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Esoteric K-01X or K-03X??

I just sold my 6 years old Esoteric X-03SE CD player and 2 years old G-03X Master Clock today. So it’s time for me to decide which is my next CDP: Esoteric K-01X or K-03X?

 I have a friend who bought a K-01X four months ago, he listen to it about 2 months but not happy with the sound (He said not musical and lack of emotion…), then he put it into the box and continue enjoy his Vinyl. Because of our close relationship and this guy is rich, I can get his K-01X around USD 9400 only. If I buy a brand new K-03X, I pay around USD 7500. I know this is a very good deal, and I know many of you will say just go to get this K-01X. Yes, I saw hundred of posts about the good thing of K-01X, but I never have chance to compare it side by side with K-03X. Does K-01X really sound much better than K-03X? 

I’m thinking if we can use quantization to measure these CDP, if you give K-01X 100 scores, then score you give K-03X? 95? 90? 85? ....

So what about compare to K-03X and the my old X-03SE? If you give K-03X 100 scores, then what score you give X-03SE?

I’m thinking maybe I can save some money to buy other things like a 4K color new TV if I choose K-=03X. BTW, I’m not interested in CAS, so DSD has no meaning to me. I just use my CDP to pay my normal Red Book audio CD and SACD. Thanks a lot and have a nice weekend!




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mmbl622

Showing 3 responses by dgarretson

dgarretson
2,615 posts
 
That’s a VG price for a K-01X. I doubt that your friend’s unit is nearly broken in. It took 1000+ hours for mine to come fully on song; after break-in it compares favorably to vinyl. If you do buy it, sell the G-03X clock and purchase a Stanford Research PERF-10. This has the same Rubidium core as the Esoteric G-01.
dgarretson
2,615 posts
 

The selectable upsampling and filtering options apply to both RBCD and SACD from the transport.  My opinion of these options has evolved through the break-in process. After extended break-in is I gravitate toward RBCD upsampled to unfiltered DSD and SACD unfiltered.  However the 10Mhz Rubidium clock makes more of a difference than the upsampling and filtering options.

BTW, the K-01X is sensitive to PCs and platforms.  Hopefully your friend played around with the ancillaries before forming critical judgment.  I'm using a Starsound Sistrum Rhythm rack and a DIY shielded PC with 10awg silver conductors.

A well broken-in K-01X is big, bold, and emotionally involving.

dgarretson
2,615 posts
 
The 22Mhz master clock in the K-01X synchronizes to the PERF-10 at 10Mhz, and all other frequencies are derived within the CDP.You don't need a G-02.  If you purchase a Perf-10, get it with the optional 12Vdc power port for use with an outboard linear PS.

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