport, I assume.  I read this would enhance sound quality for CD playing.

The N01XD has a clock output which I could attach to the transport, I assume.  I read this would enhance sound quality for CD playing.

The clock output in N-01XD is a Word Clock (not reference 10 MHz master clock), and can be set to 44.1 or 48 Khz. So it depends on what the clock input format on CD transport is.

As far the quality of the DAC in the N-01XD vs. K-01XD, it is the same DAC. However, connections, layout, wiring, etc. are different, accommodating just a streaming module in the N-01XD vs. an entire CD drive in the K-01xd. I have read from people in the internet that as a DAC alone, the N-01xd is better, but, don't take my word for it.