Esoteric DSD streamimg update?

[Yardbird]

Does anyone have the latest on the promised DSD streaming upgrade for the P-02/D-02, K-01 and K-03? There is no mention as yet on the website. Thanks!

Update following a conversation with Scott Sefton of Esoteric (thanks, Tom, for contact!), Esoteric is working on the DSD streaming update for the following models; K-01, K-03, D-02, D-07x. They do not want to risk degrading performance with this update, so they aren't going to rush anything out until its right. No dates as yet.

[kfr01]

[Masterlu]

I'm told it can be done, but the unit must go back to California. Personally, I will pass on this upgrade.

[Good Times]

It's not promised, only rumoured by some people. That's why there's nothing from Esoteric as yet. Nothing new at the Munich show from them.

[-E-]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I'm told it can be done, but the unit must go back to California. Personally, I will pass on this upgrade.

Considering the price of entry of the unit(s) in question, it would be a possible opportunity for Esoteric, though.

[Yardbird]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I'm told it can be done, but the unit must go back to California. Personally, I will pass on this upgrade.

I'm sure you have a good reason, Ivan, would you share it? Thanks!

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Yardbird

I'm sure you have a good reason, Ivan, would you share it? Thanks!

I recently posed a completely different question in the Auto forum about a rear wing on my Ferrari. The forum consensus was why, or if it isn't broke don't fix it.

Getting back to the DSD mod; I'm beyond pleased with my current players right now. I would need to demo one in my home before I would even consider it.

[Colekat]

Originally Posted by Yardbird

Does anyone have the latest on the promised DSD streaming upgrade for the P-02/D-02, K-01 and K-03? There is no mention as yet on the website. Thanks!

Hey Ted, Spoke with Scott Sefton, who apparently is the replacement for Tim Crable, I was told they are having problems with the implimentation of DSD. He said as of 4/17/2014 , Integra was having trouble upgrading current Esoteric models. When he asked the powers to be in Japan for an approximation... He said they would not elaborate, which he took to mean, not anytime soon.
So as for now, DSD direct stream only through the transport using DSD mastered SACDs, so whats that , about 15 of them, LOL.
Ted, I agree with you on the clock as an upgrade, it takes the Esoteric stuff to reference resolution and SOTA deliniation of sounds, instruments and sort of brings the venue into the listening room. As much as I love my rig though, there is a certain amount of musicality that can be lacking, the emmotion of the performance doesn't always come through. The clock really helps, without it there is no chance, and thats a shame at these price levels.
I'm glad I read your experience with the clock on and off. It reminded me of how great this latest Esoteric stuff is, and it is by far the best they have ever produced at extracting the emmotion of the performance, but there is still better DACs at getting you emmotionally involved. What those other DACs may lack is the extreme resolution and dynamics of the K-01 or D-02/P-02. It makes me wonder if the new Grandioso is a whole lot better at that. My gut tells me it is not, which brings me to the conclusion you came to, that for the value, the K-01/G-01 is probably the best you will get with Esoteric. I owned the K-01 for almost a year, then I sold it and bought the D-02/P-02, which in my opinion was better right out of the box. It excelled with the transient information and extended the presentation in all directions. It is all of the K-01 with a smoother more liquid sound. But again, it was the clock that took the D-02/P-02 to a magic sound, expanding the soundstage with much better distinction of performer placement... More real!
Now, I never heard the K-01 with the clock until I heard it at Ivan's house, and though I would need to hear the K-01 in my system, I'm not sure I would have sold the K-01 if I heard it with the clock. It is certainly a better value for the K-01/G-01 combo than the D-02/P-02/ G-01. Saving $20k to spendnon alot of other stuff.
Like Magico Q3's, sure would love to hear them with the Esoterics,, they seem like the perfect speaker for the strengths of these great components.

[Yardbird]

Originally Posted by Colekat

Hey Ted, Spoke with Scott Sefton, who apparently is the replacement for Tim Crable, I was told they are having problems with the implimentation of DSD. He said as of 4/17/2014 , Integra was having trouble upgrading current Esoteric models. When he asked the powers to be in Japan for an approximation... He said they would not elaborate, which he took to mean, not anytime soon.
So as for now, DSD direct stream only through the transport using DSD mastered SACDs, so whats that , about 15 of them, LOL.
Ted, I agree with you on the clock as an upgrade, it takes the Esoteric stuff to reference resolution and SOTA deliniation of sounds, instruments and sort of brings the venue into the listening room. As much as I love my rig though, there is a certain amount of musicality that can be lacking, the emmotion of the performance doesn't always come through. The clock really helps, without it there is no chance, and thats a shame at these price levels.
I'm glad I read your experience with the clock on and off. It reminded me of how great this latest Esoteric stuff is, and it is by far the best they have ever produced at extracting the emmotion of the performance, but there is still better DACs at getting you emmotionally involved. What those other DACs may lack is the extreme resolution and dynamics of the K-01 or D-02/P-02. It makes me wonder if the new Grandioso is a whole lot better at that. My gut tells me it is not, which brings me to the conclusion you came to, that for the value, the K-01/G-01 is probably the best you will get with Esoteric. I owned the K-01 for almost a year, then I sold it and bought the D-02/P-02, which in my opinion was better right out of the box. It excelled with the transient information and extended the presentation in all directions. It is all of the K-01 with a smoother more liquid sound. But again, it was the clock that took the D-02/P-02 to a magic sound, expanding the soundstage with much better distinction of performer placement... More real!
Now, I never heard the K-01 with the clock until I heard it at Ivan's house, and though I would need to hear the K-01 in my system, I'm not sure I would have sold the K-01 if I heard it with the clock. It is certainly a better value for the K-01/G-01 combo than the D-02/P-02/ G-01. Saving $20k to spendnon alot of other stuff.
Like Magico Q3's, sure would love to hear them with the Esoterics,, they seem like the perfect speaker for the strengths of these great components.

HI Tom,

I would love to know what you've heard that projects more emotion than the Esoteric player with a clock, because I'd make a point of giving it a listen! I'm hearing plenty of emotion in my system - I'd bet as much as was ever there in a given recording, but am intrigued, so please share! Ted.

[Yardbird]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I recently posed a completely different question in the Auto forum about a rear wing on my Ferrari. The forum consensus was why, or if it isn't broke don't fix it.

Getting back to the DSD mod; I'm beyond pleased with my current players right now. I would need to demo one in my home before I would even consider it.

We agree that nothings broken...
Well, using your auto analogy, I might say that I would consider a dealer-installed, factory-developed speed mod for my BMW, that was reliable and backed by a factory warrantee, and reasonably priced. Not that my car isn't already quick, which it is, and not that such a mod would ever be reasonably priced, whatever that is...

DSD is the next great thing in digital, and if I'm going to pay to download top-quality audio files onto my server, I would certainly not want to be restricted in my choice of file format by my dac, certainly no dac I've paid so dear a price for! Having said that, I'm very happy with collecting discs at present and don't yet own a server that would make all this possible, so this is all just speculation anyway... Ted.