Esoteric K-01

Hi Matjet, thanks for the response. After many CD players, some players handle lesser-quality discs better than others, say with somehow detecting digital glare and recessing the upper mids a bit (BBC dip?).

I don't think coaxing detail and character out of vintage recordings in redbook while avoiding harshness and glare is impossible, and to me it's the holy grail of digital processing, and, like I said, some players do this well, some not.

At least that's how it sounds to me with the players I've owned. (I've had a lot of them and certainly the newer ones are better at this now). It's some sort of digital processing magic I confess I don't understand (maybe analog-stage also). I'm sure Alex could explain this somehow.

So, if I want to listen to the Supremes and have Diana Ross sound powerful and detailed but not painfully piercing (like vinyl can do to my ears, or SACD with other vintage recordings), would the K01 fill the bill better than other contenders?

Maybe... but I KNOW Alex's NWO-M 4.0 does this, as I hear it everyday. :-)

Thanks Fplanner. Good to know that the nwo can do this. By the way, those awesome VR7s you have sing with the most gracious upper mids and highs around.

Thank you for the compliment. I'm pretty happy. If I didn't have the NWO, I would probably get the K-01. Although I have yet to hear it, various friends whose opinions I trust implicitly have raved about it.

I just got my K01 and had the opportunity to compare with a K03 and my previous XO3SE. Even out of the box before I play my Isotek CD for a few days to do some breaking of the system...it is clear and hands down that the K01 is the best player of the group in so many areas. Interestingly the K03 was not as open and warm as my X03SE which came second during my blind test at home with a couple of audiophiles. I was quite impressed to see how good of a player is the X03SE...I will keep it for my second system. True HiFi has a price...the K01 is a clear example. Try it at your local dealer..you will then believe my words...hopefully you can compare the player with any other unit that they may have. I can easily predict which one you will pick.