New Esoteric P02 D02

Hi Pharma, I agree with your finding on X-01 as transport... Thus, I have experimented by applying various combinations of Nordost Sort Kones under the device... Found that supporting X-01 with a Titanium Kone just behind each footer, salted by one Bronze Kone somewhere undeer the middle of the chassis, is transformative... Staging, top to bottom extension is increased, harmonic integrity is enhance, and so is linearity, all without causing any unmusical cross-modulation in the mid treble.

I can only conjecture that the enhancements may similarly affect newer / more advanced devices like the P-02, K-01, K-03... And mayhap the upcoming P1.

As an aside, I am experiencing further enhancements by applying the same configuration under the Rowland Aeris DAC.

Good new year: I just finished the 250 hour mark on my new esoteric P05 transport feeding my well broken in (600 hr) Rowland Aeris DAC, all Rowland electronics , Revel Salon 2's w/ Cardas Clear/Audience AU24 SE and must say the Esoteric transport was an eye opening/ear opening revelation. My system simply snapped into place w/ a lovely synergy, liquid musicality and holographic imagining . The Esoteric transport is stunning. Much more of a sonic leap than a step in my system & music room.
i wonder, all things being equal, if stepping up from the P05 to the P02 or P03 would yield meaningful gains? Costly no doubt!
I am also awaiting a Rowland 825 (sooner rather than later I expect) but want to sing the praise of Esoteric. I am a convert!
FYI The Rowland Aeris DAC is brillant at it's price point and well beyond . The DAC is magical but requires great patience w/ a long break in of 500-700 hours in my experience. The daily improvements are evident.

To Guido:

Happy New Year. I will try Nordost Sort Titanium Kone. I recommend a used p01 or P02 since there are very low prices nowadays. You will hear more refinement and bigger, more precise sound stage. I found that Transports make much bigger difference than Dacs.

Hi Csmsart, as X-01 appears to be quite sensitive to footers configuration when used as a transport into Aeris, I suspect that the use of more advanced / newer Esoteric transports like K-01 or P-02 might yield even more desirable results.

I agree about Aeris's fantastic qualities and break-in requirements... I have now about 250 hours on it. While very good initially, with relatively rapid evolution for the first 30 hours, further evolution was slow until about 220 hours. Until that time there were faint traces of treble overpressure.

Since then, frequency response has normalized into great musicality. All audible parameters appear to be blooming / maturing rapidly without signs of evolution slowing down... Aeris is becoming a real jaw-dropper.

For the last several days I have been feeding it a steady diet of large Bach organ works 24 hours a day... Seems to be a highly effective break-in therapy.

Do I prefer Aeris over D-02? Sorry... I have not experienced D-02 at all, so my answer is... I do not know the answer.

Guido

To Csmsart :

I compared all the Esoteric transports with the exception of the new p1.
There is a big leap from p05 to p03. You can find very good prices for a second hand or demo. There is another big leap from p03 to p01 vuk (I liked upgraded vuk version better). P02 has a different sonic signature with less mid bass thickness or warmth, but with more openness and bigger sound stage. I personally liked the p01vuk and p03. Older transports are more susceptible to right "footing" or isolation. For the price performance ratio I strongly recommend a demo or less used P03. You wont be disappointed. Happy New Year.