To Esoteric P03/D03 owners: try iLink


Hi,

Remember a year and a half ago or so, talking here on best way to connect the two. All said best way was AES/EBU X2. it seems logical. You could use Esoteric ESlink, and all the "uping" they offer. That is what I did and sound was great. I chosed to listen converting to DSD.

Now the other day a Mexcell esoteric iLink cable felt in my hands by coincidence from old stock of an ex esoteric long time dealer. He told me to try it, and said I had been under using the separates capabilities since the first day. He gave it to me for free, since he does not sell these anymore for a long time... Since he had no economic interest at all, thought he could have a point, although from specs did not make a lot of sense, and decided to give it a try.

Well... The sound is much better. Not a minor change. In all areas. Please try it if you havent and if you can. The thing is like 800 USD, but well worth it, at least in my case. Try to borrow or test; your esoteric dealer should be able to offer a demo (well I got it free but would pay that if I had to). CDs will be played at 44 and SACDs in DSD. No other options. It bypasses the converdion electronics. im not really a tech guy. Seems with Ilink it does perfect bit reading and streams to DAC directly. The ex dealer said it was the best purest way and much cheaper...

Well, not sure on the tech aspects, but soundwise the is a difference, big one, for the better. Not in one particular area. All over; resolution, texture, bass, imaging... You name it. Highly recommended. Major upgrade... Hate those words when talking of cables but...

It could have to do with quality of Mexcell vs my older brand and not the type of cable? Could be but I doubt it very much. I like my old brand a lot and are high quality in all their offering. But regardless of how expensive, Have never heard such a change from swaping a brand of a cable. I will try to borrow the XLR versions of esoteric Mexcell althoug they are insane in price. But just to double check.

In any case just wanted to share this with you, nad if you havent try it I strongly recomend you do as soon as you can (but pkease borrow first. Could be something specific to my system... - doubt it- but do not want to be blamed for amking you guys expending money...)

Any views, experiences from other users?

Oh, and the SACD playing is just something else now....

Best
Eli
eelii08
Well Kevin, the Mexcells made me change the way I listened to the 03s. Really. Both iLink and Balanced were much much better than any other brand I've tried regardless of price.

Which again brings me to say that considering the less than 800 USD the Esoteric iLink costs, it is the best, by far, price performance I know (actually it is the best performance, period, with the only exception of the cables that you have).

The Esoteric Balanced are better. BUT, and this is in my personal opinion and with my system, they are only better if you play the original rates. If you upconvert, then I liked better the iLink.

Much better actually when up converting CDs to DSD. This was the worst sounding alternative, to my taste again, when comparing the 2 cables.

Upconverting to 176 was better than to DSD, but still I liked better iLink at original rate. Better definition, more detail, more like the real thing, but still very musical. Maybe a bit less bass (not even sure) but better defined.

Now when using the balanced with up convertion and filters off, that is when the 6300 got better than iLink. Not by a huge margin but yes, it was clearly better.

All the above is a big surpise to me. Before trying Esoteric I always listened to the 03s (for almost a year and a half) in DSD or sometimes 176. Sounded better. Now I see I was missing a lot for such a long time. Not that the other way around was not good. It was. Is just that with these cables it is much better. Is ironic that I discover this just when I changed to the new 02s.... so basically been underusing the 03s for many listening hours...

So in your case, you are fine. More than fine. You already own the best, to my knowledge. The question really comes to someone who has to buy cables: do they go for the very expensive balanced or for the iLink. Hard to say really. It will of course depend on each one's budget and perception of value. I would recommend people to try both before they buy. Price difference is big, and sound wise is not in the same proportion.

I would say if Balanced are 10, iLink is maybe 9 or 8,5. Is the last point or point and a half worth the extra 7000 USD....? That is for each one to decide....

These results came after long listening sessions, with mostly classical music of all kind, and of course in my system and my room. In other systems things could change. Also maybe with other styles. However I know by now very well how system sounds and can tell changes easily, and very familiar also with music played, so very confident with the findings.

Best
Eli
Thanks Eli, Tremendous effort on your part and I'm grateful for it, (and yes, glad to hear that your findings further validate my own!~) Just wondering, are you using an external clock, or did you have the P-03 slaved to the D-03 clock?

Thanks again. Kevin
No clock.... Which makes me think...

I tried the clock in the past twice. Two different times I borrowed from my dealer. Both times I already was familiar with the 03s sound.

I was more than ready to buy if I could hear a difference for the better. Was actualy wanting, in a way, to hear the improvement. But none of the times I was able to hear any big improvement at all. Maybe a small one, but not even sure. Nothing conclusive after extended listening. So both times i declined to buy.

I wonder if the result would have been different if i had listened to the clock with Esoteric cables. Maybe not, but they did change the playing mode of preference big time, so who knows.

Wont be able to try. I already traded in the 03s and with the new 02s with only a few hours on them, clocked to the DAC, I dont have the intention to try the clock for a long while at least til Im familiar with these.

Best
Eli
Makes perfect sense to me, and I wouldn't be too surprised to hear that the 02 obviates the need for an outboard clock.

Thanks again, and enjoy!

Kevin