Upgrade Esoteric K03XD to K01XD?

Thanks for your response.

I use an Esoteric N03T for a streamer, connecting with a USB cable to the K03XD.  I have a Roon NUC with an SSD inside to which I rip some CDs via the network using Anyburn.  So far, I am quite happy with that.

I considered Aurender but liked Roon so went another route.

Thanks for your suggestions.

I can see the thinking behind the idea of repIacing the current streamer and cd player with the N01XD but I have a fair few cds and I'm not quite ready to abandon the possibility of playing discs altogether. 

I'm not sure how transparent my current system is.  It's certainly the best system I've ever had.  At the moment I've got a Bryston 4B3 amp and a BP26 pre, PMC fact 12 speakers supplemented by 2 Velodyne DD10s.  I'm considering replacing the amps with a Gryphon Diabolo.  Once the 333 is out and about it would be worth listening to.

I will peruse the Audioshark forum, thanks for that. 

I hope my local dealer here in the UK will be able to get hold of a K01XD to try it out at home.  I thought it would be a good idea before doing so to draw on the knowledge in this forum.

I like the N03T streamer very much; I see both Esoteric devices more or less as one machine.  It is a huge improvement over just plugging the Roon NUC into the K03XD.

Interesting ideas, thanks. 

Do you know if the DAC inside the N01XD is the same as the one in the K01XD?

My local hi-fi dealer stocks CEC transports which might be worth looking at.  I find the idea of a belt-drive CD transport intriguing.

Thanks for your reply.

I had a look at the Esoteric website but don't know what differences in diagrams would mean regarding sound quality.

I have very few SACDs.

If the DACs are the same in the 01XD devices, and better than in the K03XD, and as I play CDs not that often anymore, it makes sense, as thyname suggested, to buy the N01XD and add a reasonably priced transport.  The N01XD is somewhat cheaper than the K01XD and I would be able to trade in my K03XD and the N03T.

The N01XD has a clock output which I could attach to the transport, I assume.  I read this would enhance sound quality for CD playing.