Esoteric N-03T Network Transport
 

Very interesting that they put the prices on the Japanese website. I did a Google translate. I don't know if it is possible to do a straight currency conversion, probably not. If I do, it's about 7k usd. They even show it bundled with different levels of dacs and transports to create good better best systems, with the prices of each!

Would this product be an appropriate compliment to a K-03X?

It seems it would work with the K-03x and you would connect them together using USB if you wanted to stream DSD in addition to PCM.

I’m not sure you’d be able to decode streaming MQA files, though.

That’s what I came away with from reading a translation of the Esoteric product page, yesterday.

It would be a good complement to the K-x series for the purpose of playing music from NAS or streaming service providers.

If/when it gets MQA certified, it will do a first unfold of MQA to MQA Core in 88.2kHz or 96kHz to a non-MQA DAC.

Note: MSRP for different countries are different.

Have you seen the new K-01XS and K-03XS? They have the Grandioso K1 DAC used. Those players look attractive.

Sent from my VTR-L09 using Tapatalk

So they've put an AK4497 in a K01X to make a K01XS. I'm waiting for them to put an AK4497 in a D1 to make a new Grandioso mono DAC.

Esoteric introduces a new category - the N-03T Network Audio Transport. Not to be confused with the Network Audio Player category where the N-05 and N-01 reside; the New N-03T does not possess it's own DAC's.

What does this mean? It means the unit can be partnered with any worthy DAC that possesses a USB input. This could be an Esoteric DAC of course, of which we build several. It could be one our SACD players, meaning an existing Esoteric customer who loves their player and the DAC's inside of it, could partner the New N-03T to it via the USB input on the back of the player! Or if a customer possesses a DAC they love from another vendor other than Esoteric, as long as the USB connectivity is there, they can tie the New N-03T to it. This versatility opens up all kinds of possibiltiies. The New N-03T possesses streaming service applications from Tidal and Spotify for U.S. consumption and is Roon Ready too!

USA Retail $11,000

http://www.avgallery.com.au/wp-conte...in-924x750.jpg

http://www.esoteric.jp/products/esot.../g_photo02.jpg

What does it do? Bring Spotify to your DAC?

Use iPad to play music files from NAS, USB storage devices, streaming music from Tidal and Qobuz, and yes - Spotify Connect as well.

Hmmm

Another option using same basic software platform.

http://www.luminmusic.com/lumin-u1.html

Taking orders now... :ok:

All that and for only $11k! :D

The Network Audio Transport. Not to be confused with the Network Audio Player category where the N-05 and N-01 reside; the New N-03T does not possess its own DAC's.
What does this mean? It means the unit can be partnered with any worthy DAC that possesses a USB input. This versatility opens up all kinds of possibiltiies. The New N-03T possesses streaming service applications from Tidal and Spotify for U.S. consumption and is Roon Ready too!

Esoteric has released MQA firmware 10.3j upgrade for N-03T.

A little clarification please. Does roon ready mean this unit can be used as a roon core? So this is music server when a usb hard drive is connected and a streamer ie replaces a computer server running roon ?

Esoteric N-03T Network Transport
 

In the Roon Ecosystem Roon Ready means that the device can be used as a Roon Endpoint = player. This is not the same as Roon Core = server. Roon Ready relates to the “Output” part. Some streamers allow streaming from internal or external storage devices, but that can be done without the need for Roon. Be careful though; it does not necessarily mean the unit can serve other devices on the network.

Complementary to “Core” and “Output”, “Control” is the third component of Roon...the userinterface.

Some devices offer “Core” and “Output” functionality in one box...but Roon Ready most definitely refers only to the “Output” part.

I would recommend the Nucleus(+) as Core or a NUC built according to the specs Roon provides running ROCK. By separating “Core” and “Output” functionally one has more flexibility and upgrade paths.

Thanks for the clarification. I am using a Mac mini with 16 gigs of ram running as a dedicated Roon core which serves multiple sonos devices and Apple TV’s in my house wirelessly plus most importantly I use the usb output direct to my DAC in my main listening room. While I have no complaints about the sound quality I have been reading about other roon core alternatives.

In the beginning I was a bit apprehensive about using the USB output of the Nucleus+....but it works just fine.

In my book, the fact that Roon implements their own OS (be it a tweaked version of open source Linux) in the Nucleus is very reassuring. Microsoft’s and Apple’s shenanigans cannot spoil the party. If ever you are looking for an alternative for the Mac Mini, the Roon Nucleus comes highly recommended.

Some very expensive server/player combo’s run Roon Core on a Windows 10 operated board in their units. I would avoid those like the plague.

as long as the USB connectivity is there, they can tie the New N-03T to it. This versatility opens up all kinds of possibiltiies. The New N-03T possesses streaming service applications from Tidal and Spotify for U.S. consumption and is Roon Ready too!

USA Retail $11,000

http://www.avgallery.com.au/wp-conte...in-924x750.jpg

http://www.esoteric.jp/products/esot.../g_photo02.jpg[/QUOTE]

Hello Ivan,
Why do we need USB input ? N03T have coaxial and XLR output too.
It will do MQA core decode before output digital signal right ?
Oh I wish it had wifi antenna.

Toga

Toga... I use both the USB input and output. The USB output is my preferred choice, especially with Shunyata’s Sigma USB cable.

Thank you Ivan. Would like to own Esoteric once more after selling P03D03 for many years ago.

N-03T is Roon Ready now.

Note that it requires two firmwares, the network firmware (updated by the Esoteric Sound Stream app), and the base firmware to be downloaded from this page:
https://www.esoteric.jp/en/product/n-03t/download

I bought an N-03T recently and wow! I have had a number of PC based servers before but this is on a whole new level. It gives excellent results with an attached USB SSD but the best results are with an optimised music server feeding the N-03T.

I am a bit surprised why there isn't more noise made about this unit. There are PC based servers that perform a similar function that cost a lot more but deliver less SQ.