Modding Esoteric Grandioso K1X

[Windows X]

I really like Esoteric K1X performance and also N-01XD which shares the same PCB design with some parts changed. However, both uses MUSES03 JFET single opamp.

I like JFET design but sound signature of MUSES products I've heard aren't really my cup of tea. I'm having thoughts about replacing MUSES03 with OPA627 or AD744.

I used to modify my own and my friends' highend DACs with good results (with appropriate parts not OPA627) since we can't expect manufacturers to maintain studio sound reference given how audiophiles' preferences changed a lot since then.

But I also have a second thought about modding device and if some unrelated issues with device comes up in near future, it may not be a brightest idea to void $40k CD player's warranty.

I won't need to worry about modding used highend gears and I also modded some first hand gears myself. But modding $40k is quite high hurdle compared to $10-20k projects I did before.

Regards,
Keetakawee

 

[diaZ]

Dear Keetakawee,
all Muses Op Amps like Muses01 or Muses 02 or Muses 8820 are dual OP Amps and often used in Esoteric gear like N-05 or F-05 and the earlier XS series. And I share your opinion about the sound of these OP Amps.
All these Muses OP amps are begging me to be exchanged to dual OPA627 on brown dog adapters always when I find them and the exchange always worked without any complications.
The Muses 03 is different, it is even more expensive than the OPA627AP and it is really really good.
I own the N-01XD with exact the same DAC PCB and Im very contend.
But I bridged the Elcos in the output after the LME49600 Buffer with a small Wima MKP capacitor 63V, 0,22 uF on the backside of the PCB, same I do with all the Elcos for the OP Amps. There is enough place on the board.
And I dont care about warranty, I never had problems with Esoteric and always like the new performance for little money.
Please keep us informed what you found out for your player.

 

[Windows X]

Dear Keetakawee,
all Muses Op Amps like Muses01 or Muses 02 or Muses 8820 are dual OP Amps and often used in Esoteric gear like N-05 or F-05 and the earlier XS series. And I share your opinion about the sound of these OP Amps.
All these Muses OP amps are begging me to be exchanged to dual OPA627 on brown dog adapters always when I find them and the exchange always worked without any complications.
The Muses 03 is different, it is even more expensive than the OPA627AP and it is really really good.
I own the N-01XD with exact the same DAC PCB and Im very contend.
But I bridged the Elcos in the output after the LME49600 Buffer with a small Wima MKP capacitor 63V, 0,22 uF on the backside of the PCB, same I do with all the Elcos for the OP Amps. There is enough place on the board.
And I dont care about warranty, I never had problems with Esoteric and always like the new performance for little money.
Please keep us informed what you found out for your player.

Hi. After adjusting screw tightness on safe to adjust area, it sounds rounder and more organic now. I guess the infamous house sound is related to screw tightness with housing design. I guess I can enjoy without hardware modification for a while.

 

[diaZ]

Hello Keetakawee,
it is good to hear that you are content with the great K1X and that you can enjoy that phantastic player!

 

[Windows X]

Hello Keetakawee,
it is good to hear that you are content with the great K1X and that you can enjoy that phantastic player!

Thank you. I was troubled with 'strained' sound after burn in and adjusting screw tightness to be not so tight helped me resolving 70-80% of sound issues I have with K1X. Had I realized this sooner, I would have come to love P-03/D-03 combo more back then.

 

[dandylinpsst]

Umbilical cable for Esoteric K1x and PS1

After waiting for 2 months, the special order umbilical cable finally arrived!!
This newly customized umbilical cable is composed of gold-silver alloy wire and occ copper wire.
And strictly consider the magnetic field interference problem of each group of wires (digital and analog) and do a special twisting treatment.
The conclusion is that this specially made thread breaks the seal between Esoteric K1x and PS1, it's the last mile.

 

[rocco1113]

Umbilical cable for Esoteric K1x and PS1

After waiting for 2 months, the special order umbilical cable finally arrived!!
This newly customized umbilical cable is composed of gold-silver alloy wire and occ copper wire.
And strictly consider the magnetic field interference problem of each group of wires (digital and analog) and do a special twisting treatment.
The conclusion is that this specially made thread breaks the seal between Esoteric K1x and PS1, it's the last mile.View attachment 103737

Hi @dandylinpsst .. Thanks for sharing... Could you elaborate the improvement over stock cable? Where did you order this umbilical cable ?

 

[Big Dog RJ]

Yes, the P03 & D03 were formidable units. There was a pair available a while back, when I was considering the digital front upgrade... but that gear was nearing 20yrs. So I ended up with the K07-XS, and it's mighty fine!

Speaking of mighty, I was thinking of modding it's power supply to so something like this... but this particular tranny doesn't fit! Oh well, can't have it all. I guess the next viable solution is the G01-X clock (I think it was that model). 20grand for a clock, hot damn! Anyway, on further home trials it was wonderful and does meet my personal benchmark of 40% in improvement. Will give it some thought...

I've modded all my tube amplifiers to a higher Class A bias operation and it's truly remarkable! However, I still feel this tranny is the bollocks! It's very very high voltage!

Cheers mateies,
Woof! RJ

 

[thedudeabides]

Hi. After adjusting screw tightness on safe to adjust area, it sounds rounder and more organic now. I guess the infamous house sound is related to screw tightness with housing design. I guess I can enjoy without hardware modification for a while.

Is this for real?

 

[Big Dog RJ]

Can be for real. Once my screws were tightened, even the wifey commented how round and warm things were... woof!

Cheers maaate!
RJ

 

[gadawg58]

At first I thought no way this could be the case but I’m guessing there might be something to it because in some of the new product they have floated the top of the case. Who knows … Love my D1XSE’s though!

George

 

[Big Dog RJ]

Well on a more serious note:
Yes, this maybe an adjustment or a tweak of sorts but it isn't stated anywhere in the owner's manual. Therefore, I tend to stay clear and not mess around with such things that seem to improve sound, in that case Eso would have addressed it. I think sometimes we get too carried away with all this stuff but hey, if if floats your boat then go for it! Do so with caution and make sure you don't ruin the warranty.

My Eso digital player also has that floating top cover but I've never touched it. The tunes are mighty fine enough!

Also, reminds me of the ML CLX's. Taking off the top cover of the electronics / cross-over box, there are 3 dip- switches. Each one can be set according to a custom sound, which changes mostly the mid-bass, highs and midrange character. However, fiddling with these switches can be overwhelming to the point of changing these settings each time a different track is played! Once I installed the matching ML sub, I couldn't be bothered by these switches anymore, so I've left them at their default settings.

Overall, on the majority of playback 99%, I've found the default settings to be just fine! 1% adjustment... can't say what that will do nor does it bother me. The thing is, in recorded playback systems, nothing's 100%, not even if you spent over a million bucks! It doesn't exist. The other thing is, even the CLX owner's manual doesn't even talk about these switches. I got to.know about these switches from CLX owner's snooping around inside of that cross-over box...
Very similar case to Eso's owner's manual, it's not stated anywhere about adjusting the top cover.

Just sit back and enjoy those finest tunes!
Woof! RJ