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Esoteric K01: What are the best settings for CD?

The Esoteric K01 has several up-conversion and filter options for CD play-back. Unfortunately, each up-conversion option and each filter option requires approximately 500 hours of 'break-in' to sound it's best. I have owned the Esoteric K01 since it's release. It is a superb SACD and CD player. I have 'broken in' some but not all filter and up-conversion settings. I am still unable to decide which combination I like best. I am currently using S_DLY1 (for digital filter) and 2Fs (for up conversion). I would like to know what settings other Esoteric K01 owners like best. It would be helpful if If you can explain why those settings sound better to you than other combinations. I wonder which settings the experts at Esoteric/Teac would recommend?
matjet
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 
Hi Philip, there is no right nor wrong... There is only what works best for you. In the end, which setting do you like best....

* 4X upsammpling, No filters
* DSD
* other... Specify.

Guido
dgarretson
2,394 posts
 
There is still a bit of break-in remaining before I can make a confident judgment about all of these settings on the K-01X, however if you can swing it, a Stanford Research Systems Perf-10 10 Mhz clock makes a much more discernable improvement than any of the upsampling or filter settings on the stock player. With the external clock I'm happiest with 8x SDL2 setting for RBCD and unfiltered DSD for SACD.
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 
Hi Dgarretson, what is the list price of the Stanford Research Systems Perf-10 clock?
dgarretson
2,394 posts
 
$3990 includes an optional 12Vdc port to connect an external linear PS as an alternative to the integrated switching power supply. IME that option proved worthwhile in concert with a Paul Hynes PS. Reportedly Uptone Audio sells a very good one as well.

SRS supplies the identical rubidium core to Esoteric for its G-01.
phillyb's avatar
phillyb
233 posts
 
Guido,

I like DF Off and Org. Much more organic sounding, 2nd S_DLY1 with Org. FRI with Org on recordings that need some body due to poor production. I like none of the 2X or 4X up sampling modes takes way from the recording to much. FIR 2 I like at times. But the more I've listened to DF Off and org sampling. The music sounds more like how it was recorded from my owning many of the CD on vinyl before. Cables of course can make these likes changes. So much goes into the final sound, your room is as big as the gear.
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