Esoteric K-03X CD/SACD Player

The K-03X is Esoteric’s penultimate CD/SACD player. Similar in appearance to the significantly more costly Esoteric flagship K-01X, the K-03X represents a commanding presence. Built to a standard of quality and luxury that few players can match—from the exquisite three-point isolation footers to the buttery-smooth action of the aluminum disc tray, it’s a mechanical delight to observe in operation. The player’s vault-like construction and sixty-pound mass suggests a permanence of a millennial order. Seemingly immune to the ravages of time, it’s a veritable monument of brushed aluminum and steel plate that neither mechanical nor acoustic resonances or vibrations can breach. The K-03X is much more than a single-box disc player however; the dual mono design houses an independent, fully fledged and equipped high-resolution DAC that supports hi-res files over USB, SPDIF, and TosLink. Outfitted with four DACs per channel operating in parallel, there are dual oversize toroidal transformers that supply independent power to the digital and analog circuits for each channel.

The new “X” designation isn’t just for show either. It represents some serious upgrades over its predecessors, the K-03 and K-01 that colleague Alan Taffel reviewed in Issues 213 and 230 respectively. Chief among them is the new AK4495S DAC chipset, the same DAC that graces the über-flagship Grandioso series. Internal processing has also been upped to 34-bit from 32-bit. The DAC now supports DSD64 and DSD128 (double DSD) and 384kHz/32-bit PCM playback over USB and SPDIF. Additionally external clock sync is obtainable in USB DAC operation, a feature previously unavailable in the K-03. Esoteric’s Scott Sefton said, “It also has a new USB board supported natively by Mac OS X, so in addition to more functionality (DSD) it is simpler, at least for Mac users.” Finally, the variable-output level has been jettisoned, as Esoteric has deemed that the compromises inherent in digital volume controls were too restrictive on ultimate performance.

Back-panel connectivity includes both RCA and balanced XLR analog outputs along with accommodation for digital sources via USB, SPDIF, and TosLink inputs. These provide a level of flexibility that later permitted me to connect a trio of digital sources—a DVR, Apple TV, and a MacBook—without a hiccup. A remote control is included.

Internally the centerpiece of Esoteric’s spinning disc technology is the latest incarnation of the company’s famed VRDS drive mechanism. Purposefully designed to spin Super Audio CD discs, the VRDS-NEO VMK-3.5-10 is a high-precision, stable duralumin turntable that improves reading accuracy by mechanically correcting for surface run-out. This mechanism’s massive architecture and the 10mm-thick turntable bridge ups the unit’s weight to over nine pounds—and to more than 22 pounds including the rigid base. With the addition of its proprietary VS-DD spindle servo driver—previously offered only on Esoteric’s flagship players—smoother high-precision servo control and a more stable drive is attained. Finally, a discrete three-channel amplifier circuit optimizes the waveform of the current supplied to the motor for quieter and smoother spindle operation. The whole package weighs in at a whopping 62 pounds.

During setup, attention must be paid to the K-03X’s front-panel “Mode” button. Beyond basic configuration—display, power saving, etc.—pressing that button unleashes a bevy of sound optimization options, four up-conversion picks (2x, 4x, 8x, and DSD) and four filter selections: FIR1 (steep roll-off), FIR2 (slow roll-off), and apodizing variants, SDLY1 (short delay/steep roll-off) and SDLY2 (slow roll-off). Out of the box, the default deactivates these settings and each must be applied individually for respective digital sources: disc, USB, and so on. AT discussed these in copious detail and his conclusions (which I urge readers to reference) were borne out by my own findings. Be prepared to spend an afternoon or two experimenting but the results are more than worth the effort. Remember there are no right or wrong answers here, and it only has to be done once as the settings are instantly saved in the K-03X software. In the end, my listening preferences resulted in up-sampling settings of 2x or 4x and apodizing set to SDLY1. In unfiltered, non-oversampled default mode, the sound was flat, thin, dry, and rhythmically uninvolving, but with preferred settings I observed greater focus, presence, dimension, and ambient energy.

For DSD file playback over USB including double DSD, I downloaded the latest free Esoteric HR Audio player software. This is basic, no-nonsense player software (no remote app for a smart device is currently available) to get up and running but many users will likely opt for advanced player software from the likes of Audirvana as they become acquainted with potential of the medium.

