Hmmm, I am familiar with the CD. I suspect there might be a little marketing spin/creativity on the naming of the tracks... Remember the old Drystan cold/pain remedy... Releaved a total of 12 symptoms, never mind symptoms were more/less repetitive... Whenever I used breakin CD on K-01, for many days at a time, I put the entire CD on repeat... The player did not appear to develop any emotional or respiratory problems as a result. G. |
The K-03 I purchased came with an Esoteric CD for the K-Series USB Highspeed Drivers for Windows 32/64 Bit & MAC. It appears that esoteric at some point included this disk to avoid having to download from the website. It additionally came packed with an IsoTek Full System Enhancer & Rejuvenation CD mentioned above. Neither of these disks was mentioned the the User Manual. |
@ Gocubs999, Hi, How do you like the player so far, Do you believe it out competes with other players in the same price range or higher?, cheers. |
Audiolabyrinth,
As you know, adding a source component is system dependent and I strongly recommend finding a local dealer if possible to audition before landing on a final decision.
I was looking for a CD/SACD/USB Player prior to buying the K-03. At it's used price range of $6,300 - $6,600, I find this unit to be one of the best in it's price range. Previously using an Ayre QB-9 for Computer Audio playback and an Esoteric DV50S for CD/SACD playback. The K-03 is a significant improvement than both previous units.
Needless to say, I am extremely satisfied with the K-03's overall performance. |
@ Gocubs999, Thanks for your post, I plan on driving 3 hours soon to new orleans, La or Atlanta,Ga that is 5 hours drive, I have no high-end dealers in mobile,Al,,I have planned to audition before I buy this time, LOL!, for now on!, congrats on your k-03, your post helped alot, Thankyou, Happy listening. |
Was seriously considering Esoteric as my next and final player. But it just seems like so much effort to get the proper sound. Also terribly concerned with its lean midrange.
Now considering a tube based player for the warmth and detail I desire. Perhaps one of the Audio Research players.... |
I do believe in break in of electronic equipment and cables but I would NEVER loop my player for hundred of hours on end for all filters and up-sampling combinations. Have you guys ever stopped for 1 min to think that all components inside your player be it a resistor, capacity, power supply etc etc all have a life span??? You are only shortening the life of all the components.
The K-01 is a great sounding player from new so why not just enjoy it and stop worrying about needing 800+ hrs of break in. Besides, if you leave the player on 24/7 like I do, most of the break in is done for you without looping a CD.
Just my 2 cent guys. |
Yashu, check out Luxman. I used to own Esoteric and prefer the Luxman sound. |
Flashunlock,
You nailed it. The sooner this obsession with break-in stops, the sooner we can begin to simply enjoy the music fron this fabulous machine. Cheers! |
Tubed ARC players are lovely as well.... They will probably take a similar amount of time to break in... Unfortunately, by the time the digital electronics is broken in, you might need to start changing the 6550C tube in the power supply.... If my own experience with the ARC Ref3 linestage serves at all, After 1K hours of operations, 6550C might start showing the first signs of sonic sag... Good news is that 6550Cs tubes are not expensive... And after 500 hours more, your 6550C replacement in the power supply will reach its own optimum performance... And so give you bliss for, well you know... the balance of its lifetime.
Bottomline... There are rampant rumors of free lunches somewhere... But I have not eaten one yet *grins!*
Saluti, G. |
Flashunlock, Jon2020
You guys are correct, the K01 sounds great even without break-in. On the other hand, it is built like a tank, it would be pretty tough to wear it out. |
I think nearly all would agree that the Esoteric K-Series is Teac Corps best effort yet.
This however does not mean it best machine for all listening tastes.
For some the Esoterics reading of music, which is neutral, may be considered analytical, matter of fact and aloof from musicality.
This is understandable and for such folks others options thankfully exist from Ayon, Cary, Reimyo, ARC, Zanden etc.
The point really is to "know thyself" when it comes to audio. If you understand your taste in presentation you will hopefully be better positioned to pick products which support that. |
@ Kiwi_1282001, Hi, Well said my friend!, I am going to audition a k-03, However, I am parcel to the musicality group of listeners for digital players, God knows I have enough resolving, detailed sound and body to my sound, I will not have any analitical eanything in my system!, like I said, I will listen to Esoteric, Does not mean I will buy it unless it satisfies my flavor of sound,, cheers. |
Audiolabyrinth, if you audition K-03, include a listen to the Sdly1 filter... Its character might be in the general domain of your sonic preference. G. |
@ Guidocorona, Hi, Thankyou for the info, I will do what you said,, cheers. |
I've just changed my settings on my player. As I reported above, I started with Slow Delay1 plus no upsampling. I became dissatisfied with the sound after awhile and I've now switched to Slow Delay2 with 4x upsampling. this combination currently sounds best to me. after about five months with this player. |
Washline,
That is so good to know. And therein lies the beauty of the K-01. It caters to eveyone's personal taste(even as that, too, changes over time) and/or system, not to mention the recording on hand.
