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Esoteric K01: What are the best settings for CD?

The Esoteric K01 has several up-conversion and filter options for CD play-back. Unfortunately, each up-conversion option and each filter option requires approximately 500 hours of 'break-in' to sound it's best. I have owned the Esoteric K01 since it's release. It is a superb SACD and CD player. I have 'broken in' some but not all filter and up-conversion settings. I am still unable to decide which combination I like best. I am currently using S_DLY1 (for digital filter) and 2Fs (for up conversion). I would like to know what settings other Esoteric K01 owners like best. It would be helpful if If you can explain why those settings sound better to you than other combinations. I wonder which settings the experts at Esoteric/Teac would recommend?
matjet
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
986 posts
 
Zd542,

Thanks for your comments. If you ever take delivery of the K-01 one day, you won't bear an ounce of buyer's remorse. The K-01 is really that good.

Far from being analytical, it is actually extremely musical. The K-01 will connect you to the music and the musician - his interpretation, his technique, his complete artistry. It will communicate to you that Evgeny Kissin is a far more accomplished interpreter of Chopin and Tchaikovsky than say, Lang Lang. It will also communicate the difference between Kissin and Van Cliburn even as each is just as venerable and exalted in his own right.

And that's what this hobby is all about - one's inner emotional connection to the music.

Cheers!
kiwi_1282001
312 posts
 
Hi Jon2020,

Your observations on sonics of each filter looked possible until I reached No.5.

My understanding is the DSD signal path is direct and does not pass via digital filters - so I am at a loss with your comment that the digital filters lend their signatures? Are you sure about that?
denon1
341 posts
 
Hi Jon2020, did you break each filter and upsampling option for 800 hours?
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Kiwi, if I recall correctly, DSD is selected in the "filters" menu... hence, whether DSD is an actual filter, or it is a CODEC, or something technically different, else... I am not sure if it matters. Are you suggesting a different term for it? Let us know. G.
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
986 posts
 

Hi Kiwi,

Yes, I am pretty sure but as I said, I was flabbergasted to hear any difference. In theory, there shouldn't be but there it was.
Playing Sonny Rollins with the FIR filter brought on more body and weight to his tenor sax. With solo classical piano, notes were more fleshed out with the FIR filter. With the SLDY filters, piano highs sound leaner and a smidgen more glassy or tinkly.
If you have the K-01, you owe it to yourself to check out the difference but only after at least 600 hours of break-in. I must emphasise that the differences noted for SACDs are to a lesser degree than for CDs.

Fact is truly stranger than fiction.
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