Esoteric SACD player owners, do you use the built in DAC or an external DAC and why?

Thanks. Had the chance to do some A/B tests. While the DAC in the K-05 is great, I think the DirectStream Junior DAC is superior in certain aspects. Better midrange and bass. The K-05 is a bit better on the top end. This must be how they were designed. The PS Audio just sounds more analogue to me. I bet the DirectStream senior would take things to the next level.

I just use my DV60 as a stand alone unit. Since I primarily use it to playback redbook, I am more than pleased.

Thanks! The K-01X is much higher than my K-05. I haven’t been using it much, since adding a PS Audio DirectStream Junior DAC. The DirectStream has auto input switching and makes it easy to go from TV to network streamer. Plus it has a remote to turn it on and off.
I wish the Esoteric could be turned on via remote and switch the inputs via remote.
I initially wanted to make things simpler for my teenage kids to use the system, since I have a big 75 in TV and Xbox in the room.
But now that they are older and have their own TVs and don’t use the room much, I am revisiting making use of the K-05.

The K0-1X has an excellent DAC and USB input that I’ve been using with a SOtM EN renderer and USB conditioner. One nice thing is that both SOtM devices and K0-1X can be slaved to an external 10mhz clock. So far I have not been tempted to look elsewhere.