2. digital
  3. 1310002729

Esoteric K03

Good Day,
I've chosen to replace my mod Primare CD31 with the Esoteric K03 after a lengthy audition (an order has been placed!).
The K03 was chosen not only for their CD/ SACD capabilities but also for their Digital input DAC.
However, I'd like to listen to others' experiences on the K03 in term of their sonic characters, reliabilities and whether it is the best bang for your bucks player (32 bits, CD/SACD, DAC, Clock Input, etc).
Will USB cable affect the overall computer playback sounding?
What brand of USB cable do you use?
My system:
Wilson Sophia 3
McIntosh MC501
Audio Research Ref 3
Mod Primare CD31 is out. Esoteric K03 is in
Linn LP12, Dynavector 17D3, Ittok, Lingo
Linn Uphorik
Grover Huffman Sx SCs
Nordost Quatro Fil ICs
LessLoss Sig. PCs on mono blocks fed by Weizhi PRS6
Stefan Audio Art PCs on CDP and Pre fed by Shunyata Hydra 2
TG Audio Black & White 9awg to feed into Weizhi and Shunyata
Vibra Pods & cones on CDP, Pre and TT
Custom Hifi stand using thick mdf and steel rods!
Music pref. mainly Jazz and classical
Thanks
primare_cd31!!!
primare_cd31
denon1
289 posts
 
To the Audiophile’s point, all esoteric cd players require huge ( mayb 800-1000 hours) amount of braking to hear their true potential. Many people don’t beleive in it or getting inpatient (including myself) and making conclusions (hear comes digital glare). My only complaint with esoteric and I saw some other related to this issue posts (form DCS gear owners who use their transports), that their cd mechanisms make audible noise during playback. I had x-03se, x01d2 and k-03. All brand new from dealer. Two of them (x03se and k-03) started making a noise that was audible form my sitting position (11 feet) after about 100 hours of playing. I don’t thik it is acceptable for this level of gear.
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
I've had dozens of their products here over the past 7 years and none of them were problematic from a noise standpoint. All have been dead quiet.

Esoteric makes the finest transports in the world. Even their competition, at times begrudgingly, agrees.

Dealer disclaimer.
badwisdom
145 posts
 
Yeah, the Esoteric transports are terribly noisy. I can't believe NO one ever talks about this.

Made me get rid of the MPS5 from Playback Designs, the Esoteric OEM was awful.
denon1
289 posts
 
Badwisdom, hang on for a while here and Audiofeil with his 100 years experience will tell you that it is not true.
mike60
275 posts
 
I have owned 2 Esoterics over the years and they both were absolutely dead quiet. Maybe i was lucky but i have always thought their build quality is second to none. Cant say the same for some other exotic brands in my experience. I think of all components CD players are the most fallible. No surprise there.
More to discover