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Esoteric Grandioso P1/D1

Hello, wanted to start a thread on the new flagship Esoteric Grandioso P1 D1 digital system. Haven't seen any out there and also there is not much information on the web either. Just a couple of reviews and that is about it.

Idea is to share experiences and knowledge on this digital playback system from owners, people that has listened to it, with first hand experience for whatever reason, or just for those who may be interested to ask questions as potential future owners...

If you are reading this, you probably know the system is composed of 4 pieces: A transport, the power unit of transport, and 2 mono DACs for each channel.

Additionally, you can use (and I do recommend it to a great extend) the clock G01, so overall a 5 pieces system.

This digital replaces the old 01 which has been in the market for a long time and brings new interesting features it will be nice to discuss in depth.

Some are quite new or at least not seen before in high end audio like the use of a proprietary transfer protocol (ES-LINK 4) using HDMI cables.

it allows direct DSD and 352.8kHz/48bit PCM ultrawideband digital transmission using an HDMI cable for each DAC.

http://www.esoteric.jp/products/esoteric/p1d1/indexe.html

But most importantly, to discuss it's music reproduction qualities and different configurations and experinces.

Despite being out there for a while already, I can't understand why there hasn't been much said about them. I guess Esoteric should expend a bit in adds to get the atention of the pro audio publications... :-)

Anyway, I have these for less then a month, and despite having very little hours on them, they are quite something. However they are still evolving so will wait on my side a while still to talk in detail about the sound.

Hope this thread is of use and helps owners, potential ones, and others gather and share lots of information.

Thanks
Eli
eelii08
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Hi Colekat, I find it interesting that Esoteric has given up on volume control / attenuators. From a technological point of view, it is possible to design/implement DACs that have extremely graceful volume control and that by themselves do not require the additional processing provided by a linestage.

Many dedicated DAC seem to go that way, and there seems to be growing adoption of higher end system configurations sens-linestage. Adoption trend may be both based on economics and performance... Granted, my own front end is not at the level of Grandioso (old X-01 and Rowland Aeris DAC), but I am absolutely happy by the resolution and musicality that I obtain driving my M925 monos directly with the Aeris DAC.

I am wondering if Esoteric choice to phase out volume controls on DAC is somewhat marketing driven.... Existing customers traditionally were not driving their DACs directly into amps... And Esoteric wants to promote sales of their excellent line stages.
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
990 posts
 
Colekat,
Congrats on your acquisition of the ultimate components from the Esoteric digital line. You are one lucky audiophile.

G,
I think Esoteric's omission of volume control in these products may in all probability attest more to their in-house purist philosophy and approach to digital attenuation than anything else. With redbook at 16 bits, losing 1 bit of resolution with every 6 dB of attenuation may be acceptable but not so with dsd and hi-res pcm all the way to 384/24.
IMHO. J.
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
990 posts
 
Oops! Missed typing out Eli.
Heartiest congrats to you, too, Eli.
Cheers! J.
dgarretson
2,600 posts
 
The 35 bit width of the newer AK dac chip may allow digital attenuation without affecting 24 bit audio. At least this is the case for the 32-bit ESS reference 9018.
eelii08 OP
169 posts
 
Thanks John.

Ok finally updated my system. "My system" is called. Well actually builded a new one. Anyone knows how to get rid of an old system?

I have to agree with what Colekat mentions. It is that good.

Regarding preamp, and DAC volume attenuation, I always felt all my digitals sounded better with a preamp so for me it is indifferent. Alway I prefer if they don't have it. Assume Esoteric thought it was better that way and had a good reason for it, because it is true it could turn off some potential buyers.
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