January 2026

World Premiere Review!
Reaching Into The Life Of Music: Esoteric K-01XD SE SACD / CD Player & DAC Review
In service to music, and to experiencing a life fully lived.
Review By Dr. Michael Bump

"It takes a long time to sound like yourself."
— Miles Davis

  "Practice makes perfect." As with performing music, audiophilia is a practiced art, defining a very personal journey through a sequence of inspired choices and construction. Perhaps better stated, "Practice develops awareness." It is why musicians and audiophiles make for natural bedfellows. The art of reproducing recorded music at the highest levels is every bit a practice, fluid through expanding awareness and knowledge, at once governed by the absolutes of science, yet is subjective to artistic freedoms and interpretations. Many audiophiles ascribe to a practice of recreating the live musical moment as faithfully as possible, while others favor a specific aural character that defines a personal aesthetic. Ultimately, the jury lies not with the court of public opinion, but with those personal values honed through enlightenment, education, experience, and preference.

Most in this craft will confess that the endgame is ultimately the music, though many are quick to qualify that technical prowess and visual aesthetic are also core elements in the gestalt of audiophilia. As a professional percussionist, I can attest that this is also true in the art of percussion performance. We are more than aware that live performance is a holistic experience, synthesizing sound, gesture, and visual sculpture in a uniquely personal amalgam of artistic expression.

I'm of the opinion that Esoteric recognizes and has captured a similar amalgam within the art of fine audio. They, too, practice the critical marriage of music, visual art, and gesture through inspired engineering, bringing about a corporeal experience from recorded music that few can equal or improve upon. Among the distinguished audio designs that define their well-earned legacy is the now iconic lineage of the K-series single-chassis digital players. Leading this series is a newly advanced "Special Edition" version of the K-01XD. This model is postured near the apex of Esoteric's finest digital playback accomplishments and bested only by representatives of their exclusive Grandioso designs. A boastful pride of ownership and complete immersion in the recorded moment only begin to describe the listening experience with the K-01XD SE.

Overview
The TEAC Corporation serves as one of the most successful and comprehensive businesses in audio design and manufacturing. With an initial emphasis in the professional market (TASCAM), TEAC today also offers entry and mid-level consumer audio instruments, with their elite brand, Esoteric, representing premium, high-end efforts. Esoteric's research and development is responsible for a comprehensive portfolio of digital sources (with an emphasis on SACD players), DACs, amplifiers, preamplifiers, clock generators, and (with the introduction of the Grandioso T1 in 2022) turntables. Their products also extend to audio cabling, as well as a continually expanding library of SACD and vinyl recordings through their "Mastering Masterpiece Collection Series."

With a design team born largely of a commitment to precision engineering, exacting production standards, and significant measurable outcomes in the reproduction of recorded music, Esoteric's consistent success is a testament to a disciplined business model and strong financial infrastructure.

For many home audio enthusiasts, Esoteric is more than just a widely respected name, it represents a long-standing benchmark at the high table of fine audio. It is admittedly this reputation that in 2006 convinced me to invest in my first ‘serious' digital player, the X-03se. With the introduction of the K series in 2010, I subsequently upgraded to the K-03 in 2012, which remained my reference system's primary digital source for thirteen years. Despite many digital sources reviewed in my reference system during this time, it was not until the Spring of 2025 that I was again compelled to pull the trigger, as it were, when Keith Haas, Director of HiFi Sales at Playback Distribution, sent a freshly-minted K-01XD SE for review. It did not take long to realize this amazing instrument was simply not going back on the shipping pallet.

The Goods
Similar to the X series that preceded, the K series consists of integrated digital player designs within a graduated family: 07, 05, 03, and 01. The K-01 and 03 players were first introduced in Japan in 2010. Since then, several iterations have been developed, each representing significant upgrades to transport architecture, DAC platform, and clocking technology:

· 2010 – K-01

· 2014 – K-01X

· 2018 – K-01Xs

· 2020 – K-01XD ("Extended Definition")

· 2024 – K-01XD SE ("Special Edition")

Of the "Special Editions," only the K-01XD and K-03XD models are currently in production (the K-05XD is as well, less SE technology).

