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New Esoteric P02 D02

Hello,

Seems like there is a new set up separates from Esoteric. The P02 D02. Hven't seen any info out there at all, but it is for sale already at retailers. Not a substitute of the P03 D03 as expected, that are still selling as well, but a new category in between de 01s and 03s. DACs and inputs seem like an upgrade of the K01.

Anyone has any info, or heard of this? You can read about it at Esoteric parent company home page (in Japan but in English).

Price in Europe is 3.000 Euros higher than the 03s per unit (so +6000 EUros higher in total)

Any feedback, info news?

Thanks
Eli
eelii08
eelii08 OP
169 posts
 
These things with the clock are even more impresive. I have tried it in the past (the old model) with the P03 D03 and found little improvement. Had it home twice and never went for it.

Dont know why but with the 02s and the new G01 the improvement is very nice and evident. It may have to do with the fact that my speakers now are diferent and more resolving or the new componets are, or a mix. But the adition of the clock makes a large improvement I never heard before with this kind of gear. I recomend it.
pharma007
73 posts
 
Hi Eelii,

I absolutely agree with your comments regarding the clock. It makes it more musical, "more analog" with better dynamics. It sounds like areal event rather than a reproduction of it with the clock. Also the sound stage is now rock solid and bigger. It is more "3D".
pharma007
73 posts
 
About slight harshness, I observe it only with some cds never with sacds or well recorded cds. It may also the revealing power of the DAC. It cant change a bad remaster into a good one. I will try p02 just to hear if 352khz upsampling (similar to DXD) and the new aes link would make a difference. (p01vuk does 176 or 192k upsampling)
pharma007
73 posts
 
For now, I enjoy no upsampling and short delay 1 filter or no filter with most cds. When I use D03 no filter is my favorite setting. I use upsampling with the new 32 bit fim cds (they are remastered or mastered with 32 bit processing and 88 or 96k in most cases, so I use matching upsampling rate) or xrcds. Brightness issue improved a lot with the new Acrolink BNC cables that I use with the clock.
Also another observation is that the ac cables make a lot of difference tonally (more bass, better bass slam, less bright, etc..). Slight harshness may also be power cable related, so I will try Nordost Odin and the rare Esoteric/Acrolink 7n-pc9300, 9100 or the new 7500 as well.
pharma007
73 posts
 
Another observation is that some cds sound better with homogeneous harmonics and better musicality in 88/96k (or x2) than 176/192k (or x4) and some sound better at plain 44k. As for the filters s-dly1 is better with plain 44k, but I prefer fir or no filter with higher sampling rates. Filter off option makes vocals more natural.
Lesser or relentless recordings sound better with D03 due to its more laid back, slightly warmer and less revealing nature. On the other hand D02 is absolutely neutral and it reveals everything without changing anywhere.
To me clock makes equally big difference on both D03 and D02.
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