2. digital
  3. 1368968542

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
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
913 posts
 

Hi Denon1,

In response to your question, yes, I have. But don't take my word for it. Try it yourself and trust your own ears.
Let us know. Cheers!
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
913 posts
 

Hi Kiwi,

That was my belief too. But of prime importance here is whether the observation is reproducible because it is only by reproducibility that we can then come to a meaningful conclusion.
I couldn't believe it at first and did not want to believe it but I have A/B'ed the FIR and SLDY filters so many times that indeed the observation is reproducible.

Go figure! Cheers!
denon1
289 posts
 
Guido, Jon202, I have the esoteric burn-in cd that came with my K-01. It has 3 tracks on it, if you familiar with this cd ( 1st track for braking in components and some conditioning, 2nd track for braking in whole system and 3d track for the whole system demagnetization).Does it make sense to play on repeat whole cd when braking player or separate track like track # 2? I never sure what is the best approach.
Thank you.
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
913 posts
 
Hi Denon1,

I am not as fortunate as you in that my unit did not come with the CD. I checked the manual and in the section on "What is in the box", there is no mention of this CD. Your generous dealer must have slipped it in for you.

Anyway, going by your description of the tracks, I would put on repeat only tracks 1 and/or 2. Putting the demagnetization track on repeat is not necessary as you need to demagnetize your system only once in a while.
Cheers!
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 
Hmmm, I am familiar with the CD. I suspect there might be a little marketing spin/creativity on the naming of the tracks... Remember the old Drystan cold/pain remedy... Releaved a total of 12 symptoms, never mind symptoms were more/less repetitive... Whenever I used breakin CD on K-01, for many days at a time, I put the entire CD on repeat... The player did not appear to develop any emotional or respiratory problems as a result. G.
More to discover