Esoteric K-01XD SE Internal Chassis (Bottom)

Esoteric K-01XD SE Internal Chassis (Top)

Herein summarizes distinctions between the K-01XD SE and K-03XD SE models that result in significant sonic differences:

Transport: K-01XD SE uses the ATLAS 01, which has a more rigid, 20mm-thick steel bridge, effectively eliminating vibration and read errors. The K-03XD SE uses the ATLAS 03, using an 18mm-thick bridge.

Power Supply: K-01XD SE has a more elaborate power supply, utilizing four high-capacity toroidal transformers to provide independent power to the left and right DACs, transport, and digital circuits. K-03XD SE has two independent transformers, one for the digital and one for the analog circuits.

Capacitance: The K-01XD SE incorporates a significantly larger bank of 71 EDLC (electric double-layer capacitors) super capacitors, providing a total capacitance of 1,850,000uF vs the K-03XD SE's 26 super capacitors for a total capacitance of 650,000uF. This provides the former improved low-frequency resolution and an expanded dynamic range.

Analog Circuitry: While both models feature the "Master Sound Discrete DAC" and the new "Master Sound Discrete Clock," the K-01XD SE's DAC board has more premium components, contributing to a more dynamic and refined sound.

Build Quality: The K-01XD SE is heavier, indicative of its more substantial internal components and chassis bracing, further minimizing vibration and enhancing performance.

The Best Of The Best
The significance of the VRDS (Vibration-Free Rigid Disc-Clamping System) transport cannot be overstated, as it represents one of the finest digital transport mechanisms anywhere. The original VRDS was first implemented in 1987, followed by the VRDS-NEO in 2003, updated for even greater precision, performance, and compatibility with both SACD and DVD formats. Introduced in 2019, the ATLAS represents a completely re-engineered platform, featuring a more rigid and heavier construction, a lower center of gravity, and an improved spindle system to further reduce vibration and enhance reading accuracy. Each graduated model of the K-series contains a thicker, more rigid transport bridge. The ATLAS 01 VDRS 20mm SS400 bridge employed in the K-01XD SE is the same as that used in the Grandioso P1X and K1X SE.

Similarly, the proprietary Master Sound Discrete DAC and Master Sound Discrete Clock found in the K-01XD SE are the same as those used within all the Grandioso SE models. They incorporate premium analog parts, the ladder DAC board including a unique FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) 64-bit/512Fs Delta Sigma modulator, as well as the Integrated Discrete-Amplifier Module IDM-01, which further enhances dynamics and musical texture.

Master Sound Discrete Clock

Versatility
Esoteric's K-01XD SE remains one of the most versatile and accessible player/DACs for those seeking the highest levels of digital reproduction. Among the plethora of attributes available is an array of options that expand the DAC in service to both internal and external source material. External digital sources can be upsampled to 32-bit/768kHz, DSD, or remain in their native form. While the rear panel provides for standard connectivity (XLR / ES-Link / RCA analog outs, XLR AES/EBU and RCA S/PDIF digital outs, RCA S/PDIF, TosLink optical, and USB Type-B digital inputs, plus BNC clock sync input). The front panel also offers numerous options to tailor both sound and navigation.

Among the customizations available are filter adjustments within each of the DSD and PCM settings (both CD playback or external digital sources) affecting the upsampling rate. Though no ‘factory' sonic description is provided for each setting, I do note that the cutoff frequency becomes progressively lower. Posing this observation to Keith Haas, he offered the following response:

"To your point, while there are sonic differences as you activate or deactivate custom settings, there is, as you have discerned, no published specs as to cutoff/roll-off frequencies, or upscale data. Even the prompt that offers to upconvert your incoming signal, be it from a Redbook CD or an input source via USB, to DSD, is left ambiguous as not even DSD is a specific resolution.

This is all by design. The engineers in Tokyo provide these settings for one simple reason: because they know and appreciate that the end-user likely likes to tinker. They intentionally do not publish the measurement because they know the temptation will be for the end-user to simply activate what looks like the best mathematical measurement they can find on a spec sheet or in a manual, turn it on, and leave it on, even if the effect is negative to that individual's sense of hearing. They want the end-user to ‘use their own ears' to determine what setting, if any, sounds better to them. After all, that is what matters. How it sounds to others is irrelevant. The ownership of both the component, as well as the experience it provides to the owner, is a personal one.

