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Old 01-10-2017, 06:45 PM
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Default Need some advice-D02X vs K01X

Hey everyone.

I have the system indicated below, and just today bought the Aurender N10 piece.

I also have on order a VPI turntable which is going be arriving very soon (next week).

I actually do not own very many CD's at all, but mainly have a pretty small digital file collection of music (probably less than 500 songs). Just haven't been collecting a lot in the last 5-10 years as I have been doing a lot of music through streaming services.

That said, my future music collection will either be vinyl or hi-rez digital files (choice between the two will depend on the mastering and which provides better quality) as i really expand (or start my collection, really) my music collection. However, I recognize that in some cases I may not find either a quality LP pressing or a FLAC/DSD file for the particular album i'm looking for and may have to go for 44/16 bit, i.e. redbook cd quality.

I am looking to upgrade the DAC I have currently (c52 preamp), and am leaning either towards a K01X or the D02X. Both are the same price, but the D02X appears to offer quite a bit more resolution in exchange for the transport.

I already asked Ivan about this, and understand his opinion but (not that I dont respect Ivan's opinion, because I certainly do) wanted to get other people's ideas and thoughts on this as well. Due to the exclusivity of these items i'm unable to find them on the racks of the local dealer, so I have to rely on people's opinions.

Is it worth having the transport? Or is it better just to rip the CD and have as a digital file? Are the differences in SQ amongst the super high DAC in the D02X justified in losing the transport in the k01x, but getting a slightly lower end DAC?

I don't have much of a CD collection right now, and am just now getting into collecting quality sources, so I dont know if i should get a transport or not!

Any advice or opinions are welcomed!
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Incoming: Magico Q15 subs (2)

Last edited by docmd2010; 01-10-2017 at 06:48 PM.
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  #2  
Old 01-10-2017, 06:57 PM
2fastdriving 2fastdriving is offline
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I think either one of those units is going to be amazing, and you simply cannot go wrong. However I always lean toward having a spinner because...imagine your horror if you invite a friend over that has never heard a system like yours and they bring a CD to hear. Whoops! Are you really going to feel good about spending big $$ and not have a way to play a CD? I suppose you can hook up a relatively cheap one for redbook. But not SACD.

I guess it really depends on how many CD's and SACD's you have and whether or not you intend to do streaming or ripping from here on out. You say you have Roon in your sig, so perhaps that answers it. You can just stream roon or download hires flac files.

But if the D-02 costs more, I think the K-01 is the better choice. Lower costs, more flexibility, and probably sounds very very very close.
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Old 01-10-2017, 07:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2fastdriving View Post
I think either one of those units is going to be amazing, and you simply cannot go wrong.
Agreed, both will sound absolutely fantastic!


Quote:
Originally Posted by 2fastdriving View Post
However I always lean toward having a spinner because...imagine your horror if you invite a friend over that has never heard a system like yours and they bring a CD to hear. Whoops! Are you really going to feel good about spending big $$ and not have a way to play a CD?

But, a server allows much easier access to your whole collection, plus it'll play whatever format and resolution you choose. In the rare event that someone comes over with a CD, give him a beer to relax with while you spend 10 mins ripping it, then loading it onto the server.
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Old 01-10-2017, 07:15 PM
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But, a server allows much easier access to your whole collection, plus it'll play whatever format and resolution you choose.
The K-01 can still do that.
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Old 01-10-2017, 07:19 PM
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Ahhh good point!
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Old 01-10-2017, 07:20 PM
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Ditch the spinner.
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Old 01-10-2017, 07:28 PM
2fastdriving 2fastdriving is offline
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Ditch the spinner.
Is the D-02x and K-01x essentially the same except the spinner? I thought the D-02x cost more but maybe I am wrong. If they are the same except the spinner and the K-01x costs a little more, then the D-02x would indeed be the way to go if you don't have a big CD collect (as the OP states)

Personally I like the esoteric spinners and I have quite a few cd's. Plus, I do have people come over like I mentioned and bring CD's. I'd feel stupid if they brought a stack of CD's to hear my system and I couldn't do it. But if that's not a worry then...
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Old 01-10-2017, 07:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2fastdriving View Post
Is the D-02x and K-01x essentially the same except the spinner? I thought the D-02x cost more but maybe I am wrong. If they are the same except the spinner and the K-01x costs a little more, then the D-02x would indeed be the way to go if you don't have a big CD collect (as the OP states)

Personally I like the esoteric spinners and I have quite a few cd's. Plus, I do have people come over like I mentioned and bring CD's. I'd feel stupid if they brought a stack of CD's to hear my system and I couldn't do it. But if that's not a worry then...
No the DAC's aren't the same; the D02-X has 36bit resolution, while the K02-X has 32bit resolution.

K01-X / 32bit resolution - 8 32bit DACs (AK4495) DAC's per channel

D02-X / 36bit resolution - 16 36bit DACs (AK4490) DAC's per channel

They both retail for $20k
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MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES
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MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES

Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES

Last edited by Masterlu; 01-10-2017 at 07:38 PM.
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  #9  
Old 01-10-2017, 07:36 PM
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According to Ivan, the two cost the exact same, which is why I'm a bit confused on what to go for! The idea of having a CD player doesn't sound too bad as the opportunity could come up where I want to buy an sacd. Just wish I could listen to them!
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Magico M3
Mcintosh 601 monos
Boulder 2110 Pre
Nordost Odin 2 cabling
Clearaudio Master Innovation with Goldfinger cartridge
Esoteric E03 phono
Esoteric D02X
Esoteric P02X
Aurender W20
HRS SXR-Signature 4V X 2 rack
Incoming: Magico Q15 subs (2)
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Old 01-10-2017, 07:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by docmd2010 View Post
According to Ivan, the two cost the exact same, which is why I'm a bit confused on what to go for! The idea of having a CD player doesn't sound too bad as the opportunity could come up where I want to buy an sacd. Just wish I could listen to them!
Then I would get the K01X. Highly doubt you will find the sound anything less than stellar and you can play a CD or SACD whenever you wish. The ability to use the digital inputs for other sources is present all from one unit.

Just my .02 after many years of struggling with these sort of decisions!
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