DAC for my Esoteric X-O3 SE??

Why would you want to use an external DAC with a player of this caliber? I would either move up the line and/or into one of their new "K" series players or look into separates (i.e. DAC paired with an Esoteric transport). However, I doubt either of these moves will "astound" you since the X-03SE is widely considered one of the best value players Esoteric ever made.

I think Cerrots suggestion is worth a try, especially if you can borrow the additional pieces before you buy.

I actually have an esoteric x05. My dealer convinced me just to try the Bel Canto dac3.5 with the outboard PS. I also thought why should I use a dac with such a good player.
From the 1st minute - just wow. The bel canto took my digital section to heaven.Greater detail, sheer musicality and everything sound so alive and so right, very close to analog sound. Needless to say, the BC stayed at my house. Right now the esoteric serves as a transport.

A very highly regarded player to resort to experimenting with dacs in my opinion. More highly regarded than the x05. But to each his own.

I was just wondering, since my Esoteric is four years old if there was a quantum leap in store if I purchased a state of the art DAC