It is important to note that the default setting for any of these options, is what the printed specs of the unit are based on. In many instances, that default position may simply be "Off". I can tell you that in my own environment, aside from setting the output signal path and or input signal path (if I am just using the DAC), or setting up the power off function, or the time-out and brightness level of the OLED display, I leave everything else off because to ‘my ears' the out of the carton default settings are the sweet spot."

I must concur with Keith in that through my own listening experiences with the K-01XD SE, I ultimately defaulted to the "off" mode with the filter settings, as this, to my ears, sounded best. Each filter adjustment in both DSD and PCM options is very subtle but could potentially suit the aural tastes of many. In my research and readings, I have read that the D/A converter operation mode used during PCM playback can be set to three types, M1, M2 or M3. This changes the Δ [Delta] Σ [Sigma] modulator operation frequency and randomization algorithm used to absorb hardware error, M1 being the Esoteric reference mode. The operation frequency of the Δ Σ modulator becomes progressively lower in order from M1 to M2 to M3. The replacement amount of the randomization algorithm increases progressively in order from M1 through M3. On the DSD settings, a digital filter is used. F1 through F3 are digital filters with different frequency responses, with the cutoff frequency becoming progressively lower with each.

Form Follows Function
I've always found the visual presence of Esoteric instruments to be exceptionally elegant, commanding, and adaptable to any décor. What earns my greatest respect, however, is the degree to which chassis design is integral to function with all other aspects of K-01XD SE's sonic architecture, contributing to the corporeal listening experience. Among these traits:

· Immediately noticeable is the semi-floating top panel, which uses a screwless process intended to minimize vibration and contribute to a more open and dynamic sound. The 0.25" aluminum top panel simply rests on the chassis, guided by fittings, but cannot necessarily be removed unless the side panels, etc. are disassembled (obviously, not recommended).

· At just over 68 lbs and of substantial girth, the internal layout uses a double-deck structure to further manage internal interference, with the audio boards on the upper level and power supply components below. The entire chassis is designed with a low center of gravity for stability, with the transport centrally mounted on a 5mm-thick steel base plate.

· Three proprietary pinpoint feet, designed as freely moving spike/saucers, effectively decouple vibrations by use of the chassis' weight.

· The K-01XD SE is remotely operated by an ergonomically friendly double-sided remote control (RC-1333). Though initially I found its layout somewhat confusing, one side essentially focuses on basic playback operation (display, mode, tray, stop/play/pause, etc.). The lower right 4 buttons are dedicated to basic control (input, volume/mute) of an-Esoteric-specific amplifier, if such exists in the audio chain. The reverse side focuses largely on disc track selection and program playback.

Remote Control Front

Remote Control Back

A Few Reference Examples
When an audio design accrues as many accolades as the K-series has, there are good reasons to heed its history. Thus, when adding impressions to an already plethora of commentary, I chose rather to focus largely on what the music told me. This is where the most relevant first impressions tell the tale:

Brenda Navarrete – Mi Mundo (Alma)

This debut solo project from contemporary Cuban singer/percussionist (bata virtuoso), Brenda Navarrete, surely should be in every audiophile's listening arsenal. The corporeal transients within this percussive party are pure bliss, only equaled by the gripping quartal vocal harmonies that move through time symbiotically – a singular organism of musical life. Navarrete's eclectic amalgam of traditional Cuban dance style, smooth jazz, and a dash of pop, makes this recording difficult to categorize, inviting the listener to many parts of the world, completely comfortable and adaptive to any culture, yet never allowing the feet to remain planted in any one geography. Also featuring percussionists Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Rodney Barreto, Jose Carlos, and Adonis Panter, along with a host of A-list special guest musicians, the project gives stage to some of the finest and authentic performances anywhere.

From the laid-back jazz of "Drume Negrita," to the traditional folkloric, "Rumbero Como Yo," Mi Mundo offers an audio feast to any deep listener. Friends, you have to be comatose not to find your body and soul moved through this music.

