*NEW* Esoteric N-05XD

I had RDOT filter selected since day one because it is the easiest one to like:more bass, fuller sound, more body and presence.

On the last week i changed to OFF and it is growing on me, seems more balanced and detailed without being to harsh.
I have big Marten speakers so in the long term it may be the one i choose from.
 
beckzito said:
I had RDOT filter selected since day one because it is the easiest one to like:more bass, fuller sound, more body and presence.

On the last week i changed to OFF and it is growing on me, seems more balanced and detailed without being to harsh.
I have big Marten speakers so in the long term it may be the one i choose from.
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I was the same way.....but after break in I prefer Off.
 
New member here but I've been reading this forum for a very long time. I am searching for an option for a new DAC and streamer. It's impossible to try everything in home and I'm doing my best to go to Audio shows and research products I'm interested in. I was looking for a separate DAC and Streamer but have now decided to also include combination DAC/Streamer all-in-one boxes like the Esoteric N-05XD. I understand the pro's/cons of separate components and combination boxes. The problem I can't seem to decide is if the sound quality of a separate DAC and Streamer will be better than a combination box if the price of both is equal. For instance, I could purchase the Esoteric N-05XD for approximately $11,000 US dollars but I could also purchase a Holo Audio May KTE DAC and a Auralic ARIES G2.1 streamer for roughly the same price minus cabling. Obvious advantages of combination boxes are saving shelf space, factory synergy/integration of DAC and streamer and not having to purchase connecting cables. Disadvantages are if anything breaks in the box the whole thing needs to be sent in for repair. Also, if the DAC or streamer gets outdated you can't separate them and will need to sell the entire box.

I was wondering if others faced this same problem and how they resolved making a purchasing decision? I'm SURE the Esoteric N-05XD is an excellent product but I also understand there is a premium price for this brand. Also, this comes with a preamp that I really don't need/want and a headphone amp I have no use for. I have listened to some combination boxes including the DCS Bartok and it wasn't my cup of tea. My main question is can I do better than the Esoteric N-05XD for the money by buying separate components? Is the combination box a sound compromise and more for convenience when you factor in the costs? All opinions welcome. The above example of separate components was just an example, substitute Chord or any other major name products that would equal approximately $11,000.
 
musicman1 said:
New member here but I've been reading this forum for a very long time. I am searching for an option for a new DAC and streamer. It's impossible to try everything in home and I'm doing my best to go to Audio shows and research products I'm interested in. I was looking for a separate DAC and Streamer but have now decided to also include combination DAC/Streamer all-in-one boxes like the Esoteric N-05XD. I understand the pro's/cons of separate components and combination boxes. The problem I can't seem to decide is if the sound quality of a separate DAC and Streamer will be better than a combination box if the price of both is equal. For instance, I could purchase the Esoteric N-05XD for approximately $11,000 US dollars but I could also purchase a Holo Audio May KTE DAC and a Auralic ARIES G2.1 streamer for roughly the same price minus cabling. Obvious advantages of combination boxes are saving shelf space, factory synergy/integration of DAC and streamer and not having to purchase connecting cables. Disadvantages are if anything breaks in the box the whole thing needs to be sent in for repair. Also, if the DAC or streamer gets outdated you can't separate them and will need to sell the entire box.

I was wondering if others faced this same problem and how they resolved making a purchasing decision? I'm SURE the Esoteric N-05XD is an excellent product but I also understand there is a premium price for this brand. Also, this comes with a preamp that I really don't need/want and a headphone amp I have no use for. I have listened to some combination boxes including the DCS Bartok and it wasn't my cup of tea. My main question is can I do better than the Esoteric N-05XD for the money by buying separate components? Is the combination box a sound compromise and more for convenience when you factor in the costs? All opinions welcome. The above example of separate components was just an example, substitute Chord or any other major name products that would equal approximately $11,000.
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My personal opinion is if the playing field is not at the stratosphere level, one box solution for streamer + DAC is way to go for $10k-ish price point. It gets most bang for your buck as one box has its own sonic advantages. Also it’s important to note that when N05XD first came out, it was regarded as new product category and I do expect many similar products to come out in coming years.
 
Yeah. What he says. The price point of N05XD is very odd. It should have been priced much closer to N01XD.
 
