Esoteric K 05 X - Esoteric N 05 XD


I have an Esoteric K 05 X CD player that I would like to keep as a CD case and I would like to connect it as precisely as possible to the Esoteric N 05 xd. What connection would achieve the best possible sound quality?

rolee910

@rolee910 oh yeah I just looked closer. Then you need to get a coaxial SPDIF cable or use one that comes with the device to link to the coaxial SPDIF input on the back

 

Toslink is historically capped at 96kHz even though there are modern toslink cables and implementations that can do 192kHz.

 

So get a coaxial SPDIF interconnect and connect between the coaxial output on the CD player and the coaxial input on the DAC

https://www.esoteric.jp/en/product/k-05x/feature

 

The device has digital outputs as shown in the picture. USB-B is only available as an input on the K 05X.

 

 

@rolee910 and you'd be right.

 

The best connection is a digital out from the Esoteric K 05X into the corresponding digital input on the Esoteric N 05XD

The most stable of those connections is going to be the USB B connection as that carries the most data outside up to 32bit and up to 384kHz sample rate for Linear PCM formats and up to 22.5MHz for DSD formats so all your SACD and CD needs are more than covered.

 

So you need an USB B to USB B interconnect. I assume they shipped with some

 

I can output via the line-level XLR outputs of the K 05x, but then the signal goes through the K 05x's own D/A converter, not the newer N 05 xd, is my theory correct?

xlr would be your best bet 

 

Dave and Troy

audio Intellect NJ

Esoteric dealers