Product Description
Esoteric’s most iconic digital player, the K-01XD, has evolved into the latest SE model.
Since its inception in 1987, Esoteric has been at the forefront of innovation as a high-end audio brand from Japan, continually pushing the boundaries of high quality sound reproduction. The Esoteric brand is known for its outstanding acoustic engineering that has sustained its reputation and prestige, its massive investment without regard to cost, its “museum quality” craftsmanship, and its beautiful designs worthy of music reproduction.
Esoteric has brought a number of highly original innovations to the world of high-end audio, including the legendary VRDS-ATLAS Super Audio CD transport mechanism, Master Sound Discrete DAC and Master Sound Discrete Clock with proprietary discrete circuits; it is no exaggeration to say that Esoteric’s history is synonymous with digital playback innovation in high-end audio.
Finally, the SE versions of the K-01XD and K-03XD are now available with new discrete clock technology and improved analog circuitry in the DAC. We are proud of our brand and always strive for the best sound. The SE models we are releasing this time reflect every conceivable technological accumulation from the time the original model was introduced to the present. Enjoy the enhanced presence, dynamics, and beautifully organic and musical textures of the new SE models.
- “VRDS-ATLAS (ATLAS 01)” Super Audio CD transport mechanism with 20 mm turntable bridge
- “Master Sound Discrete DAC” – In-house developed ladder DAC with unique FPGA, 64bit/512Fs Delta-Sigma modulator
- Up-graded DAC board with specially selected premium grade parts including IDM-01 (SE)
- Super high slew-rate, “Esoteric-HCLD” high current line driver (2,000V/μs)
- “ES-Link Analog” current signal transmission output
- “Master Sound Discrete Clock for Digital Player” – in-house developed discrete clock module (SE)
- Clock sync function
- Four independent toroidal power supply transformers (incl. two for left and right DACs)
- Low-feedback discrete DC regulators
- 71 × EDLC* super capacitors (total capacitance: 1,850,000μF＝1.85F)
- Up-sampling function (x2/x4/x8/x16, max. 768kHz), PCM to DSD (22.5MHz) convert function
- USB Type-B port supporting 22.5MHz DSD and asynchronous transmission
- RC-1333 double-face remote controller that can also control Esoteric amplifiers.
| Playable disc types | Super Audio CD, CD (including CD-R and CD-RW) |
| Anaog audio outputs | |
| XLR/ESL-A | 1 pair (L/R) |
| Output impedance | 114Ω |
| Maximum output level | 5.0Vrms (1kHz, 10kΩ loaded) |
| RCA | 1 pair (L/R) |
| Output impedance | 34Ω |
| Maximum output level | 2.5Vrms (1kHz, 10kHz loaded) |
| Digital audio outputs | |
| XLR | 1 |
| Output impedance | 3Vp-p (110Ω loaded) |
| Output signal formats | Linear PCM (AES/EBU) 44.1kHz,16-bit（CD） |
| RCA | 1 |
| Output impedance | 0.5Vp-p (75Ω loaded) |
| Output signal formats | Linear PCM (IEC60958) 44.1kHz,16-bit（CD） |
| Digital audio inputs | |
| RCA | 1 |
| Input signal formats | |
| Linear PCM | 32k to 192kHz, 16/24-bit (IEC60958) |
| DSD | 2.8MHz (DoP) |
| OPTICAL | 1 |
| Input signal formats | |
| Linear PCM | 32k to 192kHz, 16/24-bit (IEC60958) |
| DSD | 2.8MHz (DoP) |
| USB B | 1 (USB2.0 supported) |
| Input signal formats | |
| Linear PCM | 44.1k to 384kHz, 16/24/32-bit (IEC60958) |
| DSD | 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz, 22.5MHz |
| Clock input | |
| BNC | 1 |
| Input impedance | 50Ω |
| Frequencies that can be input (±10ppm) | 10MHz |
| Input level | 0.5 to 1.0Vrms (Sine wave) |
| External control interface | |
| RS-232C | 1 (Please see here for command table) |
| Trigger | 1 (3.5mm Monaural mini jack) |
| General | |
| Power consumption | 26W |
| External dimensions (W×H×D) | 445 × 162 × 438mm (including protrusions) |
| Weight | 31kg |
| Included accessories | Power cord set × 1 Remote control (RC-1333) × 1 AA batteries × 2 Felt pads × 3 Owner's manual × 1 Warranty card × 1 |
Audio performance
| Frequency response | 5Hz to 30kHz (–3dB, Super Audio CD, 0dB, DSDF=F2, XLR output) |
| S/N ratio | 113dB (A-weight, Super Audio CD, 0dB, DSDF=F2, XLR output) |
| Distortions | 0.0007% (1kHz, Super Audio CD, 0dB, DSDF=F2, XLR output) |
