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  #31  
Old 12-09-2018, 08:26 PM
gadawg gadawg is offline
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Just a quick update here as I'm still trying to ensure the unit is fully broken in across all upsampling rates .... Had some friends over recently and everyone still agreed that the EMM Labs was still in the lead. Then, last week I finally took the leap and replaced all my stock or fairly cheap AQ NRG4 power cords with Transparent Reference Cords and added the Reference Isolator being fed by an XL Powercord. Obviously I wasn't much on the power cord bandwagon before but I get it now ... one of the biggest changes I've ever made to the system! That said ... with all new power cords in place I flipped over to the K-01XS and noticed that the gap between the EMM Labs DA-2 Ref and the K-01XS has been substantially narrowed. Maybe even to the point of it being really hard to tell. Will make sure I finish getting enough hours across all upsampling rates before I do another shoot out but the Esoteric did seem to benefit substantially more from a better PC than did the EMM Labs. More to come ...

George
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  #32  
Old 12-09-2018, 11:07 PM
SL1800 SL1800 is offline
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Congrats George!!
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  #33  
Old 12-11-2018, 07:26 AM
gadawg gadawg is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SL1800 View Post
Congrats George!!
Thank you sir! Really enjoyed the visit a few weeks back!

George
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  #34  
Old 12-21-2018, 08:04 AM
gadawg gadawg is offline
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Final Update ... well things here have taken a bit of a turn...

As I got my power and isolation platform in place the k-01xs really took on a new personality. I also realized that I hadn't used the same interconnects with it that I had the EMM Labs so I fixed that also. Now I immediately noticed that the depth and width of the sound stage was every bit as good as the EMM Labs which is really saying something. The EMM Labs may have still had a bit of an edge on low level detail and placement of images but the Esoteric in my system now was more dynamic and the images were more solid. Both units sounds fairly neutral until you listen to them back to back then you realize that there is in fact a tad bit more warmth to the Esoteric than the EMM Labs. Some will like one better than the other as with certain music each sound has its merits. The EMM Labs still maybe had a taller sound stage but they are close. The Esoteric also is stronger in the bass department. Some of my friends I think liked the bass from the EMM Labs better saying it was more detailed but I thought the bass extension had plenty of detail with the Esoteric and I got hooked on the Authority and weight of the Esoteric. So ... maybe surprisingly to some, I got to where every time I went back to the EMM Labs I wasn't tapping my feet as much and getting as lost in the music as I was with the Esoteric. One thing is for sure... they are both great units but to me this underscores the incredible value the K=01XS brings to the table when it can even complete with a DAC of this calibre and price range. So...the EMM Labs has found a new home and I'm a happy Esoteric listener now. There is a footnote here ... I called Ivan to discuss options and you can guess what happened next ... I now have a D-02X on the way after the first of the year which we believe will take the sound to the next level. Once that gets settled in I'll probably swap out the K-01XS as a transport for the P-02X to fully unlock the potential of my CD and small but growing SACD collection.

So .. that's a wrap folks and hope all of you have a wonder Merry Christmas and an awesome New Year!

George
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  #35  
Old 12-21-2018, 08:09 AM
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Thank you for your review.
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  #36  
Old 12-21-2018, 09:22 AM
Levitator Levitator is offline
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Nice review George - keen to year your review of the D-02X v K-01Xs when the new piece lands!
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  #37  
Old 12-21-2018, 09:57 AM
Higgens Higgens is offline
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Well done, George. I like that the review was conducted over a period of 10 days or so plus you had extra ears to assist. Glad to hear the Esoteric held it’s own against more expensive competition.
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  #38  
Old 12-21-2018, 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Levitator View Post
Nice review George - keen to year your review of the D-02X v K-01Xs when the new piece lands!
Well I'm hoping it takes it to the next level or I'm going to feel pretty stupid!

George
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  #39  
Old 12-21-2018, 01:17 PM
SL1800 SL1800 is offline
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Wow George!! Congrats on all the changes and improvements.
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  #40  
Old 12-21-2018, 05:53 PM
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Masterlu Masterlu is online now
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George... no worries about feeling anything but flabbergasted.



This Combo is at the insane level of Performance.
__________________
Ivan
FLORIDA
MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES
CAPE COD

MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES

Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES
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