New Esoteric P02 D02

Hi Operalover, how many hours of break-in did D-02 have... and what upsampling / filtering settings had been applied on the two units? G.

comparison done after 500 hours break-in D-02.

tried several upsampling/filtering.

in fact, any upsmapling/filtering setting did not change the fundamental character. (upsampling/filtering only adjusted to the taste preference, not the fundamental character)For example, the exaggerate soundstage, and pushy character.

My friends are amateur concert musicians and conductors. My better-half pointed out the locations of instruments were too far apart compared with those in real concerts.

And more importantly, we were feeling tired after an hour or so of listening. (For example, during the day, we turned on the tuner all the time. We could do so using D-01. But for D-02, we turned it off after an hour or so.)

Hi Operalover, at 500 hours D-02 was unlikely to be broken in.... In addition to the basic 500 hours breakin, D-02 likely requires another 500 hours on each targeted filter+upsampling value. Before the machine has settled completely, D-02 is likely to exhibit some residual aggression. On the other hand, an exhuberant stage/imaging may exists by design.

A D-01 unit would have had time to settle down for quite a spell... D-02 at 500 hours is a mere youngling DAC, with all the emotional problems of a tempestuous adolescence.

On the other hand, I freely admit that I am extrapolating from my experience with single box X-01 and K-01, which is a somewhat risky logical proposition... Pharma should comment, having had significant direct experience with most Esoteric front ends.

G.

Before I decided to give up D-02 (sold already), it continued to run day and night until around 800 hr.
Until the point I thought why I needed to spend several thousands hours just to break in D-02, with unknown result?
On the other hand, second-hand D-01 VUK is readily available with well broken-in.
So D-02 was sold, D-01 was sold, and now D-01 VUK is in home; very relax, with good details at the same time.

Hey Opera Lover, Spent better part of yesterday doing a Ypsilon DAC 100 Esoteric D-02 comparison. I've had my D-02 a year now, and would say it is as broken in, settled in, etc. anyway it is "in". The D-02 is by far the best Esoteric I've have heard, and I had the X-01/D2 and the K-01 after that, I still have the X-01/D2 for that matter.
The Esoteric sound as a whole is extremely detailed with incredible resolution, sounds are easy to deliniate and are very well sorted. That hasn't changed from the X-01 to the K-01 to the D-02/P-02, the progression has just gotten easier to listen too. No doubt the current Esoteric stuff is the best so far.
But, if I had it all over to do again, I would have paid better attention to the Hybrid stuff that is out there. After the Ypsilon DAC100 A/B with the D-02, I would not hesitate to move to the Ypsilon. And I love the Esoteric D-02/P-02, but overall, there is a general lack of musicality to the overall sound that was easily noticed in the Ypsilon. Now the Ypsilon has a tube in the output stage and does not upsample at all. In fact it only plays Redbook, and does so at a State of the Art playback. The listening was a pleasure . Now not to throw the D-02 out the window, I am still very pleased with the D-02, it does most things at a very high level, it just lacks a relaxedness to the overall presentation.
So I can see why you would be attracted to the D-01 Vuk, as it surely the most relaxed sound Esoteric has to date.