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Esoteric Grandioso P1/D1

Hello, wanted to start a thread on the new flagship Esoteric Grandioso P1 D1 digital system. Haven't seen any out there and also there is not much information on the web either. Just a couple of reviews and that is about it.

Idea is to share experiences and knowledge on this digital playback system from owners, people that has listened to it, with first hand experience for whatever reason, or just for those who may be interested to ask questions as potential future owners...

If you are reading this, you probably know the system is composed of 4 pieces: A transport, the power unit of transport, and 2 mono DACs for each channel.

Additionally, you can use (and I do recommend it to a great extend) the clock G01, so overall a 5 pieces system.

This digital replaces the old 01 which has been in the market for a long time and brings new interesting features it will be nice to discuss in depth.

Some are quite new or at least not seen before in high end audio like the use of a proprietary transfer protocol (ES-LINK 4) using HDMI cables.

it allows direct DSD and 352.8kHz/48bit PCM ultrawideband digital transmission using an HDMI cable for each DAC.

http://www.esoteric.jp/products/esoteric/p1d1/indexe.html

But most importantly, to discuss it's music reproduction qualities and different configurations and experinces.

Despite being out there for a while already, I can't understand why there hasn't been much said about them. I guess Esoteric should expend a bit in adds to get the atention of the pro audio publications... :-)

Anyway, I have these for less then a month, and despite having very little hours on them, they are quite something. However they are still evolving so will wait on my side a while still to talk in detail about the sound.

Hope this thread is of use and helps owners, potential ones, and others gather and share lots of information.

Thanks
Eli
eelii08
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Hey Eli, do you mean... Is G. still a suffering audiophile.... And is his better half getting inspired by the young teller in question? The answer is... Definitely yes, and, not sure.... SWMBO has not reached for the yellow pages for a family loyer yet.

Meantime, I am working on a review / break-in blog for the amazing High Fidelity PCs designed by Rick Schults in Dallas... Even the entry level is really amazing stuff.... I will create a thread before long on Audiogon.

For the rest... All's good, except for working almost 11 hours a day... At age 61, I'm starting to notice it *grins!*

G.
azjake's avatar
azjake
284 posts
 
Hi,

As the owner of the po-1,do-1,GorB clock system for four years i too had much anticipation for the new Grandioso line but balked at another 4 [or5!] box system...

Much of what has been learned by Esoteric in those last years are present in the KO-1x all in one box!

To be fair the Grandiose affords a much greater deal of complexity as regards both different set-up options and variables to contour sound...

My goal, at 63, is to have the most undiluted representation of PCM as i believe it was never the disk, just the loss in the transfer of data!

Therefore i want no up or oversampling, 356,DSD, USB etc. etc. et al...:-)

Also the number of PC's and additional wires are now better spent on my other mistress...ANALOG!
Just one man's fight not to buy into a THIRD form be it streaming or downloads.
eelii08 OP
169 posts
 
HI Azjake.

I don't think it is only about set up options. The dedicated boxes with power supplies, specially keeping it far away from transport, plus the mono DACs do make a remarkable difference. I guess 4 or 5 boxes is the downside to it, but if you get a chance,try to listen to them in a familiar system. Would be great to hear your impressions.

Best
onestaudio's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
onestaudio
143 posts
 
Wow, This is exciting, I'm glad there is someone to share about these absolutely GREAT source components from Esoteric. This is my fourth Esoteric front end, I had the X-01/D2, the K-01, the D-02/P-02 combo, then with the G-01, and now this great source. I have always favored the Esoteric voicing, but always felt I has forfitting something to hear that detail and explosive dynamic presentation that I like with Esoteric. I think I could have been cool with the D-02/P-02, but after hearing the D1/P1 in my system I am glad I auditioned them and further more glad to now own them. These are Esoterics best source components I have heard, and by a wide margin over there other offerings.
I thought the D-02/P-02 was pretty good with Redbook, but I had heard better, but not anymore. The P1/D1 playback redbook CDs as good as I have heard in my system. Very natural presentation, drums and piano are in the room real. I have much to say but just want to get a few words in for now.
Very excited to see a thread for P1/D1 owners to talk tales and share tips. This is what I hope to be the ultimate in digital playback....with a little help from my friends on AudioGon.
zephyr24069's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
zephyr24069
1,237 posts
 
You guys crack me up....think I've heard of that audiophile preferred divorce club before. Living with WAF round2 has it's challenges, I may be headed back to the club again if I am not careful :-) !!!

As for all you guys praising the new 01 generation to such a great extent both to-date and in the days to come on this thread, all I can say is thank you very much, I'm dying to hear these some day soon and am very happy with my P02/D02/C02.....and;

"Lord, Lead Us Not Into Temptation!!!
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