Esoteric K-01

Tony, you are causing me pangs of audiophilic anxiety mixed with generous amounts of neo-Freudian 'Esoteric envy'!

Can you already characterize any difference between K-01 against X-01 Limited and X-01 D2 (this last one on upsampling to DSD)?

And what about against P-03/D03 with same external clock?

Guido

Disclaimer: unabashed Esoteric fanboy.

I am privilaged to own APL HiFi NWO-S1 Player which, superficially, resemble K-03 i.e. it also has 2nd generation 32-bit AKM DACs--4 per side (K-01 has 8 per side). The Transport is based on Esoteric SA-50. Output stage is based on transformers and should be coupled to couple of transistors (to imporve bass) Alex use in NWO-SS series.

Extraordinary musical and involving. It took me much more then 1000 hours to break it in.

Alex The Magician - thank you very, very much!!!!!

To Tony007

Thanks for your comments. Any remarks on the K-03?

Thanks

I recently purchased the Esoteric K-01 to replace the X-01D2. The K-01 is far superior to the X-01D2. The improvement was easy to detect, no A-B evaluation was necessary. The K-01 sounded extraordinary right out of the box, still cold. It is the best Cd/SACD player I have ever heard. I am trying out the G-orb, which I intend to buy, but its effect is subtle. The K-01 sounds great with or without the G-orb.

Matjet,

What? AK4399 DACs sound better than AD1955 and PCM1704? No, that cannot be! :-)

Of course I am kidding! Congratulations! I am sure the K-01 is another fine digital example by Esoteric!

Best,
Alex Peychev