2. digital
  3. 182904-170700

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
wrxsti OP
15 posts
 

Hi @doboree

The N-05 was launched sometime in 2015 if my memory serves me right. Today's dac's are almost a few decades, if not a generation ahead in technical advancements. Thus, the N-05 XD should be improvement over the older N-05 by a considerable margin I would presume. I have their K-01, which has a similar dac implementation to the N-05 with AKM chips. The newer N-05 XD is a completely newer implementation of their in house developed dac and a different sound completely.

 

Going for a N-05 today, will be a step back in time in my honest opinion. All the best. 

Post removed 
doboree
4 posts
 

@wrxsti Thank you for your reply. I bought Weiss Dac 501 & i am quite happy with it.

wrxsti OP
15 posts
 

@doboree

Hearty congratulations on your new acquisition :)

Bet it sounds fantastic :)

jafant
18,831 posts
 

wrxsti

 

What other gear is in your System? Esoteric is a sonic match for Accuphase and Conrad Johnson, as both brands, add a measure of warmth that will off-set any analytical interpretation.

 

Happy Listening!

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