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Esoteric n-01 xd vs DCS Bartok

Hi all
I have been changing my gears a bit now. I am in final step in finishing my set up. Now I am down to decide on a good high end streamer/dac.
My system is aerial acoustics 7T, with 2 REL S5/SHOs, Luxman 590axii, Lumin T2, acoustic zen absolute speaker cables, Harmonic technology power cords and cards cross XLR inter-connects. I primarily listen streaming on roon using tidal and Quboz.
Lumin T2 was actually purchased recently. I like it but want to step up. I wish I had decided to go higher dac before purchasing lumin T2, but now I want to get an end game streamer/dac lasting at least for 3-5 yrs.
After reviewing and hearing from people, I am considering esoteric n-01xd and dcs bartok. I have heard esoteric n-01 but not the xd version and they sounded great. My dealer says xd sounds awesome. Saw the specs and they use grandioso’s 64 bit dac and better clock and power supply compared to n-01. I have not heard dcs bartok but have seen rave reviews. I don’t care music being very analytical but like more musical, non-fatiguing with good 3D-soundstage. Is it worth going up the price to this level. I have heard lumin x1 but they are not my taste. Has any body listened these gears ? What are your thoughts and suggestions ? Appreciate your inputs. Other option I am considering is to use my lumin t2 as streamer and connect to dac like chord Dave or Bricasti. M1SE. 
Thanks in advance. 
On a lower price range, I am considering Naim ndx-2 or esoteric n-05.
romney80
thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 
Thanks for sharing your impressions @romney80
Post removed 
hifixman
5 posts
 

Well I feel Bricasti DAC is really like a playback design MPD 5 except the lacking depth and height. Bricasti has higher resolution and microdetails than most dacs while containing analogue sound without being harsh as Wavedream Rockna which also lacks depth and height but with probably the highest level of resolution.

I pulled the trigger for N05XD because it has the best three dimensionality, stage width and depth (Macro-details) while maintaining equally top level of imaging and Macro-details which DCS and May KTE lack.

N-01XD more analogue with fuller body and better details than N05XD. Yet my system is all black and unfortunately N01XD doesn't have black color. I am hesitant and thinking of investing an Aurrender as streamer to enhance the body and analogueness as well as a Mutec master clock ( other brands of master clock are all silver) to enhance the details, which will add the price even above N01XD lol. Maybe I should just buy playback Designs but then it doesn't have black color neither, and the MSP5 is half black and half white while the dream dac is dark blue. 

Sonically the competitors of Esoteric NO1XD should be Playback Designs and/or Soulnote. I feel playback designs and MSB Discrete are both more analogue with better body, bass and weight note than Esoteric Discrete dac but they are not as big in three dimensionality as Esoteric, even though in terms of stage they are already top notch and better than most flagships. Esoteric has probably the best 3d sound that makes Lumin X1 sound as 2D noticably lacking depth and height in my ab comparison.

But man don't you think the Esoteric N05XD looks sooooo sexy?

 

 

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