AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > Manufacturers Forums > Esoteric Audio

Esoteric Audio World Class cost no object Electronics

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-26-2023, 06:32 AM
vodan vodan is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 5
Default S-05 Power Amplifier

Been very interested in the S-05, because as an N-05XD user I kind of want to complete the set.

But over here in Taiwan/HK, the majority of Esoteric users (or at least the ones that talk about their experiences) are using their source equipment only (CD players, streamers, clocks). Posts on local forums about their amps are few and far between, and so far there has been exactly ONE post of someone using it with a pair of JBL monitors (I have a pair of 4429s with my MA8900).

Was in Hong Kong recently, so I went down to the Esoteric dealer and listened to N-05XD / S-05 / Tannoy Westminster Royal GR for an hour, and it was amazing! Played a bit of everything I listen to - Brad Mehldau, Daft Punk, Adele, Sam Smith, Nine Inch Nails, Bill Evans, Alice Sara Ott, and the setup was a joy to listen to, with no fatigue.

Now that I'm back in Taipei, I'm going to try to listen to some different speakers with the S-05 and go from there. The main dealer also likes to pair them with Tannoy, but I found a shop that has Esoteric and Focal, so will give that a shot.

If anyone has the S-05 or the F-03A, what speakers are you using?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-26-2023, 09:11 AM
Masterlu's Avatar
Masterlu Masterlu is online now
AA Founder, Legend AV Owner



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: South FL & Cape Cod MA
Posts: 78,484
Default

vodan… Welcome to AA!
__________________
Ivan
FLORIDA
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
CAPE COD

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
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-26-2023, 10:09 AM
tdelahanty's Avatar
tdelahanty tdelahanty is online now
Audio,Trains & Mustangs
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,477
Default

I recently bought the N05xd and use it with Levinson electronics. It is better than the Lumin U1 into the DAC of my K01x player by a significant margin! My dealer has the N05xd and S05 combination paired with Focal Utopia's. This is a fantastic combination and is the best sound I have heard from these speakers. I have two concerns about this combination; room size and heat (from the S05). I prefer to leave my equipment on all the time and 30 watts may not fill a very large room.
__________________
System: ML:5206,5302 Serafino's Nordost Lumin U1 RM15
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-26-2023, 11:11 AM
vodan vodan is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 5
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tdelahanty View Post
I recently bought the N05xd and use it with Levinson electronics. It is better than the Lumin U1 into the DAC of my K01x player by a significant margin! My dealer has the N05xd and S05 combination paired with Focal Utopia's. This is a fantastic combination and is the best sound I have heard from these speakers. I have two concerns about this combination; room size and heat (from the S05). I prefer to leave my equipment on all the time and 30 watts may not fill a very large room.
My listening area is about 11' x 16', which is probably just alright by western standards, but a pretty big one in TW/HK where everything is so cramped. Also, the HK dealer drove the monstrous Tannoy Westminsters with ease, so I'm not too concerned about power.

The dealer actually had the S-05 on the bottom of a rack, with maybe only no more than 2 inches above. I asked him about the heat, and he said that since the design already dissipates heat effectively, there's no need to have a lot of room above it. My listening hours are from 11am to 1pm, 3pm to 7pm and maybe 10pm to 1am, so there will be some off hours here and there.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-26-2023, 12:13 PM
tdelahanty's Avatar
tdelahanty tdelahanty is online now
Audio,Trains & Mustangs
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,477
Default

I think the S05 will fill your room easily. My dealer's room is bigger and there is no lack of power. I might disagree with your dealer, too much heat is always the enemy of electronics. That said, hopefully you'll find a spot with enough ventilation.
__________________
System: ML:5206,5302 Serafino's Nordost Lumin U1 RM15
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-26-2023, 12:50 PM
vodan vodan is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 5
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tdelahanty View Post
I think the S05 will fill your room easily. My dealer's room is bigger and there is no lack of power. I might disagree with your dealer, too much heat is always the enemy of electronics. That said, hopefully you'll find a spot with enough ventilation.
The bottom level of my rack is a little higher than 12 inches (so I can store some of the overflow from my record shelf). Esoteric's site lists the S-05 at 7-1/2 inches, so that leaves about 4-1/2 inches above the amplifier.

The amp will be placed at one end of the rack and the records will be at the other end, so the ventilation should be alright... I hope...
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-14-2023, 05:52 AM
vodan vodan is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 5
Default

S-05 just arrived yesterday!



I usually listen to music while I work and do very little critical listening, so there's bound to be stuff that I don't normally hear when I pay attention. Please take these initial impressions with a grain of salt because I don't know how much of it is just stuff I didn't notice before, versus the actual changes from MA8900 to S-05.

- feels more airy and 3D
- vocals are more focused and slightly forward
- bass didn't change in quantity, but is now tighter and less muddy

I was kind of wary of the combination of Esoteric amplification with JBL 4429, but so far I have no complaints.

Still playing vinyl through my MA8900 for the tone control. I do have an unbuilt Luxman equalizer DIY kit (look up "LXV-OT9" on google) and an audio-technica phono amp, so I might go that route eventually.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-14-2023, 07:24 AM
SCAudiophile SCAudiophile is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Greenville SC
Posts: 4,531
Default

Congratulations,...beautiful amp!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Audioaficionado.org tested by Norton Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:41 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
©Copyright 2009-2023 AudioAficionado.org.Privately owned, All Rights Reserved.
Audio Aficionado Sponsors
AudioAficionado Subscriber
AudioAficionado Subscriber
Inspire By Dennis Had
Inspire By Dennis Had
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Wyred4Sound
Wyred4Sound
Dragonfire Acoustics
Dragonfire Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
Esoteric
Esoteric
AC Infinity
AC Infinity
JL Audio
JL Audio
Add Powr
Add Powr
Accuphase - Soulution
Accuphase - Soulution
Audio by E
Audio by E
Canton
Canton
Bryston
Bryston
WireWorld Cables
WireWorld Cables
Stillpoints
Stillpoints
Bricasti Design
Bricasti Design
Furutech
Furutech
Shunyata Research
Shunyata Research
Legend Audio & Video
Legend Audio & Video