K1 has landed
 

I’m pretty sure that’s Japanese for “badass motherfu*ker!”

Attachment 52118


It’s built like a tank and weighs in around a Honda Civic.

Out of the box it’s less “forceful” sounding than my Bryston BDA3. It’s got a smoothness and presence that I’ve never heard before.

I’m currently listening to Bela Fleck & The Flecktones “Live Art”. The Sinister Minister has a bass solo that I play whenever I add gear. I have NEVER heard the Victor Wooten solo like this. It’s punchy as hell with zero blur between the notes.

I need to let it play for a few days straight, and then rearrange my rack. I have my Aurender N10 stacked on my 28b3 temporally.

More to follow...

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Your first line sure is Classy! :rolleyes:

Kyle.......Sweeeeet!


https://www.audioaficionado.org/atta...1&d=1507064901

Wow! congrats. those things are gorgeous.

I'll have to try Bela Fleck, I never got into him but I like his wife, Abigail Washburn. City of Refuge is a great album.

Kyle... Big Congrats! you now own a World Class Performing CD/SACD DAC :ok:

Thank you Ivan

One huge tip I can give you is to put an HRS DPX Damping Plate on your K1; toward the front. I happen to use 2 of them on mine, for even better performance.

I see you have the height, also replace the feet with Ultra SS when the wounds heal from this expenditure. The K1 responds in kind when you eliminate vibrations.

The sound stage improves even more (I know it doesn’t even seem possible, but it will)

https://www.audioaficionado.org/atta...1&d=1507064901

Congratulations! It's an amazing piece of gear.

Kyle, congrats. It looks beautiful.

Congrats Kyle - bet it sounds awesome!

Congratulations Kyle :thumbsup: Enjoy your awesome new Esoteric sweetness!

Very nice Kyle congrats :) enjoy!

Congratulations on your purchase!

Congrats! Enjoy it and look forward to more of your thoughts on this awesome addition.

Mitch

That's a statement product if there's ever been one.
Enjoy the music!

Congrats, bet it sounds awesome!

Congratulations...fantastic news!

:thumbsup:

Super nice! ...Hope you really enjoy it. :)

K1 has landed
 

24 hours of continuous play and it’s sounding better and better. Currently I have it set to XLR2 output and 8F filtering. I also think DSD filtering sounds really good. This thing sounds unbelievable. I’m listening to Fleetwood Mac - Rumors DSD and can not believe what is coming from my speakers.

Trying to explain how good this sounds is like trying to explain an acid trip. It just needs to be experienced first hand to understand the beauty.

I feel the same. It's obscenely good. Sometimes I just giggle when I am listening.

Has anyone upgraded fuses in their K1 yet?

I had great results upgrading to SR Red and then to SR Black in my previous Esoteric gear so assume the K1 could similarly benefit?

Cheers

How do you open an Esoteric SACD player? What size fuse?

Hi Ariess=,

Sorry I don't know exactly, but I assume K1 is opened through fixings in the steel base plate as there are zero visible fixings from top side of top plate of course.

Esoteric normally have quite a few fuses – well at least my P03/D-03/G-0s did!

Cheers

Chris

Very nice. :thumbsup:
But, I would give some consideration to giving that Bryston amp some room to breath. Looks like tight fit.

That’s a temporary placement. I have some new racks on order. Also, that amp is a 5 channel that powers my surround speakers. It’s not used very often, and never at the same time as the DAC.

Congrats Kyle ! That is an awesome player ! Especially with that dac in it, you struck gold !

Congratulations Kyle! Enjoy that puppy!!

Is the clock in K1 better than the clock in G02X?
Or in other words, any likely benefit in using K1 with G02X, or just use it as a stand-alone player?

Congrats Kyle, what an amazing product you own!
As Ivan says i recommend you to put a few HRS DPX damping plates on top of the K1.
I have three of the biggest ones over my K-03X and the results are excellent.
Enjoy friend
Pablo

Congratulations Kyle on your K1, you will love it. It is a world class digital source. Mine is fully broken in and its musicality is simply amazing.

Enjoy,
Ken

How does it compare to your Aurender?

Spinning discs and streaming from the Aurender are pretty damn close. I think SACD on the K1 is the best sound.

It’s a fantastic combo

Agree with this. I find my p02x-d02x spinning sacds is the best sound in my digital rig

When I had a soolos and M1 DAC also K-01 that a SACD beat even Hi Res files. I know the technology has changed.

I can't hear a difference between tidal/roon and spinning discs. But I guess I haven't really done many comparisons. Both sound great through my k-01x and g-02x.