In this reference, it is about deciphering complex sonic information and layering it correctly, which Esoteric's K-01XD SE SACD/CD player rendered wonderfully. A particular forte was revealed through the recording venue – The mirage of a small studio room, approximately the size of my listening room (14' x 18'). The K-01XD SE presentation remained faithful to the intimacy of this performance space. Micro-dynamic shading from all vocal and instrumental sources was truthful and engaging. Spatial cues, a favorite here at Enjoy the Music.com, were spot-on and well-defined, with the tactile signatures that define sources and their respective interactions was simply on another level. The K-01XD SE's ability to generate air and three-dimensionality further helped bring forth their unique qualities, offering outstanding inner detail, yet with ample separation to appreciate them.

Another significant forte the Esoteric K-01XD SE afforded Mi Mundo was energy! It was an awakening of musical color - vibrant, visceral, insistent of undivided attention. Colors that defined character and naturalness compelled sound sources to come to life! The K-01XD SE afforded excitement and involvement befitting the spirit of the recorded moment – a memory remaining with this listener long after the recording had finished.

Bela Bartok – Concerto for Orchestra/Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti (Hybrid SACD / Esoteric / Decca)

Mind you, this is the genre of music that largely puts food on the table for my wife and me. And leave no doubt that I wake up each day rediscovering the absolute joy of studying, performing, and teaching classical/art music. Yet strangely, I acknowledge little time is spent in my (albeit few) leisure hours enjoying it in my audio reference room, opting rather for my latest jazz trio or previously unknown Velvet Underground recordings. All the same, no Esoteric SACD player review would be complete without using one of the Esoteric remastered SACDs I have in my library. In this case, I chose Solti's reading of the Bartok, Concerto for Orchestra, as performed by the Chicago Symphony.

Having had the privilege of performing this work about a dozen occasions in my professional career, as well as years of academic study, I can concur that, since its release in 1956, this performance sculpted by maestro Solti stands as the definitive interpretation by which all other recordings of the work are measured. Through this reference, the fullness of the stage and venue scale generated by the K-01XD SE is impressive. Startling dynamics and a soundstage that is as incredibly wide as it is deep. Timbral personality was as true as I've ever experienced, particularly percussion voices. Lightening quick, crisp upper frequency transients offered up an exciting, live experience that did not distract, but rather enhanced in natural balance to the mid and lower transient characteristics. There were no artifacts – Only a naturally organic sound that enveloped as I seemingly enjoyed the performance from the concert hall.

The Esoteric K-01XD SE helped generate a visceral experience of artistic enjoyment, achieving micro dynamic subtleties that accurately reproduced spatial performance cues, ultimately bringing authenticity to the music. From a musician's perspective, what I find particularly intriguing is just how revealing and comprehensible musical form is wrought through the K-01XD SE listening experience. Exceptional clarity, air, and space, among other acoustic variables, allow compositional intent and performance interpretation to be laid bare without unintentional vagueness. As with the Mi Mundo recording, the K-01XD SE helped open doors to the energy of the music in ways I've never experienced through any previous digital source in my reference system. Aside from the technical language that we often defer to in sonic descriptors of high-end audio, it brought forth the intangibles of live performance – that which moves mind, heart, and body, simultaneously.

AKA Trio – Joy. (Redbook / Bendigedig)

Antonio Forcione (acoustic guitars), Seckou Keita (koras), and Adriano Adewale (percussion), come from three different continents, speaking three different languages, informed by three different cultures and musical traditions. The resulting amalgam has brought great color and spirit to this recording. Though Adriano has performed with Antonio for some years (Tears of Joy, Sketches of Africa, et al), Seckou's presence is a wonderful new voice, with all three artists communicating an eclectic musical language. Bob Schult (of former Ridge Street Audio Designs) first enlightened me many years ago to Antonio's music via one of his compilation "test" CDs, for which I am grateful.

The extensive collection of acoustic instrumental colors in Joy offers a sonic playground for reference listening. Presented through Esoteric's K-01XD SE, I am reminded of the correct balance among these musicians. Nothing is emphasized in a manner unintended by artists or engineers. The tactile presence of fingers, nails, and hands, actuating all manner of strings and hand drums, raises goosebumps. With this reference in particular, the degree of naturalness and liveliness sets the watermark for organic, analog-like digital playback. Sense of presence and tactile color is simply stunning, even at low amplitudes.

