K-03 DAC opinions

[Matt Lan]

I've had my K-03 for a long while now (thanks Ivan!) and have enjoyed it a lot. For many years, I'd spin a combination of CD's and SACDs through it pretty much exclusively as my source.

One of the reasons I bought the K-03 was the ability to use it later as a standalone DAC with multiple input options. As it turned out, that was a good decision as last year I was able to get into an Aurender basic music server, rip my CD library, and get my toes wet with non-physical media. The Aurender I have only has the USB out, but to try things out, it made sense to me. I now only spin SACDs on the K-03, along with new CD's that I haven't had a chance to rip yet.

Here I am another year later and I am starting to wonder about the K-03 purely from the DAC standpoint. I am not looking to buy gear just for the sake of getting new stuff, but wondering how much I am leaving on the table in terms of SQ with the K-03.

One limitation of my Aurender is the USB out - that's what I'm stuck with. I have a WW USB cable (thanks Ivan!), so I guess I've done what I can on that front.

Long winded, but my subjective question is how much improvement would I get now with a different (more recent?) standalone DAC? And secondarily, since a lot of this is synergistic - would I notice a difference in my particular application with the Aurender USB...?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts - I thought to post here first to get an opinion on the older K-03 Esoteric DAC specifically before expanding my research in the Digital sub forum.

Best regards,

Matt

[GSOphile]

Matt, DACs have come a good way since the K-03 was introduced. Several key questions:
1. What does the rest of you rig look like (amp, speakers)?
2. Are you interesting in streaming?
3. How much are you willing to spend on something that ticks your boxes?

[Masterlu]

Matt... what grade WW USB cable are you using?

[crwilli]

Matt - Do you any interest in streaming native DSD?

[2fastdriving]

The k03 is a great spinner/dac. The only problem is that it has some technical limitations with the USB input. It can't do DSD, and it can't utilize an external clock.

Other than that, it's good enough that you can rest assured that you aren't missing much.

Even if you went to the k01x, which is what I did, the difference isn't night and day. It's a notch better. But adding a clock, which is possible with the x and xs models, will take you up even another notch. There's more flexibility in the x/xs models.

[tdelahanty]

Originally Posted by 2fastdriving

The k03 is a great spinner/dac. The only problem is that it has some technical limitations with the USB input. It can't do DSD, and it can't utilize an external clock.

Other than that, it's good enough that you can rest assured that you aren't missing much.

Even if you went to the k01x, which is what I did, the difference isn't night and day. It's a notch better. But adding a clock, which is possible with the x and xs models, will take you up even another notch. There's more flexibility in the x/xs models.

My K05 has a Clock/Sync input. Is this issue with the USB input only?

[gadawg]

I agree with the others that the newer CD players while better aren’t night and day better but they will do DSD via usb if you’re interested in that. Overall a stand alone dac could improve your sound much more than one of the newer players albeit at a higher price. Also ... I wouldn’t be too concerned about only having usb for now ... I’m running an Aurender N100h into an Esoteric D-02x and it sounds amazing. Good luck!

George

[2fastdriving]

Originally Posted by tdelahanty

My K05 has a Clock/Sync input. Is this issue with the USB input only?

Correct!

[Matt Lan]

Originally Posted by GSOphile

Matt, DACs have come a good way since the K-03 was introduced. Several key questions:
1. What does the rest of you rig look like (amp, speakers)?
2. Are you interesting in streaming?
3. How much are you willing to spend on something that ticks your boxes?

I just renewed my membership - old signature looks lost so I've re-added my gear - should now appear below.


By streaming, I assume you mean non-local files? Yes, I plan to try TIDAL soon, through the N100H. I would subscribe to their higher end paid service for the better SQ.

Good question on $. I am happy with what I have, more curious in what's being left on the table with the K-03 DAC specifically. After I bought the K-03, there was the K-03X, and at a much higher price point the K-01(X). I would consider all of this 'out of my budget', but I am wondering if the passing of time has opened up tangibly better DAC opportunities at a lower price point. For example, I have read that some very budget components like the Shiit YGGY at $2,400 can compare favourably to some much more expensive DACs. Hence the question - how does the 'old' K-03 DAC stack up today?

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Matt... what grade WW USB cable are you using?

HI there, a silver I believe - was not too $$ if I remember, it sounded like a decent price point in the context of the N100H?

Originally Posted by crwilli

Matt - Do you any interest in streaming native DSD?

Good question, I am not 100% sure what that means in my context - I'm a streaming newbie. Everything I've ripped on the Aurender is Redbook CD only. Not sure what format TIDAL will be in? As for my limited SACD and BluRay library, I'd plan to continue to spin that physical media on the K-03 and my Oppo, respectively.

Originally Posted by 2fastdriving

The k03 is a great spinner/dac. The only problem is that it has some technical limitations with the USB input. It can't do DSD, and it can't utilize an external clock.

Other than that, it's good enough that you can rest assured that you aren't missing much.

Even if you went to the k01x, which is what I did, the difference isn't night and day. It's a notch better. But adding a clock, which is possible with the x and xs models, will take you up even another notch. There's more flexibility in the x/xs models.

Yup, that's the dilemma - esp. since the higher end Esoteric is realistically out of my $ range... I'm reading up on other brands at this point (again, only to the extent I can meaningfully best the sound of my K-03 used as a DAC).

Originally Posted by gadawg

I agree with the others that the newer CD players while better aren’t night and day better but they will do DSD via usb if you’re interested in that. Overall a stand alone dac could improve your sound much more than one of the newer players albeit at a higher price. Also ... I wouldn’t be too concerned about only having usb for now ... I’m running an Aurender N100h into an Esoteric D-02x and it sounds amazing. Good luck!

George

Thanks everyone for the input and insights. I'll keep reading in the meantime!

Cheers

Matt

[GSOphile]

Matt, a couple of comments. Regarding the YGGY, you might find jdandy's extensive review helpful:
https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=41915
The YGGY is very good at what it does, but has limited functionality.
A potential upgrade that's more affordable now than previously would be your K-03 to a 'pre-owned' K-01X. There's lots of discussion on the relative merits of these players in the Esoteric sub-forum.