Esoteric K-01X listening Impressions

[Yardbird]

Three weeks ago, after unboxing my system for the first time in six months due to home renovations, I began the process of breaking-in my new K-01X. Now, after logging about 500 hours, I want to share some listening impressions.

First, a word about power; over the years, I have put plenty of time and money - with varying degrees of success - into improving the dirty AC powering and degrading my system performance. One thing I haven't tried until now is a dedicated sub panel for my system. Previously, my dedicated circuits were run directly from a main HH panel, where they shared all the noisy sins of the HH; A/C's, refrigerators, computers, florescent lighting, you name it. This time, when rewiring and upgrading the electrical service in our new home, I had our electrician run a 120-amp dedicated line from one of our main HH service panels to my listening room, where he installed a separate sub panel. He then ran four dedicated 30-amp circuits to the location of the system outlets some 10 feet away, where we installed Furutech (rhodium) GTX-D's. I am still using a power conditioner for the front end of my system, and Furutech Flux 50 filters, along with my power cords of choice. In our last home, there was such an obnoxious 60 cycle ground hum, I was forced to lift the ground lines on my dedicated amp circuits, and "star ground" them through my system front-end conditioner circuit! The electricians were never able to find the source of the hum - all audio circuits were in phase. I always suspected the rec room ceiling the audio circuits wiring ran across, because there were florescent lights in close proximity, which have transformers. Anyway, no such problem at this house, just the sound of silence! What a difference with my filters and conditioner starting their work from the newly-lowered noise floor!

I mention all of this because my new approach to system AC delivery has obviously had an impact on what I'm hearing today. To those of you who are reading this and going "so what??", remember we all come to our life's lessons in our own time ...
My new audio space is 22' x 22', with 7' pocket doors on the rear wall, that I keep open, connecting another 15' x 22' space - all with 11' ceilings, so there is plenty of system breathing room. It is sounding good right now, but as I refine my installation, there will likely be room treatments to come.
Now, to my listening impressions before I'm asked to move this thread for being off-topic.

While I may not be sure how much of what I am hearing is due to the AC improvements, and how much the K-01X, some characteristics I CAN attribute to the K-01X are a significantly larger sound stage - wider and deeper - with improved layering for the 3d effect, stable imaging and instruments that are arrayed with specificity.
I listen to a lot of classical, along with practically every other genre of music, so my music is often complex, with many instruments playing simultaneously. At the moment, I am listening to Dvorak's 7th symphony/Ivan Fisher/Budapest Festival Orchestra on a Channel Classics SACD. This recording was made in 2009 at the Millennium City Center in Budapest - a performance venue, rather than a studio. A real stunner, this recording has resolution, ambience and warmth to burn! The third movement begins with flutes and piccolos alternating in pure, jewel-like clarity. Leading-edge transients are pronounced without being harsh. The melody hangs in midair, suspended in a jet black backdrop. Clarinets and oboes answer with rich, woody overtones. French horns, round and warm, float out from stage right. Ensemble passages are not melded, but comprised of distinct instruments, yet still sound integrated, with front-to-back layering, due the deeper sound stage of the K-01X. A friend, who is not an audiophile, heard my system the other day and asked me if I had "surround sound", which I took as a compliment!
There is an organic quality to what I'm hearing, and though I'm very familiar with this recording - its been a favorite of mine for some time - there is so much new to what I'm hearing, its like brand new to me! I have never heard it sound so sweet, so liquid...

So I am very pleased with my new player and equally so the AC enhancements. Sonically, its a home run.
Of course, there are other advantages to the K-01X, besides the Grandioso dacs. There is DSD streaming, and the pass-thru clocking feature allows you to clock your source through the USB port, using the same outboard clock you are using to clock your dac, of particular interest to me as a G-01 owner.
If your interests lie in disc playing primarily, a clean used K-01, still a fabulous player, will certainly fit your needs and save you much money in the process.
I can't be sure how much of the overall improvement can be attributed to the new K-01x or how much the improved AC, but my system has taken a big leap forward in detail and refinement, and thats good enough for me. Life CAN be good!

[audio bill]

Congrats on your latest acquisition, glad to hear that you're so pleased with it. It's always nice when a new component lives up to or even better exceeds our high expectations. Enjoy the tunes!

[Masterlu]

Ted... so glad to read you are finally back in audio bliss. Like you, I believe strongly that the system starts with a dedicated line, and audiophile grade outlets. Leaving no weak link, ensures startling results. Nice review as always!

[jdandy]

Ted.......Thanks for an enjoyable review and a look at your power distribution. I am a firm believer that it all starts with the AC power. Do it once, do it right.

[Yardbird]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Ted.......Thanks for an enjoyable review and a look at your power distribution. I am a firm believer that it all starts with the AC power. Do it once, do it right.

Dan, given your career, yours is oviously the voice of experience. I don't know why it took me so long to try the dedicated panel, rather than the dedicated lines from the HH panel, but it sure makes all the difference. Ted.

[Yardbird]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Ted... so glad to read you are finally back in audio bliss. Like you, I believe strongly that the system starts with a dedicated line, and audiophile grade outlets. Leaving no weak link, ensures startling results. Nice review as always!

Thanks, Ivan.

[Cohibaman]

Originally Posted by Yardbird

Dan, given your career, yours is oviously the voice of experience. I don't know why it took me so long to try the dedicated panel, rather than the dedicated lines from the HH panel, but it sure makes all the difference. Ted.

You wouldn't run 84 octane fuel in a high performance Italian sports car. Right?

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Cohibaman

You wouldn't run 84 octane fuel in a high performance Italian sports car. Right?

[Yardbird]

Originally Posted by Cohibaman

You wouldn't run 84 octane fuel in a high performance Italian sports car. Right?

I wish I knew then what I know now...

[Steady339]

Ted, Thanks for sharing your audio experiences and insights. Good food for thought for me and other audiophiles about the direction to take toward achieving higher levels of audio reproduction.

Roger