Alison Krauss / Union Station – Paper Airplane (CD/Rounder)

This is an ideal test reference, both in talent and acoustic production. As a graduate student in the mid 1980s, I remember watching a young teen Alison perform at Nature's Table, a small bohemian campus hangout, across from the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on the University of Illinois campus. For its time, it was a fitting convergence of cutting-edge contemporary art music with seeds of great, cornfed talent in the local folk music scene. Even at that time, we all knew Alison was destined for greatness, and when she connected with Jeff White and the boys of Union Station, well, that was it.

Among the performances on their 2011 release, Paper Airplane, both the title track and "Lie Awake" provide an opportunity to assess imagery, separation, and timbral distinctions among vocalists, string instruments, and transient speed among them. These introspective pieces on relationships-gone-bad are filled with tormented emotions. The resulting instrumental and vocal timbral colors, if presented true-to-life, offer a window into the soul. The K-01XD SE provides this window with great clarity – In particular, an appreciation for the timbral and artistic fusion between the voices of Alison and Don Tyminski. A presentation of pure synthesis in the creation of a singular vocal hybrid from two individuals.

IMHO
From the above listening experiences, I found music through the K-01XD SE to be served authentically and holistically. Every musical reference was rendered in a characteristically authentic presentation. Neutral, yet engaging, with a palpable layering of instrumental voices.A comprehensive presentation with an ability to retrieve an extraordinary amount of musical detail, yet with no unintended sonic artifacts. The presentations took on a convincing sense of physicality and space. Sound took shape, giving music a true presence between the ears and behind the eyes:

· Depth and soundstage are expansive, excelling in creating air around instrumental and vocal sources, defining detailed timbral characters.

· Expansion of discernible frequency spectrum. This is particularly true of lower frequencies. Bass is full-bodied and truthfully textured to the source. Conversely, upper frequencies are refined, but not hyper-extended or rolled off. There is a crystalline extension offered through the K-01XD SE that is wonderfully balanced at the top.

· Transient speed was an exceptional forte of the K-01XD SE that, in my experience, no other digital source has come close to generating in my reference system, regardless of price point (and I've had several through the years in for review!).

· An immediate and exciting level of musical energy and engagement. Make no mistake, the Esoteric K-01XD SE offers a compelling argument for visceral authenticity in the musical moment - One that invites truly memorable levels of listening and immersion.

We've often heard the term "PRAT" (Pace, Rhythm, and Timing). In his reference, The Complete Guide To High-End Audio, Robert Harley credits British columnist/audio reviewer Martin Colloms for identifying these three important aspects of recorded music reproduction as "Terms that refer to a system's ability to involve the listener in a physical way with the music's forward flow and drive." The Esoteric K-01XD SE SACD/CD player provides the listener with the most faithful reproduction of music's pace, rhythm, and timing that I've experience from a digital source in my reference system.

Conclusion
Since its inception in 1987, Esoteric has been a torchbearer for innovation among high-end digital elites. Indeed, Esoteric has become synonymous with the term, "stateof-the-art" in digital playback and the gold standard by which all others are compared. I, and others here at Enjoy the Music.com, find Esoteric Audio to be one that follows an unwavering commitment to explore every possibility in the pursuit of absolute musical truth, creating playback instruments that present the musical moment exactly as it was recorded, without alteration or compromise.

The Esoteric K-01XD SE SACD / CD player and Hi-Res Audio DAC is their latest integrated design offering audio playback accessibility at the highest levels. A synthesis of exemplary versatility, build, and functionality, all elevating the musical presentation to a transformative experience. Beyond the stereotypical artifacts associated with many examples of digital playback, Esoteric K-01XD SE brings forward a presentation at once like butter and crystal – a sheer analog-like fluidity laid forth with visceral realism on a canvas of authentic scale.