Happy listenng!
|
Yup. Guido up there turned out to be right, but I came to the same conclusion not after a massive break in of that particular setting but after the break in of the other setting. I think using the K-01 over a period of time with one setting does positively affect the break in of other settings as well. |
How would you gentleman describe the sound stage of the esoteric K-01, and K-03 players, roll a front and center, roll h and center, ect..., where is the sound stage placement? |
The first thing that struck with me about the K-01 was how mammoth the soundstage was--wall to wall, front to back. It was giving my vinyl rig a real run for its money. |
I fully concur with Washline as regards the mammoth soundstage. What's also satisfying is that the K-01 provides cues for an excellent sense of the acoustic space within the hall or recording studio. |
Audiolabyrynth, on my system, consisting at the time of Rowland Criterion linestage, Rowland M725 monos, Vienna Die Muzik speakers, and a loom of top flight Aural Symphonics wires, I perceived K-01 staging as follows:
Slow Delay 2 with 4X upsampling: Images starting at front of speakers with excellent layering and depth.
FIR 1 and 2: barely behind front grill of speakers, but perceivably shallower than Sdly2.
DSD: Somewhat front of speakers with superior 3D development.... Even deeper than Slow Delay 2.
G. |
I am going against the grain here. But I let my music tell me when the setting sound the best. For a year I used org setting with S_DLY1. I liked it a lot. 2x and 4x's were a change but a change that lost the feel and the details, kind of like a skim on the images, sound stage was bigger and more forward though, impressive but to me not right.
About a week ago while cleaning my system and reading about up sampling filters and converting 2X and 4X. I read where if the filter was well made try to listen with no digital filter and up sampling. We all read where that would not sound correct, more noise and so forth. Well to my surprise my Esoteric with DF off, and org. Sounded great, more inter detail, better mid range, and highs, more real to keep this simple. I like it run this way for a few weeks, then I sat down and listened and did my usual settings, while not bad, everyone of the bloated the image, sharpened the highs, and well sounded less enjoyable. FIR setting was 2nd best. I then started to read not from reviewers but real folks who under stand digital and how filters work and the myths about digital step ladders and so forth. But with digital coming such a long way from the beginning, recordings that were with care sound best natural with out the extra processing. These setting I've never tried, nor wanted to due to reading what reviewers stated and really none would say give these setting a try, I called Esoteric once and the tech said yes give these a try which I did not due to being brain washed from reading. In fact he said DF off try 4X sampling or DSD mode. I like the natural setting and let the quality of the recording come through, I still cannot believe this, and I've tried several times to go back to using the filters but I cannot. I mean the bottom end is tighter, more powerful, midrange more color and tone, highs more clear. Again, I am surprised but really lucking into trying this which I never did nor would ever consider. I then ready where PS audio said just about the same in keeping things natural thus Is2 which streamed with no conversion. I do miss a little on image size without the S_DLY1, but then I don't think this is correct any longer, different yes, but not normal. I listened to a recording on my turntable and then the same disc with my current setting and I have to say both sounded real good, and the imaging was about the same. Dynamics and tone was better with the digital, the depth and color a touch better in LP. But neither was it night and day, both had their good points. I've been in this hobby a long time and I am still learning, but staying open minded, and like all things in audio you have to try for yourself and find your own truth. |
Hi Philip, there is no right nor wrong... There is only what works best for you. In the end, which setting do you like best....
* 4X upsammpling, No filters
* DSD
* other... Specify.