Thanks for your opinions on this. Every comment helps. I still don't fully understand how you came to your conclusions that a one box solution is better? Did you do some type of A-B testing with a combination box versus separate DAC/Streamer? I have no doubts that a single box solution can be very good. I even outlined some of the Pros and Cons above in my original post. Is a single box solution better since both the DAC and streamer were manufactured by the same company and designed to work together and have good synergy? Certainly, there are some disadvantages with them sharing a single chassis with noise and sharing common parts such as power supplies. I do admit that the single box solution is very attractive to me with saving space on my desktop. On the other hand, my ultimate objective is sound quality.
 
brodricj said:
Yeah. What he says. The price point of N05XD is very odd. It should have been priced much closer to N01XD.
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No, it shouldnt have. The N-01XD is overpriced. Either way I still liked it, the Distributor is a mess though.
 
I guess I'm not going to get any more input on this. I'll be at Axpona next week for all 3 days and I see Esoteric will be there so hopefully I can get more opinions and do some listening.
 
musicman1 said:
I guess I'm not going to get any more input on this. I'll be at Axpona next week for all 3 days and I see Esoteric will be there so hopefully I can get more opinions and do some listening.
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You can buy my X1 for $11K… itll sound better than the N-05XD or any other 2 piece components you will cobble together
 
"I still don't fully understand how you came to your conclusions that a one box solution is better?"

I agree with kzhtoo at this price point. A two-box solution requires two cases and power supplies - significant cost items that could be used to upgrade the DAC/streamer electronics in an integrated solution. Also, don't forget to include the cost of the additional power and interconnect cables, and, as was mentioned, shelf space. But in the end, the keys will be how do they sound and do they include the functionality most important to you.
 
musicman1 said:
Thanks for your opinions on this. Every comment helps. I still don't fully understand how you came to your conclusions that a one box solution is better? Did you do some type of A-B testing with a combination box versus separate DAC/Streamer? I have no doubts that a single box solution can be very good. I even outlined some of the Pros and Cons above in my original post. Is a single box solution better since both the DAC and streamer were manufactured by the same company and designed to work together and have good synergy? Certainly, there are some disadvantages with them sharing a single chassis with noise and sharing common parts such as power supplies. I do admit that the single box solution is very attractive to me with saving space on my desktop. On the other hand, my ultimate objective is sound quality.
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I’m mainly talking from my personal experience. I used to own MSB Discrete (which is awesome BTW) and recycled a few media players in $2k-4k range. The advantage of N-05XD in my system I notice is immediacy, coherency and that bold dynamic Esoteric’s own in-house Master Sound Discrete sound. All these attributes collectively is what won me over although MSB analog sound is quite addictive too.

Again, I need to stress that we’re only talking about $10k price range. I do think players like Taiko Extreme or Aurender N20, N30, etc. can raise the performance of any DAC. But those players alone cost multiple times more than N-05XD.

I’d suggest you audition N-05XD in your system if you could and give it plenty of break-in time as, just like many other DACs with quality components, it takes a bit of break-in.
 
Are you all speculating as to which sounds better, the X1 or the N-05XD, or do you have actual experience? I would love to hear some impressions of these two from those who have heard both in the same system. Perhaps Mike could chime in as well.
 
MPW said:
Are you all speculating as to which sounds better, the X1 or the N-05XD, or do you have actual experience? I would love to hear some impressions of these two from those who have heard both in the same system. Perhaps Mike could chime in as well.
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I own the X1 and have owned the N-01XD. I would assume the N-05XD is inferior to the N-01. That being said I prefer the X1 to the N-01. Its more organic sounding without losing any detail. Its also a very well ironed out product. Now the N-01 is built better than the X1, material and assembly is ahead for sure. So there you go… neither touch the sound quality I get from my DC-1000 Dac, at double the price of course.
 
MPW said:
Are you all speculating as to which sounds better, the X1 or the N-05XD, or do you have actual experience? I would love to hear some impressions of these two from those who have heard both in the same system. Perhaps Mike could chime in as well.
Click to expand...

I never had X1 in my system, hence it’s more of speculation. I read somewhere MSB Discrete is preferred over X1. I’m thoroughly familiar with MSB Discrete as I had it for 2+ years.

Anyhow, can’t deny synergy and personal preference. Digital has come so far that even at $10k-ish level, it has become quite difficult for a quality component to leave another quality component in the dust.

Also, N-01XD isn’t entirely the same as N-05XD. One is a DAC and the other being one box solution.
 
I have owned Lumin’s S1 and X1 - both terrific streamer/dacs.

I currently own the Esoteric N01XD. In my system and my ears, the N01XD is clearly superior to the excellent Lumin X1 and the very good S1.

Now, we know that in all things audio, personal taste really matters. But to me, the musicality of the latest generation of Esoteric is much more natural sounding than the presentation of the Lumin X1.
 
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