I own a K-03 considered a great single box player and have owned several other Esoterics (P-05, D-05, D-07). I wouldn't call them brittle or non musical, I would call them very revealing, detailed with excellent bass and dynamics. However they do have their own house sound, if you will. Some like it, some don't, depends on your system, your room treatment setup (or lack thereof), and of course, your own personal taste.
If you're looking for something on the warmer side of digital (such as the Marantz and Luxman you mentioned), I can easily recommend the Aqua DACs. The $3000 La Voce is pretty incredible, and along with the Aqua Formula, the two warmest DACs I've ever heard. And that's because I haven't heard the intermediary model yet, La Scala, which actually has tubes, while the two others don't!
I had the CD-777 for a while and really enjoyed that player. The Marantz players are no slouch and after having two SA-14s1's, I am very interested to see what they are capable of at three times the price. If you do seek a DP-777, the newer SE version seems to be the way to go.
As far as whether balanced or unbalanced outputs are superior on a CDP or DAC, I believe that will come down to the DAC implementation as well as the rest of the system it's connecting to. If the DAC circuitry is fully balanced then the balanced outputs are generally preferred, providing that the components down the line are also balanced to be able to take full advantage of noise cancelling benefits. Of course like with most things in high end audio, such rules don't apply consistently in all applications so experimentation is worthwhile.
I also auditioned the K01 and more recently, the Puccini with clock. Returned both for the same reasons.
What I personally find frustrating is finding the "magic" combination of IC's, PC's, components, etc. that allows the K01 or any other CDP's to "sing".
For that kind of money, it should sound at least "good", if not near optimal, with other respectable hi end audio hardware.
The "need" to build a system around the source component to maximize sound quality is somewhat obscene from my personal perspective.
Agreed...but you should know the K-01X, P-02/D-02 and the X versions, etc...sound much more than simply 'good' to begin width. The great thing about this hobby is that there are products to fit all musical tastes. Whether you build a system around a source component such as a turntable or a digital front end or work back from the speakers or some other way is a matter of personal taste and there is no right or wrong answer IMHO.
Agreed...but you should know the K-01X, P-02/D-02 and the X versions, etc...sound much more than simply 'good' to begin width. The great thing about this hobby is that there are products to fit all musical tastes. Whether you build a system around a source component such as a turntable or a digital front end or work back from the speakers or some other way is a matter of personal taste and there is no right or wrong answer IMHO.
X2. Check the reviews and awards Esoteric K series players receive and think again about whether it does or doesn't sound good. If it doesn't sound "good" might want to look elsewhere in your system and / or room setup (or lack thereof).
I heard the origine at my dealers place. Difficult to pinpoint the origine in the context of the system as I had only heard most of those components that one time.
The sound was very natural and full bodied with great detail. Seemed to strike that perfect balance for my tastes.
For red book I think it would be very hard to beat.
Thank you. You have endorsed my listening conclusions. TBH I would also add, if you want 'more R-2R sounding, why not buy just that, a good R-2R DAC? And for much less than the Esoteric.
I owned both the K-01 and the K-01X, and the K-01X is significantly better than the K-01. It does not sound in anyway clinical, in fact, it sounds very organic and musical, as well as having a much wider and deeper soundstage than the K-01. It is a terrific sounding CD/SACD/DAC Player.
X2. Check the reviews and awards Esoteric K series players receive and think again about whether it does or doesn't sound good. If it doesn't sound "good" might want to look elsewhere in your system and / or room setup (or lack thereof).
With all due respect, I'm not going to make other major changes in my system because I didn't like the K01. I don't need to "think" about it. I know what I heard.
It's like the dog chasing its tail. Pretty silly for me.
Last trip in Tokyo I spent an hour and a half trying a whole bunch of Stax headphones. The Marantz players they had were very good. Underrated I would say.
