Esoteric P-02/D-02

[kiwi_1282001]

Hi Colekat,

So you traded the K-01 for P-02/D-02?

Could you please share more on the sonic advance of the P-02/D-02 over the K-01? If you could share some examples of differences heard with specific music references - that would be great.

Would also be nice to know your partnering equipment and room details and what you specifically look for in musical presentation.

Not asking much - I know.

Thanks!

[Colekat]

Hey Kiwi, I would be glad to share my thoughts on the K-01 and D-02/P-02. I just typed out about a 1000 words, but my token expired. I'm not so good at this yet, still too new. I'll check back with you later on, hopefully I can figure this out! Talk to you soon

[Colekat]

Kiwi, In my main system I have the D-02/P-02 combo on Cerabase Footers with a Bryston SP3 preamp and 28bsst2 mono blocks, all cabling WW Platinum Starlight 7, PS Audio PP10, Oppo 83se, Baetis music server with Snake River Boomslang digital cable, Dynaudio Evidence Temptations with Analysis Plus Silver Oval 9 speaker cables and AP silver interconnects.
I'm listening to alot of jazz right now, old swing and Basie/ Ellington era stuff. Just picked up Ellington at Newport (complete) , this is where the K -01 and the D/P combo excell. I have the X-01/D2, which is a great player, multi channel too, and thats what hooked me on the Esoteric's. Awesome detail, surgical separation of the sounds, second to done dynamics. These Esoterics have the bass down. The X-01 was a pleasure as long as the disc was right, but the K-01 got it right even if the disc wasn't terrific. Theres a smoothness to the recent Esoteric gear that the last generation doesn't seam to have. The older stuff is way to accessory dependent,myou can get a great sound, but you need to match all your stuff REALLY well. The K -01 sounded great with most of my listening stuff, thats why I replaced the X-01. Listening to Verve recordings on any of these players sounds terrific, Esp. SACD, Diana Krall , Gilberto/Getz...almost any DSD is jaw dropping on the D-02/P-02, anyway my point is the K-01 matched up well with any of my cabling and sounded Bigger right out of the box, especially with the swing/band stuff. Ellington meets Basie, the opening Battle Royal starts out with the different sounds of the band then the mix. With the K-01 all the instruments sounded Bigger, more defined, more deliniated in the mix. This is a great CD to use for hearing the differences.
Then I had a chance to setup the D-02/P-02 and audition it and that was a problem. The combo takes it all to another level ! These pieces definitely don't get enough fanfare, esp. The D-02. All the sounds on Ellington/ Basie just took on a fuller sound, if the K-01 adds flesh to the bones, the D/P combo are at the gym, they add finess and muscle and balance and conifidence. The music through these two almost sounds in my living room at times. Never heard clapping sound so real. On DK Live in Paris, Case of You, you can hear the staff in the background and her getting set, and when she starts to play the music jumps out at you, like at a show, hauntingly real, the piano just sounds there, bold. And it sounds great on the K-01 too.
If you can listen to the D-02/P-02 ,you should, it is definately a great tune- up for any good system. It help my whole system sound better, and thats something no other player I've had has done. Players always seem to need the right this or the right that, these just play well anywhere. They are Effortless in there presentation, they surgically deliniate the sounds and never at the expense of the whole, I got hooked after just a couple of CD's.

[Car commander]

Nice write up. I can't imagine it's that much better than my K01. There is always another level isn't there. I moved from a great almost new K03 to my K01. LOL

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Car commander

Nice write up. I can't imagine it's that much better than my K01. There is always another level isn't there. I moved from a great almost new K03 to my K01. LOL

Jim... You are a whole G-01 behind!

[Car commander]

I would love to hear you A and B the G01 in your system. For me I think the K-01 is as good as it needs to be for my listening pleasure. I am sure it changes the sound. But a change in sound is not always better. And it's 25K including the cable.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Car commander

I would love to hear you A and B the G01 in your system. For me I think the K-01 is as good as it needs to be for my listening pleasure. I am sure it changes the sound. But a change in sound is not always better. And it's 25K including the cable.

Jim... You are more than welcome to visit me anytime I'm here. I can A/B it blind, and you would easily pick the G01 everytime; I did.

[Colekat]

Hey Jim, Just a note, The D-02/ P-02 isn't really a whole lot better, but it is different. I was very satisfied with the K-01.

[Car commander]

I think at the top end, where all us crazies reside, the differences are there but perhaps much much smaller. As I have made jumps to better and better gear over the last 10 years the differences in listening satisfaction, however you would personally describe it, get smaller and smaller.

[Car commander]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Jim... You are more than welcome to visit me anytime I'm here. I can A/B it blind, and you would easily pick the G01 everytime; I did.

I am sure it sounds different to the well trained ear.