How much better is Esoteric K-03 vs K-05?

Denon1,

I would agree with your setting, it gives almost a 3D sound stage, very natural, good detail, body and for once I forget about what format I am listening to. Sounds like great music period.

I have a K03 and recently stopped using it preampless and now added an Ayre K5xe-MP preamp and have an awesome improvement. Im not buying the esoteric extra dacs and bits making up for the one bit of loss for every 6db of attenuation. I can easilly hear it. What caught my ear was the FM; I can play it at moderate volume levels and still have awesome resolution. The Esoteric needed to play at near full throttle to have the same amount of resolution (thats the digital volume control losing the bits-even if they are extra bits...I think the bits thye are losing are still too important). Just my ears with the player and my thoughts...

Anyone who can make a comparison of the k-05 versus the x-03SE?