Guido |
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. |
Hi Dgarretson, what is the list price of the Stanford Research Systems Perf-10 clock? |
$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. |
Guido,
I like DF Off and Org. Much more organic sounding, 2nd S_DLY1 with Org. FRI with Org on recordings that need some body due to poor production. I like none of the 2X or 4X up sampling modes takes way from the recording to much. FIR 2 I like at times. But the more I've listened to DF Off and org sampling. The music sounds more like how it was recorded from my owning many of the CD on vinyl before. Cables of course can make these likes changes. So much goes into the final sound, your room is as big as the gear. |
I think when using the Esoteric el natural org and DF setting much like the SACD when played you are hearing the quality of the DAC's in this unit without manipulating the information off the disc. These units have superb DAC's. I listened to Sinatra this morning, went through all the filter setting that I like and have used, enjoyed a few of them, but every time I went back to el natural setting, Sinatra sounded like a real person singing in front of me, tone of his voice was spot on, his phasing was better, more depth and tone color that makes the reproduction was as real as a system can sound besides live of course. High Hope you could hear the hall Frank was in and the tone of the kids were perfect, use the setting, some areas came more forward, Sinatra's voice got bigger, Bass got fatter, so more hi-fi'ish, back to el natural and everything feel into place how a recording should sound, a balance to it all and much more firmer and detailed bass by far. I must say though I do you a BNC, Digital terminators and Cardas RCA caps for the unused RCA outs on my player, by doing so the noise level drops to such a extent, that your jaw will drop, these small tweaks are well know for any digital sourse, don't use them terminate them. Cost $25.00. I am enjoying my system more and more now. When you start grabbing recordings to replay you know you and found something special. |
Hi PhillyB.... I much prefered Sdly_2 with 4X oversampling.... But there is no right nor wrong... Just personal preferences... And this is exactly why these devices offer us user-selectable settings. G. |
PhillyB,
Your experience very much mirrors my own. I tried the various permutations and combinations initially and found that DSD uosampling with filter OFF was preferred for my system. But one day I just happened to try out ORG with filter OFF and Wow! Yes, as a Sinatra fan myself, the Chairman never sounded better spinning in the K-01. So, I settled on this combination.
Lately, I have moved on and am now using the K-01 only as a cd transport driving a new hi-res dac. Time marches on and so does digital tech in audio.
Still, I am glad you are enjoying the ORG/OFF settings, which I did very much for some time.
Cheers! J. |
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. |
The recording should make or break the sound quality. Always been that way, nice thing is you can use FIR or sdly 1 setting to smooth things out. I never leave Org. though.
No different than a phono cartridge, some are vivid and in your face, others laid back and warm. Anyone who thinks your hearing what was in the studio is only fooling themselves and taken the fun out of this hobby. Like a good cook, a steak can taste a certain way, or many, many other ways. In the end it is our own preferences. Enjoy the music and not the gear. Marketing will always have something new. |
Dgarreston. Use a Harmonic Technology Magic power cord that filters all 3 areas of AC, you won't feel the same. I have 2 of them, thought of selling them, tried several others, pulled my ad and I am keeping the HT cords. There is no equal for front end gear. |
Jon2020 has reported significantly enhanced DAC performance on K-01 by installing the new USB drivers... Suspects that fixpack might include updated DAC firmware. See:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1412493000&openusid&zzGuidocorona&4&& |
After using my K-01 for a year now. I found the best setting for most music is no up sampling (org). With filter set to Sdyl-2. Sound has so much depth, tone, color, transparent with 3D presence. I was rather shocked at the improvement. I never liked this setting when new, funny my Dealer told me back then this was the best and it was how he showed the unit. Of course room and speakers can have a huge impact, but now my K-01 is in a league of its own in any format.
|
I've finally settled on 2X upsampling and FIR 2 filter for the mostly acoustic jazz and classical I listen to on redbook CDs. Greater upsampling results in a blingy, too forward piano, and SDLY filters seem to add a veil similar to what Dolby did on my cassette deck in the 70s. |
You have to let each filter burn in. When I would a/b a setting against the FIR and Org. Setting and i did not like it, like you say a film and bloated. I went to SDYL-2 with Org. As my dealer strongly suggested when I purchased it and gave it a few days and all of a sudden it sounded real good now after a month I cannot go back. Good as any sound system I’ve owned vinyl or digital. Every recordings sounds correct, the artist right in the room 3D. Natural with great color and tone. Does it sound like vinyl, does it sound like stereotypical digital no, it sounds like music and like all forms of reproduction it sounds as good as the recording. My test is to sit in the next room from my system and listen, if I am fooled to thinking I am hearing a session next door, I know it is real good system, only a few times I’ve experienced that in my system or another audiophile system. One was vinyl the other 2 digital CD systems. |
I must mention that power cord used will dictate filter setup. I have enjoyed Org with For 1 and then Org and SDYL 2 when I switched power cords. For more natural cords ORG and SDYL 2. For cords that add more weight then I use Org and FIR 2. On those cords SDYL 2 has a slight veil and lacks detail and dynamics. So you have to learn your system and use the setting that brings out the best. Having a good ear helps. Having a vast collection of all formats in my life I know what certain recordings should sound like. Vocals and piano are a big key to me then mids, lower mids and bass for correct foundation, then speed and transparently. |
