Upgrade Esoteric K03XD to K01XD?

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.

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.

The clock output in N-01XD is a Word Clock (not reference 10 MHz master clock), and can be set to 44.1 or 48 Khz. So it depends on what the clock input format on CD transport is.

As far the quality of the DAC in the N-01XD vs. K-01XD, it is the same DAC. However, connections, layout, wiring, etc. are different, accommodating just a streaming module in the N-01XD vs. an entire CD drive in the K-01xd. I have read from people in the internet that as a DAC alone, the N-01xd is better, but, don't take my word for it.

You guys have ANY idea at all, about how many guys think they are "ripping their  SACDs" but the result (which still sounds very good) is actually nothing more than the Redbook layer of the SACD?