Upgrade Esoteric K03XD to K01XD?

If you don’t care much about spinning CDs, and your focus is streaming, I would recommend upgrading to the N-01XD. It’s a streaming DAC. No need for a separate streamer. You would then get rid of both K-03XD and N-03t

P.S: the streaming module inside the N-01XD is certified Roon Ready endpoint 

thyname has a good suggestion.

There are some threads about the Esoteric XD series on the AudioShark Forums:

Esoteric (audioshark.org)

Here is a quote from a dealer posting there (Mike from Suncoast Audio):

The historically speaking there wasn’t always a major difference between the K1 and K3. But with the XD series, there is a significant difference between the K-01XD and K-03XD. I believe the K-01XD carries triple the number of delta-sigma chips over the K-03XD. Sonically, there is greater layering and a smoother presentation with the K-01XD. That being said, the K-03XD is a super performer at $14k and it’s the product that got me hooked.

I think that you would need a very transparent system to get a big upgrade in sound from the K-01XD, but that’s just my guess. I know that Mike from Suncoast has a lot of really good gear at his disposal.

How do you like the.N03T streamer?

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.

I hope my local dealer here in the UK will be able to get hold of a K01XD to try it out at home. 

That would of course be the best path forward 

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

Or you can get a simple CD transport for that purpose, hooked up to the N-01XD via AES/EBU or S/PDIF. 

Or you can get a simple CD transport for that purpose, hooked up to the N-01XD via AES/EBU or S/PDIF. 

I second that thought emphatically.

Good transports are still available, including esoteric's own under the TEAC brand name. Just get a used TEAC -- or a pro-ject if you insist on new! Regards