Grandioso K1 - The word is out
 

The Grandioso K1 is Red Hot; I sold another one this week and found out there is Worldwide back/order till late May early June.

I can't say I'm surprised knowing first hand how truly amazing the player is.

I totally agree. I bought one to replace my K-01x. It is significantly better in all respects. I am impressed how much more organic sounding this player is than the K-01x. This player has allowed me to hear so much deeper into my old CDs, even ones I got back in the early 80s it is like listening to a different recording.

I am impressed how harmonic texture is preserved from very loud to very quiet passages.

Being my first 'Grandioso' acquisition, I am thoroughly impressed how much better the top flight Esoteric range is.

The Grandioso K1 is an amazing sounding Player/DAC. It is super organic sounding and musical. It doesn't need the Grandioso G1 Clock to make your heart soar. But the clock will give you a clearer and more precise sound.

Given the K1 has the same DAC module as N-01, if I use the P-02X + N-01 + G-02X combination, is that likely to sound as good as a stand-alone K1?

No for a few reasons; first the DAC chip implementation is completely different in the K1. Having the same DAC chip is no assurance of equal performance.

Even more important is that the N01 does not have ES-Link inputs for the P-02X transport. That is Esoteric’s premier connection for maximum bandwidth.

http://my-hiend.com/wp/wp-content/up...ic_n01_007.jpg

Ivan's comments are spot on.....!!!

That combo will sound great but....[emoji2]

I was to understand the K1 and the N-01 share the same DAC module, not just the same DAC chip. Hence DAC-wise I would think almost identical performance, no?
Yes, I was aware N-01 doesn't have the ES-link. The P-02X and N-01 would be connected via AES/EBU, and obviously this would give up on native SACD resolution transmission. But I don't have many SACD so that's not something that concerns me.

The N-01 is not comparable to the K1 just because it has the same DAC module. A representative from Esoteric Japan told me at RMAF last year that the K1 has superior power supplies and analog circuitry to the N-01.

Ken

The N-01 is probably more akin to the K-01Xs and K-03Xs which also share the new Dac with the Grandioso K1, but not it’s more robust power supplies and analogue circuitry.

Boy oh boy.....
It has been a long time since I had P03/D03
I like this K1 a lot. My fantastic sounding3 weeks old Luxman D08u may need to step aside for this one.Attachment 59647Attachment 59648Attachment 59649