Esoteric N-05 un-boxing

[vinod_david]

Horizontal arrangement would've been nice. Vertical doesn't look nice. IMO.

[Douglas]

Hmmmmmmm, it will sound good hooked up to a $40,000 DAC! It would be great to know, for us mere mortals, how it stacks up to say a K-O3X as a stand-alone unit.

[J2020]

Originally Posted by Douglas

Hmmmmmmm, it will sound good hooked up to a $40,000 DAC! It would be great to know, for us mere mortals, how it stacks up to say a K-O3X as a stand-alone unit.

+1, Douglas.

[adol290]

Originally Posted by Douglas

Hmmmmmmm, it will sound good hooked up to a $40,000 DAC! It would be great to know, for us mere mortals, how it stacks up to say a K-O3X as a stand-alone unit.

I would also be interested.....

[doguniverse]

Ditto here too......

[Pixelwerx]

Hi, new user here, I'm happy to be here, it seems like a great audio forum.

I am very interested in getting this player one day, but I have a question. It looks as though it does not come with a remote. Is that true? That kinda bums me out. I like to use a Harmony remote / app combo to turn my system on before heading downstairs. It's not the end of the world to physically turn it on, but in this day and age, a remote should be a given.

[mdp632]

Originally Posted by Douglas

Hmmmmmmm, it will sound good hooked up to a $40,000 DAC! It would be great to know, for us mere mortals, how it stacks up to say a K-O3X as a stand-alone unit.

No member here. I'm interested this product as well as how it stacks up to the 05 and 03x. In specific, the DAC performance. I don't need a transport but, would consider one if the respective audio performance was superior.

[J2020]

While we wait for the N-05 to burn in adequately before Ivan's response, I would like to share my personal experience with the N-05 in my system.
I had the K-01 for about 3 years before recently acquiring the N-05 which now has about 350 hours of burn-in.
The following observations apply only to my system and my ears.

1. As I am quite familiar with the upconversion/filter settings of the K-01, I settled down to ORG upconversion and OFF filter for all redbook/hires PCM files after 200 hours of burn-in. With DSD files, I use DSDFilter OFF.

2. I am using Windows 10 and JRiver MC 19 with DSP off, DoP for DSD files and set to play from RAM.

3. I use a thumbdrive coupled to an AQ Jitterbug and ported to the PC, Oyaide Continental 5S(all silver) usb cable from PC to the iFi/AMR USB 3.0 which reclocks and regenerates the usb signal. The SQ via this route handily beats playing from the PC's internal hard disk.

4. From the iFi USB 3.0, a bihedral Gemini cable (from the same company) splits power from the audio signal before going to the N-05's usb input.

5. The remote is an app for iPad/iOS workable only via the network. I have not hooked up the N-05 to the network as the router is too far away from my rig.

6. In comparison with the K-01 spinning discs in its transport, the SQ from the N-05 configured as above beats out the K-01 in every regard. This is a night and day difference and not subtle. As from my earlier post, this could be due to the new gen AK 4490 chip in the N-05 but its usb implementation, power supply and analog output stages may all play important roles as well.

7. To me, moving from the K-01 to the N-05 is a massive upgrade for all formats - redbook/hires pcm/dsd. Good redbook can sound as good as hires.

8. There is more detail without any added glare or harshness, instruments are better fleshed out with a more solid bass foundation, highs are airier and more transparent while the overall result is much more musical than the K-01.


Hope the above helps in giving an idea as to how the N-05 will stack up against the Grandioso/K-01X/K-03 X all of which share the AK 4495 chip which is a step up from the AK 4490 used in the N-05/K-05X/K-07X.

Now, let's wait to hear from Ivan.

Rgds.
Jon.

[Thumbdrive with AQ Jitterbug -> Windows 10 PC with JRiver -> Oyaide usb cable -> iFi/AMR USB 3.0 -> Gemini bihedral cable -> Esoteric N-05 ->
Ayre K-5xeMP preamp -> Bryston 28B SST2 monoblocks -> Vienna Acoustics The Musik; Kimber Select/Silver Streak ic's, Kimber Select sc, Shunyata Triton, Shunyata/PS Audio pc's, Harmonix by Combak footers, Shun Mook pendulum stand.
Industry Affiliation : None]

[Yardbird]

Jon,

Thanks for taking the time to post a detailed description of your configuration as well as your performance experience with the N-05 , especially as it contrasts with the sound from your K-01. Very useful. Ted.

[aardvarkbark]

Originally Posted by 2fastdriving

Put it all on my credit card.

Could you please put my stack on his cc too? You have my shipping address on file.