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Esoteric K01: What are the best settings for CD?

The Esoteric K01 has several up-conversion and filter options for CD play-back. Unfortunately, each up-conversion option and each filter option requires approximately 500 hours of 'break-in' to sound it's best. I have owned the Esoteric K01 since it's release. It is a superb SACD and CD player. I have 'broken in' some but not all filter and up-conversion settings. I am still unable to decide which combination I like best. I am currently using S_DLY1 (for digital filter) and 2Fs (for up conversion). I would like to know what settings other Esoteric K01 owners like best. It would be helpful if If you can explain why those settings sound better to you than other combinations. I wonder which settings the experts at Esoteric/Teac would recommend?
matjet

Showing 3 responses by dgarretson

dgarretson
2,612 posts
 
I do like the unfiltered PCM setting on the K-01X-- a vivid and open sound. However with some CDs or after extended listening this setting becomes fatiguing. The unfiltered noise products get under the skin.
dgarretson
2,612 posts
 
There is still a bit of break-in remaining before I can make a confident judgment about all of these settings on the K-01X, however if you can swing it, a Stanford Research Systems Perf-10 10 Mhz clock makes a much more discernable improvement than any of the upsampling or filter settings on the stock player. With the external clock I'm happiest with 8x SDL2 setting for RBCD and unfiltered DSD for SACD.
dgarretson
2,612 posts
 
$3990 includes an optional 12Vdc port to connect an external linear PS as an alternative to the integrated switching power supply. IME that option proved worthwhile in concert with a Paul Hynes PS. Reportedly Uptone Audio sells a very good one as well.

SRS supplies the identical rubidium core to Esoteric for its G-01.
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