Esoteric K-01

Upgraded from SA-50 to K-03. Allowed CD player portion to burn-in for 30 days and it made a huge difference. Now burning-in the USB and Toslink stages.

Have compared single-ended to balanced XLR but cannot hear a differnece (AU-24e).

Could not afford the K-01 so did not audition.

The K-03 is one heavy S.O.B. You will not feel cheated.

Brucebraun, I currently own an Esoteric SA-50 and was thinking of upgrading to the K-03. Do you really think it’s worth the upgrade and much higher price? Please list all the improvements you noticed moving up to the K-03. Much appreciated. Thanks! Joe

Joe-

I believe you might be trying to compare apples and oranges, as they say. I would either call Esoteric or your Esoteric dealer if you have one. There is also another thread here talking about the K-03 with some feedback from several dealers that you might want to check out. Their comments pretty much echo what I was told by my contacts at Esoteric, FWIW. Good luck and let us know if you get the K-03!

Here's a link to that thread:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1301679798&&&/EMM-Labs-XDS1-vs-Esoteric-K-01

FWIW, TAS (Alan Taffel) says in the May/June issue of K-03 on redbook: "the K-03 sounds beautiful, delivers exceptional detail and spatial depth, and is tonally ravishing. On the other hand, it is missing the ultimate resolution, openness and freedom from digital edginess that makes today's reference gear so relaxing and engaging."

He says his Goldmund transport/dCS Debussy DAC have better resolution.

Mr. Taffel says the K-03 is much, much better on SACD and as a DAC.