Unsatisfied with Esoteric K-01: Alternatives?

Hi No1willfan, I found that K-01 sounds very different, depending on filters and upsampling, ranging from slightly "matter of fact" to sweetly tube-like. I also discovered that each filter appears to be implemented on its own piece of silicon logic, and so needs its own tediously long break in time of about 500 hours of music/noise.... Same for the upsampling settings. In the end, I found that the most tube-like setting was generated by the Slow Delay 1 filter in combination with 4X upsampling. However, my highly preferred setting for an ideal balance of resolution and emotionality was the apodising Slow Delay 2 filter with 4X upsampling.

Guido

Hi No1willfan, I operated K-01 in a balanced configuration. Did you operate K-01 in balanced or single ended mode? It might make a difference. I would like to have also your observations about K-01 with the DSD engine.... Oddly enough, that was my least favorite: I found it to be a little over the top.... yes very transparent, lots of detail, but also with the slighted burr in the treble, and with a tendency to overemphatic transients.... It prevented me from immersing myself into the musical message, while I could spend hours vanishing into the music with SDly-2 and 4X upsampling.

I had the opportunity of listening to K-01 controlled by an Esoteric G-0S clock at RMAF for several hours, and I found the sound enhanced much further, and even more musically satisfying... But I never had G-0S in my own system.

One thing I found with Esoteric players (K-01 and X-01), is that they are very sensitive to cabling, power cords, and conditioning. I had the most musically satisfying results with Shunyata ICs and PCs, as well as with the Shunyata Triton conditioner or the IsoTec Sigmas conditioners... But this could just be in the nature of digital front ends, rather than a characteristics specific to Esoteric alone.

Saluti, Guido

Hi No1willfan. You are right, I was very surprised as well that the G-0S clock made any difference on K-01, let alone a marked difference. On the other hand, to say it with Igor Stravinsky... I tend to judge the tree by its fruits, not by its roots. *grins!*

Reading your previous couple of posts, I suspect that no matter what, K-01 may never be able to become your cup of tea.... While some of us consider K-01 extremely refined and musical for what we perceive as an evenly filigreed presentation across the frequency spectrum, particularly in SDly2 4X, the device does not attempt to be a champion of midrange bloom, and even in SDly1 4X it gives midrange bloom only lip-service.

Saluti, G.

"Fast forward appr 1000 hrs and I can tell you that I will not look for any other player! " ... "It is an amazing player - you just need to give him enough time to break in"

I'll drink to that DecibelK-01 takes a long time to mature and bloom into glory.

G.

Hi George, which filter / upsampling settings on K-01 did you find unsatisfactory? G.

George, I'm really sorry to hear that.... Filters on K-01 do a great deal of work. I agree that without filters and with no upsampling, the sound of K-01 is something that only its Moma could love.

Yet, the 5 filter options combined with the upsampling options let the user taylor the behavior of the unit a great deal.... If you enjoy a warm sound, all you need do is select S_dly1.... And then upsample / or not to taste. For me, Nirvana was reach with S_dly2 and 4x upsampling.

Of course, if you are allergic in principle to the very concept of filters and upsampling... That would be a different ball of wax.

JAFont, X-03 and X-03 SE is a very slightly trickled-down implementation of the X-01 former flagship single box player.... The DV series was created for a lower end mid-tier market.... Yes, there is a noticeable sonic difference between the X series and the DV series.

If your budget can fit an X-03 or X-03SE player... Go for it!

G.