In my opinion, and many here at Enjoy the Music.com would agree, the Esoteric K-01XD SE serves as a destination digital front end, particularly for those seeking the finest in SACD / DAC presentation within a compact, single-chassis design. Yes, there are certainly other fine examples of single-box sources at far higher price points (and to acknowledge, $28,500 is not exactly small change!). Few, however, match the integrity and pedigree of Esoteric and their longstanding respect within the audiophile community. We've all learned to never say never in this passionate art, yet investing in the Esoteric K-01XD SE would most certainly prove money well-appropriated, providing a lifetime of the most rewarding digital playback experience available within a home hi-fi audio reference system.

To be in the service of music - A life well-fulfilled! I feel privileged to speak to this. To complement that service through the faithful replication of the recorded moment is a task patiently practiced in the finest home audio systems as reviewed here at Enjoy the Music.com. Esoteric, and particularly the K-01XD SE SACD / CD player, necessarily stands among those audio instruments I would deem essential in this practice and capable of bringing that moment to life. It should go without saying that Esoteric's K-01XD SE submitted here for review has now found its place in this musician's "practice room."

Welcome home!

Reference System|
Preamplifier: VAC Master (w/ phono)
Amplifier: VAC Statement 450S iQ
Digital Source: Esoteric K-03 / K-01XD SE
Analog Source: Kronos Sparta / Kronoscope RS arm (w/ My Sonic Lab Signature Platinum mc cartridge)
Loudspeakers: Von Schweikert Audio Endeavor Special Edition
Subwoofer: Velodyne DD10+
Cables: Ansuz Speakz C3 Speaker cables, JPS Aluminata power cords / interconnects (XLR / RCA), and WyWires Platinum (phono)
Power Conditioning: Audience adeptResponse aR6-T4 (w/ Audience frontRow power cord)
Vibration Control, et al: Critical Mass Systems CenterStage 2M footers, Butcher Block Acoustics Isolation Platform, Furutech NCF Cable Boosters, and Nitty Gritty 2.5Fi LP Cleaner

Specifications
Type: SACD / CD player and Hi-Res Audio DAC
Playable Disc Types: Super Audio CD, and CD (incl. CD-R & CD-RW)

Frequency Response: 5 Hz to 30 kHz (-3dB)
S/N ratio: 113 dB (A-weight)
Distortion: 0.0007% (1 kHz)

Analog Outputs
XLR Output: 5 Vrms
Impedance: 114 Ohm
RCA output: 2.5 Vrms
Impedance: 34 Ohm

Digital Outputs
XLR AES/EBU
Level: 3 Vp-p
Impedance: 110 Ohm
Signal format: Linear PCM (AES/EBU)
RCA S/PDIF
Level: 0.5 Vp-p
Impedance: 75 Ohm
Signal format: Linear PCM (IEC 60958)

Digital Inputs
RCA S/PDIF
Level: 0.5 Vp-p
Impedance: 75 Ohm
Signal formats: Linear PCM (IEC 60958) 32-192 kHz/16-bit, 24-bit
DSD (DoP): 2.8 MHz
Optical TosLink
Level: -24.0 to -14.5 dBm peak
Signal formats: Linear PCM (IEC 60958) 32-192 kHz/16-bit, 24-bit
DSD (DoP): 2.8 MHz
USB: B-type connector, supports USB 2.0
Signal Formats: Linear PCM 44.1 -384kkHz/16-bit, 24-bit
DSD: 2.8 MHz, 5.6 MHz, 11.2 MHz, 22.5 MHz

Clock Input
BNC
Level: 0.5 to 1.0 Vrms (sine wave)
Impedance: 50 Ohm
Frequencies (that can be input 10 MHz)

External Control Input
RS-232C
Trigger: 3.5mm mono mini jack
Level: 12V, 55 mA

Dimensions: 17.57" x 6.5" x 17.25" (WxDxH)
Weight: 68.5 lbs.
Price: $28,500

Manufacturer
TEAC Corporation
1-47 Ochial, Tama-shi
Tokyo 206-8530
Japan

Voice: +81-42-356-9156
Website: Esoteric.jp

U.S. Distributor
Playback Distribution LLC

Voice: (844) 472-3478
E-mail: info@playbackdistribution.com 
Website: PlaybackDistribution.com