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Esoteric K01: What are the best settings for CD?

The Esoteric K01 has several up-conversion and filter options for CD play-back. Unfortunately, each up-conversion option and each filter option requires approximately 500 hours of 'break-in' to sound it's best. I have owned the Esoteric K01 since it's release. It is a superb SACD and CD player. I have 'broken in' some but not all filter and up-conversion settings. I am still unable to decide which combination I like best. I am currently using S_DLY1 (for digital filter) and 2Fs (for up conversion). I would like to know what settings other Esoteric K01 owners like best. It would be helpful if If you can explain why those settings sound better to you than other combinations. I wonder which settings the experts at Esoteric/Teac would recommend?
matjet
tboooe's avatar
tboooe
1,009 posts
 
Yashu, check out Luxman. I used to own Esoteric and prefer the Luxman sound.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Tubed ARC players are lovely as well.... They will probably take a similar amount of time to break in... Unfortunately, by the time the digital electronics is broken in, you might need to start changing the 6550C tube in the power supply.... If my own experience with the ARC Ref3 linestage serves at all, After 1K hours of operations, 6550C might start showing the first signs of sonic sag... Good news is that 6550Cs tubes are not expensive... And after 500 hours more, your 6550C replacement in the power supply will reach its own optimum performance... And so give you bliss for, well you know... the balance of its lifetime.

Bottomline... There are rampant rumors of free lunches somewhere... But I have not eaten one yet *grins!*

Saluti, G.
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
982 posts
 
Flashunlock,
You nailed it. The sooner this obsession with break-in stops, the sooner we can begin to simply enjoy the music fron this fabulous machine. Cheers!
matjet OP
111 posts
 
Flashunlock, Jon2020

You guys are correct, the K01 sounds great even without break-in. On the other hand, it is built like a tank, it would be pretty tough to wear it out.
kiwi_1282001
312 posts
 
I think nearly all would agree that the Esoteric K-Series is Teac Corps best effort yet.

This however does not mean it best machine for all listening tastes.

For some the Esoterics reading of music, which is neutral, may be considered analytical, matter of fact and aloof from musicality.

This is understandable and for such folks others options thankfully exist from Ayon, Cary, Reimyo, ARC, Zanden etc.

The point really is to "know thyself" when it comes to audio. If you understand your taste in presentation you will hopefully be better positioned to pick products which support that.
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