Looking for a CD / SACD player. Also, tell me about Esoteric

This is an update on the Esoteric K-03XD vs. the K-01XD SE. I just installed the new K-01XD SE into my system so how does it compare to the K-03XD? It will require a few hundred hours of break in. That being said it has more punch, holographic presentation and extended reverb trails and seperation of instruments. I’m not going to say it blows my mind away with such nonsense because the K-03XD is a very good player but the K-01XD SE takes it to another level. I think it may be due to having 4 transformers instead of two and the 71 capaacitors vs. 26 in the K-03XD. Just my thought. Much respect to Jeff at Metafiaudio for making this happen and providing me the opportunity to make the upgrade!

hk_fan

Another +vote for Esoteric DV-50 player. It is still relevant in 2025.

Happy Listening!

gthirteen

Where are you on purchasing a CD/SACD player?  I own both an Esoteric DV-50 and Luxman D-03x Reference players.

Happy Listening!

ahhh.....the Marantz versus Esoteric debate.  I wonder throughout the high end audio world (and wanna-be high end audio world) if there is a difference in the owners LISTENING ABILITIES (which is very different from "plain old hearing"), in addition to, a difference in bank accounts?  I always see condescension by one of the groups on these threads....

mahler123

I just stubbled upon this thread which is about 9 months old. Your comment above is a matter I am quite interested in. I highly doubt that the SACD layer on ANY SACD disc is actually being transmitted from the Oppo to the Bryston DAC. What you are hearing, while I suspect it sounds very good, is the Redbook layer of the disc. One absolutely cannot assume that simply using a disc transport connected via an AES cable (or other digital cable) to the DAC of a different brand, that you will be hearing the SACD layer through your speakers. Speak with any knowledgable audio person and the informed "geeky" ones will likely explain to you the proprietary connection scheme to transmit SACD data between different brand transports and DACs is complex. Simply connecting an AES cable between the two units IS NOT a solution, although you will hear the Redbook layer of the disk.

The specific technical explanation is far beyond my knowledge level. However, I deeply investigated the matter of matching different brand disc transports and DACs, and was quite disappointed to learn that the transmission of the SACD layer is complex. I am still weighing the pros and cons of purchasing a Bricast M19 CD/SACD transport to feed a Bricasti M1SE or M21 DAC using the I2S digital connection, which is essentially the protocol that is used internally in the build of one-box CD/SACD players.