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Esoteric N-05XD opinions please

Hi all,

I’ve been considering the esoteric N-05XD as a streamer cum dac. I don’t want to go with seperates. Will probably add a melco or innuos server down the line for local storage. And will run the esoteric off the ethernet player port of these servers.

I currently have a esoteric K-01 Sacd player. I plan on connecting it to the N-05XD via coaxial. And sync them both with a Teac CG-10M master clock. This might bring the sonics of my aging cd section to date.

 

I always found the dac section of K-01 to be a detail hound. And leaning onto the analysis side in my system. I believe esoteric have moved away from that sound signature with their master discrete dac implementation. Thus, wanted opinions from folks who own one or have auditioned one. Thanks in advance for your time.

 

Thanks and best regards

Mike Y

wrxsti

Showing 4 responses by thyname

thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 

The new(er) XD series have a completely different DAC architecture compared to the previous series. You mentioned K-01, but is it the K-01 (period)? As far as I know, after the K-01, it was the "x" generation, the K-01x, then the generation of K-01xs, and now the K-01xd

thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 

I presently use, I would think any 5k dac will be a big improvement on my current gear.

Mike @wrxsti : I agree with this. You will just to figure out which DAC. You are most certainly in the right path with the N-05xd, but of course, there are many great DACs out there, that have a streamer (network bridge) built in.

I have the N-01XD for the past 2+ years now, and it’s definitely my endgame DAC, until it breaks down I have zero interest in looking at other DACs. The N-05XD was released later / more recently, it’s below the 01xd line, but I bet it’s a great DAC, same sound signature as the N-01XD

thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 

Esoteric own streaming app. It’s also Roon Ready

thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 

@wrxsti :

Iam mainly looking for a more relaxing sound, with slight warmth, but without sacrificing detail in the bargain. Does the new Esoteric sound fit this bill in your good opinion.

To answer your question, but based on my N-01XD only, a resounding YES! Details and sparkle in spades, but not fatiguing or harsh in no shape or form. Best of both worlds, as unbelievable as this sounds. Cannot speak of the N-05xd as I don’t own it, but it should be pretty close. I have heard the N-05xd in a couple of audio shows, and that’s the extent of it.

esoteric’s use the same app as Lumin. Ive read that esoteric has out sourced the streaming software and firmware updates to Lumin.

Technically it’s Esoteric own app, called Sound Stream, but you are correct, almost identical to the LUMIN app barring some visual differences, and built by the LUMIN folks. The software that is, not the hardware. The streaming hardware is Esoteric own in-house

 

 

 

 

 

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