Grandioso K1 in the House!

[Springbeg]

Stunning. Congratulations Ivan.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

First Impression; insanely good out of the box, more later!

I will post my initial impressions late tomorrow; we had a number of rather critical upgrades done to AA today which kept Rich and I busy.

[JMT350Z]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Although my unit is the first one delivered in the USA; the serial number is 16

Which means only 15 have been delivered Worldwide.

Wow, that is one gorgeous piece of gear.

[bodiezaffa]

What a statement piece.
Looks beautiful and can't wait to read your review after it's been broken in.
Congratulations my friend.
Enjoy.

[SCAudiophile]

Originally Posted by PlanarSpeakerFan

To get full functioning (384 kHz PCM & DSD 256), USB would be the preferred digital connection. With the coaxial and optical digital connections, you will get reduced functioning (192 kHz PCM & DSD 64).

Ken

Ironic how far things have progressed to where we speak of 24/192 and DSD as reduced functionality!

[Audioseduction]

That CDP looks VERY nice! Big congrats!

[Masterlu]

After 40+ hours of break in, I can categorically state the Grandioso K1 is off the chain in performance. I'm not even sure I have the words to describe what I'm hearing, and feeling. Just imagine your best turntable/cartridge playing with none of the hassle, and zero surface noise. That gives you a rough idea of what the K1 can do!

All these comments are from spinning actual media. First, I must make mention of the remarkable case work. For everyone that already owns an Esoteric player, if you thought the design, fit and finish couldn't get better, you would be wrong.

The Grandioso K1 is aptly named, and clearly Esoteric has pulled out all the stops. This is ever so clear a case of cost no object; when was the last time you saw a 73 lb CD/SACD player. The design is timeless, the execution flawless, but enough about it's beauty, we want to play it.

I always start listening with my most familiar tracks. First up, was Peter White - Ramon's Revenge; a jazz instrumentalist with extraordinary guitar skills. This track is from his "Good Day" album; don't own it yet, just buy it and thank me later.

From the moment it starts, till the final horse gallops away this track will leave you spellbound. Peter's guitar is simply organic/alive, gone are any thoughts that you are listening to a CD, or recorded media for that matter. The K1 is nothing short of miraculous in its ability to breathe new life into music; yes even more so than the venerable K01-X.

Music has pace, rhythm and timing unlike anything I have heard; just short of the full P1/D1 stack at a staggering $80k retail. This coming from a barely broken in player with no clock connected (yet)

Dynamics, soundstage, depth, pinpoint imaging, goose bumps, is all there in spades. I am equally amazed by how Esoteric was able to achieve such a feat from a single box player, albeit 1/2" deeper and heavier than it's K01-X sibling. How they did it really doesn't matter, what does is that this marvel of technology is at my beck and call, in my system.

So, is the K1 all it was expected to be; from my short time with it "absolutely" heck the retail even came in much lower than anyone thought it would be. This was the most excited I have been about getting a new component in a very long time. All this excitement, and the player has yet to hit full stride, or for that matter found it's final home in my all Grandioso system up in Cape Cod, where it will also get to meet a G1 clock.

Heck, I'm already planning an early return to Cape Cod late March to get started. Stay tuned for more, back to the listening room for me.

[bart]

High praise Ivan!
Maybe the sweet spot in the upper Esoteric line?

[SCAudiophile]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

After 40+ hours of break in, I can categorically state the Grandioso K1 is off the chain in performance. I'm not even sure I have the words to describe what I'm hearing, and feeling. Just imagine your best turntable/cartridge playing with none of the hassle, and zero surface noise. That gives you a rough idea of what the K1 can do!

All these comments are from spinning actual media. First, I must make mention of the remarkable case work. For everyone that already owns an Esoteric player, if you thought the design, fit and finish couldn't get better, you would be wrong.

The Grandioso K1 is aptly named, and clearly Esoteric has pulled out all the stops. This is ever so clear a case of cost no object; when was the last time you saw a 73 lb CD/SACD player. The design is timeless, the execution flawless, but enough about it's beauty, we want to play it.

I always start listening with my most familiar tracks. First up, was Peter White - Ramon's Revenge; a jazz instrumentalist with extraordinary guitar skills. This track is from his "Good Day" album; don't own it yet, just buy it and thank me later.

From the moment it starts, till the final horse gallops away this track will leave you spellbound. Peter's guitar is simply organic/alive, gone are any thoughts that you are listening to a CD, or recorded media for that matter. The K1 is nothing short of miraculous in its ability to breathe new life into music; yes even more so than the venerable K01-X.

Music has pace, rhythm and timing unlike anything I have heard; just short of the full P1/D1 stack at a staggering $80k retail. This coming from a barely broken in player with no clock connected (yet)

Dynamics, soundstage, depth, pinpoint imaging, goose bumps, is all there in spades. I am equally amazed by how Esoteric was able to achieve such a feat from a single box player, albeit 1/2" deeper and heavier than it's K01-X sibling. How they did it really doesn't matter, what does is that this marvel of technology is at my beck and call, in my system.

So, is the K1 all it was expected to be; from my short time with it "absolutely" heck the retail even came in much lower than anyone thought it would be. This was the most excited I have been about getting a new component in a very long time. All this excitement, and the player has yet to hit full stride, or for that matter found it's final home in my all Grandioso system up in Cape Cod, where it will also get to meet a G1 clock.

Heck, I'm already planning an early return to Cape Cod late March to get started. Stay tuned for more, back to the listening room for me.

Congratulations again on what is proving to be a stunning single-box player; that stated it is even more amazing that you are writing that on day 2 or 3 and this unit is far from even warmed up let alone broken in.

I've re-read this a couple of times....the $60-$70 (delta) question I'm dying to hear about after you get this broken in and back on the Cape next to the full Grandioso 4-box stack plus G1 is "just what does the 4-box stack do that the Grandioso K1 plus G1 clock don't". Esoteric's multi-box units have always edged out their single-box at each level by a good margin no matter how good the single-box offering has been or is. They tell me that that is true of the 4-box stack BUT I've not seen someone write as emotionally about a single-box unit as you are writing in your Day 3 feedback here which you know has me intrigued given future plans, need to save, etc...

CONGRATULATIONS on a spectacular acquisition of the K1 and the impending G1 clock!!!!!!

[ariess]

When I go to the proverbial desert island and I have to limit myself to 3 or 4 boxes, I will probably choose the K1 as my source. I hope I can get clean power on my island, otherwise what's the point?