Before I turn to the K-03X’s performance, I freely admit that as a dyed-in-the- wool LP listener, my early history with digital audio was a spotty one. Digital playback seemed to pack on a lot of generally positive sonic qualities: low noise, tight, extended bass, flat frequency response—a lot of calories if you will, but ultimately less filling musically. The spatial and dimensional components in particular seemed like more of an afterthought. And the actual physical expression of the artists on the stage whether solo or in full orchestral song appeared flat, dry, almost wraith-like in its lack of texture and harmonic verisimilitude.

With these reservations in mind, the K-03X provided a level of sonic micro and macro thrills in more areas than I’ve ever encountered before in a digital component. Regardless of format—CD, SACD, and high-resolution over USB—recordings that I’d heard dozens of times before suddenly didn’t sound quite as blandly familiar. My most common impression was an elevation of dynamics and image layering, elements that I more closely associate with analog playback. The satisfying crackle and pop of percussion dynamics during the Police’s “Tea in the Sahara” and “Murder By Numbers” presented even wider gradations of expression and audacious impact. Listening to the latest Mobile Fidelity SACD transfer of Kind of Blue revealed heretofore-undiscovered nuances—the breezy rush of wet, textured air over a sax reed, or the metallic nasality of Miles’ muted trumpet during “Blue In Green.” On SACD discs like these the Esoteric is in its zone, delivering a more settled, dynamically unshackled performance.

Foremost among my listening impressions was the overall sonic atmosphere that the K-03X conveyed—dense, rich, and saturated, and awash with ambient information. A singer’s lips were more supple, there was more rosin dusting on the cello bow, greater attack from a rim shot, ripple off a timpani; the splash of a cymbal was more finely wrought, brass bloomed with warmer intensity and weight, and more air emerged from the surrounding environment. Was that the rustle of cellist Pieter Wispelwey’s shirt sleeves, or a creak from Evgeny Kissin’s piano bench, and a soft exhalation of breath at the end of a delicately performed measure? You bet.

“Flat” is one four-letter word that you’ll never utter about the K-03X. It shapes images like a sculptor, not just a sketch of frontal outlines, but with a singular sense of the front-to-back depth of the musicians. Symphonic depth of focus was unparalleled in my experience with digital playback. String section layering during “The Wasps Overture” had a clarity and transparency that bordered on the holographic [Reference Recordings]. In this crucial aspect, and keeping in mind that the audio signal exits the player in analog form, the K-03X transcends its digital roots at least as we’ve commonly associated the segment. If what I’m describing suggests that the K-03X is more analog; it is the case. Indeed it’s the most persuasively “analog” disc player I’ve experienced.

Turning to vocals, even accounting for my familiarity with how artists like Norah Jones or Alison Krauss sound, I didn’t recall these recordings having such levels of warmth and immediacy. They possessed a transparency and an openness that suggested I’d been listening through a thinly patterned veil all these years. Vocal sibilances were more shapely—pointed, but not prickly. Low-level retrieval of piano cues during Jones’ cover of  “The Nearness of You” was beautifully articulated, backgrounds open and airy. Alison Krauss’ “Slumber My Darling” had a newfound tranquility and lushness that replaced a cooler character that I had experienced from every previous player that had spun this Appalachian Journey disc.

In terms of flat-out performance and flexibility, the Esoteric K-03X runs the table. And while in recent years the rapid ascent of computer-based audio has stolen much of the digital thunder from the venerable CD player, take a moment to consider, where’s the sex appeal in only downloading music files? Just how much of a high-end relationship can you have with that NAS drive, or music player app? Many of us have already rediscovered with the vinyl LP’s latest comeback that there’s something satisfying and seductive about physical media and the precision components that support that media. A top-tier player like the K-03X conveys that same message. Built to last and offering playback solutions that represent the best of both digital worlds, could the K-03X be the last player you’ll ever buy? You won’t get any argument from me. A tour de force.

SPECS & PRICING

Analog outputs: RCA single-ended, XLR balanced
Digital outputs: SPDIF on RCA jack, AES/EBU on XLR jack
Inputs: SPDIF, TosLink, and USB digital inputs; word clock input
Formats supported: CD and SACD discs; PCM up to 192kHz/24-bit, USB PCM up to 384Hz/32-bit; DSD64 and DSD128
Dimensions: 17.25″ x 6.4″ x 13.25″
Weight: 61.75 lbs.
Price: $12,000

Integra (U.S. Distributor)
18 Park Way
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
(201) 818-9200
esoteric-usa.com