Any downside to Esoteric K-03 as a CD transport?

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by Car commander

Yes it worked great. SPDIF connection and simple. I tried a bunch of SPDIF cables and could not tell that it made a difference. The C15 is a nice piece of gear. I owned one for awhile and decided I like playing CD's better. I also think that they sound a little better.
I owned a 808.3 for awhile as well. I think the K-03 and K-01 sound better than the 808.3. But as always that's just my opionion. I didn't think the 808.3 sounded better than the X-03SE I had at the time to compare it to. Then of course there is the SACD issue. The 808.3 is a great sounding player. If I were thinking of making a change I would try to borrow a K-03 (broken in) and see what you think.

Jim
Boy do I disagree with you here. My X03-se was easily bettered by both my MCD-500 and MCD-1100 and the Mac pieces allowed you to access to the DAC's. My Meridian 808.3 is much better than my 1100 when it comes to space between instruments, low level detail and upper bass regions.

I have only auditioned the K-01 and K-03 in unfamiliar set-ups so I cannot directly compare them to my Meridian. In those set-ups nothing jumped out to indicate they would improve what I currently have. An although it has no impact on the decision process of others, I would lose the flexibility of the 808 and its analog inputs and SooLoos connectivity.

[Car commander]

And that's what makes a horse race. Let your ears decide. Unless you listen to it in your system it isn't really revelent. In my system the 808.3 did not better the X03SE. I am not suggesting buying an X03 the K-01 and K-03 are better as have a digital in, that the X03 doesn't.

I read all the tests on the 808.3 so I bought one and tried it. I wasn't very impressed. It's the same money as my K-01 and to my ears, won't touch it. I also did not like the plasitic tray on the 808.3 and it does not play SACD's.

Meridian does a pretty good job of plug and play. The C15 has an SPDIF out so it will connect to any DAC with a SPDIF in.

I have not heard the MAC pieces.

[Masterlu]

Very subjective indeed, I bought an 808.3 and didn't feel it offered any better SQ than my MCD1100 hence I sold it.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Very subjective indeed, I bought an 808.3 and didn't feel it offered any better SQ than my MCD1100 hence I sold it.

Of all of the many products I have borrowed and A/B's in my system over the last years only the Momentums over the 1.2ks stood out more than the 808 over the MCD-1100.

[Car commander]

Time moves fast in the digital arena. Only your ears know. If I were happy with the 808.3 I would not change it.

[howiebrou]

The reason I ask is that the C15 is meant to sound great going into the ID40 / ID41 of the 808.3/5 but how does that compare to the C15 going SPDIF into the 808.3?

If they sound the same then I could be tempted to try a new CDP with digital inputs that also plays SACDs. With all this talk about SACDs it makes me want to dig out my largish collection and listen to them but I can't except with my oppo 95.

I don't want two high end cdp in my system and the 808.3 does provide very good flexibility. May be I should put a cable from my C15 into the Coax input on the 808.3 and see if it betters the Cat 5 route but I seem to remember the cat 5 was the best sounding.

[Car commander]

I did not have the 808.3 and the C15 at the same time. Borrow someones K-03 and see what you think. Or just buy a used one and sell it if you dont like it. Compared to the rest of your setup it's no money.

[budt]

DOes Esoteric have any plans on releasing the K-03 in Black?

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by budt

DOes Esoteric have any plans on releasing the K-03 in Black?

budt.......Welcome to Audio Aficionado.

According to what our Esoteric dealer (Legend Audio & Video) has told us, there will be no black K-03 offered.

[budt]

I live in Canada so I pretty much have to go through a Canadian dealer to get one which is exactly what I did about an hour ago. It should be here in a couple of weeks.