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Esoteric P03 - D03

Hi all,

I currently own an Esoteric X01-D2. I'v recently been offered a very good! deal from my dealer to trade this for a stock P03-D03 distributor wants to get out. I was no expected as I was really shopping for an analog extension to my system. So I have accepted.

I was very happy with my X01, although I think it was actually better (in relative terms) with red book CDs than with SACDs, contrary to what magazines say. However, given I'm basically buying at second hand price for a new unit, and returning the X01 at a very good price, I decided to go ahead.

AS said I was happy with the X01-D2. Reasons for change, basically 2: Flexibility of a separates, specially allowing me to use DACs digital input with my streaming mod transporter, if desired. It can also handle higher saple downloads than the transporters DAC.

Of course, a gain in overall quality. Specially when it comes to SACDs, but also to CDs, given the D03-P03 working together flexibility and configuration alternatives. I've read a lot about how good this 2 together are, but have not had any direct feedback.

Regarding this last point, a question: I've been told by my dealer that Esoteric importer says the best way to connect these 2 is new Esoteric i-link cable. I don't think I want to go this way, but have no experience. Not only the cable has to be very expensive... but from reading the manual, digital XLR seems the way to go. I-link seems to be more oriented to multichannel, which I don't really care for in this se up. Any suggestions? How are you, other P03-D03 owners doing this connections and what are your experiences on it? Also, any direct experience among these 2 units. What areas of improvement should I expect, in your own experience, compared to the X01-D2?

Thanks
Eli
eelii08

Showing 7 responses by guidocorona

guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Eli, you should consider asking best way to connect D-03/P-03 directly to Esoteric (TEAC America). Call Tim Crable at 323) 726-0303.

May I ask what settings you were using for your redbooks and SACDs on D2?. . . e.g. oversampling to DSD for redbooks?

BTW, performance of P-03/D-03 will further benefit from the application of an external clock. . . G-0Rb being the most advanced in the Esoteric lineup. G.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Classicjazz, have you already compared P-03/D-03 combo side by side with X-01 D2? Any comments? G.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Some Esoteric transports are slightly noisy. . . others in the same models are dead quiet. The mechanical whirring of the transport mechanism appears to have no bearing on the sound. At 350 hrs Esoteric gear barely starts to breathe. . . once you get to 800 hrs you will start have an idea of what your device can do for living. . . at 1200 hours it will have reached adulthood. . . . then you will be really smiling! Keep us posted. G.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Eli, I suspect that with 200 or 300 hours you will have just tickled the P-03/D-03 combo into life. . . not really broken it in. Expect the two creatures to evolve for much longer until they reach musical maturety.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Eli, I have not tried any of the Esoteric wires yet. SR are not my preference. I have found that the Shunyata CX series King Cobra works wonderfully on my X-01 Limited, my Rowland Criterion and the Rowland Model 312 amp. . . King Cobra is a true generalist. . . in theory, a 5 gage PC should be best on a power amp only, but somehow KC seems to generate a great soundstage without any bloat on every component I have tried this far. . . wonderful and non fatiguing extension, and harmonic exposure to die for. For ICS I have had extremely good results with Furutech Evolution II and custom Furutech wires called High End Performance, assembled from bulk Furutech wires. As my digital front end is a 1-box unit, I have no experience with digital wires. G.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Eli, I have an X-01. . . My friend babybear has P-03/D-03/G-0s. . . His transport is as quiet as a mouse. Guido
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Eli, Babybear's transport has been totally silent from day 1. A friend of ours has a noisy P-03 transport instead. Guido
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