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Esoteric P03 transport: noisy unit normal?

Hi all,

I have a new Esoteric P03/D03 combo in exchange of a X01/D2. I started a thread a while ago to learn more of these units. Also I'm posting my preliminary findings on the units and how they compare to each other.

To make it brief here, the Combo I find it to be quite a step forward from the single unit. Greater than expected in many ways. Good for that. However I'm starting this post to ask other users on the noisy transport P03.

I started doing serious listening not that long ago, once I got the right cables and had some good hours on the units (now like 350hours aprox). . The thing (transport) noisy. Quite more than I recall the D2 being. I can hear the transport when spinning with volume set to 0 or very low from my listening position..., like 3,5 or 4 meters away from the unit. Not happy about that. Of course when music plays at normal level or even low, you won't hear the thing, but when there is a silent in the middle of the song, if you "look for it" sometimes you will find it.

Now my question to other P03/D03 owners. Is this something normal that you also have in your units or is it something I should complain against and ask for a replacement or fix? I've read some others about this noises but seems that some people get a noise and others don't.

Can you please give me your feedback on your experience with the P03? Do you also get the noise but live with it? You never had it, or you had it and got it solved, either replaced or fixed and how you managed to do this?

Thanks in advance
Eli
eelii08
fplanner2010
283 posts
 
If I recall correctly, the VRDS mechanism spins at 4x normal CD speed, to account for buffering, etc. At that speed, it would seem that smaller noises could get a bit magnified. My UX-1Pi occasionally makes the noise you describe and when it does, I take the disc out and reseat it. That usually does the trick.

I agree with Guido - I've also heard that noise attributed to the ceramic bearings. Interestingly, as part of the APL NWO re-working of several Esoteric players, these bearings are replaced!
dotsystem
81 posts
 
I find the noise is greatest between tracks and it settles down when the next track is played.
eelii08 OP
169 posts
 
Fp, what does APL NWO stand for? They replace them with what?!

The problem you describe has to be another thing. THe noise I talk about is always there. It is very constant. It is louder I think with SACD than with CD. Assume the thing is spinning faster with SACDs hence the difference.

Dot, I will need to check this out. i think the noise is constant all the way, but maybe not. Thing is you can only hear it when music stops, like in between tracks. So my guessing is that is always there but when music starts you can not notice it. Still I will check out on this. Also how consistent it is with different discs at different playing times.
perrew
299 posts
 
Fplanner afaik the APL NWO has the bigger transport.
fplanner2010
283 posts
 
Perrew - I know, as does mine (I kept the original when I did the Pi upgrade). I know about the bearings because Alex and I actually talked about it.

Eelii08- Sounds like we may be talking about 2 different things. Sorry about that - I tried....My noise is not constant.
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