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Esoteric Audio World Class cost no object Electronics |
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#1
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K01X vs D02/P02 combo
Greetings everyone , new subscriber and new poster here.
I have had a good look through the threads here and strongly suspect that someone will have the knowledge to help. my question pertains to relative comparisons in the 2 units as in the thread title. I have just finished ripping 3000 CD's to an Aurender W20. Currently I use the DAC in a Meridian 808.3 ( rest of system ARC ref level). But as you know the 808.3 doesn't do DSD ( nor AFAIK will it play 192 files.)SACD isn't a consideration for me. So Esoteric has long piqued my interest. I have read the spec sheets for both the K01X and the D02 / P02 combo. I think I have three options;keep the Meridian for redbook and get a D02 DAC , change the Meridian for the one box unit or go the whole way for the 2 box unit. Home demos will not be possible; I may be able to get to hear a K01x at a dealers in my country but not certain. I guess it boils down to this- is there anyone who is lucky enough to have heard both the one and 2 box options and is able to proffer comment on relative strengths and weaknesses Many thanks for your time ; I would be very grateful for any insights. Regards Kevin |
#2
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Kevin, welcome!
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#3
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Welcome Kevin, my only input is that the K03 I have does redbook better than anything I have ever heard, and I am sure that the K01(s) are a notch better yet if that is possible given the limits of redbook.
PS Welcome to the site your banner looks great ! |
#4
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Kevin, welcome!
I see you are a jazz lover. Please share your favourites in the jazz thread.
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Stereo: Hegel H590, Grimm Audio MU1, Mola Mola Tambaqui, Burmester 948 - V3 & V6 racks, Vivid Audio G2 Giyas, REL Carbon Special (pair), Silent Angel Bonn N8 Ethernet Switch & Forester F1, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse IC and SE SC, Furutech Digiflux AV: Hegel C-53, Marantz AV8802A, Oppo BDP-203EU, Pioneer Kuro 60", Vivid Audio C1 & V1w's, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse, SE & E Second system (veranda): Halgorythme preamp and monoblocks, Burmester 061, Avalon Avatar, Sharkwire & Wireworld cables |
#5
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Quote:
Quote:
As for advantages of each set-up, the K-01 has everything in one chassis, so no further cabling, power cords or space is needed to get everything it has to offer. As for the D-02/P-02, there is a potential to get better sound quality due to separate chassis, multiple power supplies and most importantly, isolation & separation of important circuitry and power supplies, allowed by two chassis. Why are mono blocks typically better sounding than their stereo versions. Obviously, great cabling, 2 power cords and extra space on your eq. rack is needed. As for my experience, the K-01 was great, and the D-02/P-02 has been exceptional, awesome! Though the G-01 clock brought there sound closer, the D-02/P-02 has been as good as I have heard by Esoteric. Hope this helps. Tom |
#6
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Awesome , thanks Tom. Just the type of feedback I was after.
Kevin |
#7
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Quote:
I am too surprised a well setup sonos connect streamer, with heavily modified seperate power supplies through a w4s remedy reclocker streaming spotify comes very close comparing the cd on the k01x, and this was with average digital coax to the k01x. I am still need to test network streaming, starting from a usb drive. Your W20 should be very , very good playing ethier into a k01x or D02. |
#8
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What about using a k03 to play into a d 02? What is the retail price for the d 02?
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#9
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Yikes, Ok I looked it up and for that price, I may as well sell my k03 and get a k01x. But I'll hold off.
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#10
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This is more of an analogy than a direct answer to your K-01X vs. P-02/D-02 question, but so far, in comparing the P-03/D-03 to the K-03X, I find the former more dynamic with more articulate LF, but the latter more delicate and refined in the HF.This is without using an outboard master clock with either set-up. And perhaps even more alarming—and to me puzzling—so far I prefer the P-03 driving my old Universal Audio 2192 ADC/DAC/clock to either of the other two. FWIW, the UA 2192 uses the AKM 4396 chip and a discrete analogue output stage that runs as hot as a 50-watt pure class A power amp. Comparative listening, nevertheless, is ongoing.
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