Esoteric Grandioso K1X-SE SACD/CD Player

VRDS (Vibration-Free Rigid Disc-Clamping System) is Esoteric's unique CD/Super Audio CD transport technology, which has been specially designed to clamp the disc to a same-diameter turntable in order to eliminate the disc's rotational vibration, as well as any extraneous vibration emanating from the mechanism itself. It also corrects any warpage of the disc, dramatically improving the accuracy of both the optical pickup and the disc pit layer's corresponding optical axis, while also minimizing servo current. This all adds up to dramatically reduced disc read error for exceptional audio quality.

The new VRDS-ATLAS platform boasts unprecedented mechanical perfection and superlative audio quality, with heavyweight construction that is fully 127% heavier than previous iterations (6.6kg for the mechanism alone, and 13.5kg including its base). This highest rigidity and weight in the history of VRDS mechanisms has the effect of greatly reducing any and all vibration that could adversely affect audio quality. The transport's larger new side panels and bridge are all formed of SS400 steel, and its turntable is made from duralumin, which is renowned for its excellent sound quality. Also, its spindle features a newly designed thrust bearing system, for a friction-free one-point spindle support system that ensures smooth, noiseless turntable rotation.

Esoteric’s impressive VRDS-ATLAS is the quietest and most elegant transport in the history of VRDS. The key to achieving this was a resolute focus on mechanical grounding technology that more effectively reduces vibration.
Adopting a wide & low-profile design for the entire mechanism helped achieve a lower center-of-gravity, and relocating the turntable motor to below the turntable from its previous position above the bridge dramatically shortened the route for grounding vibration and reducing mechanical noise. Tray hollowing has also been minimized for increased rigidity, and special stoppers made from vibration-absorbing elastomer cancel out resonance when the tray is stored.

The Grandioso K1X SE’s mighty power supply is the key to its powerful and profound three-dimensional sound. Its built-in D/A converter features independent power transformers for left and right channels, and the K1X SE includes a total of four independent toroidal power supply transformers. Furthermore, technologies cultivated in the development of the Grandioso P1X/D1X have also been adopted, including a low-feedback DC power supply regulator featuring a discrete circuit configuration which contributes to its powerful open sound. The K1X SE also contains a total of 76 EDLC* supercapacitors (with a total capacitance of 2,050,000µF or 2.05F). This greatly increased power supply capacitance provides a tremendously improved sound quality for exceptional resolution in the lower frequency ranges.
*EDLC (Electric Double-Layer Capacitor):A special type of capacitor boasting an astoundingly high capacitance compared to the electrolytic capacitor used in conventional audio equipment.

The VRDS-ATLAS transport mechanism is centered and mounted on a 5mm thick steel base chassis. This effectively suppresses vibration from the transport mechanism. The chassis interior has a double-layer structure, with audio boards mainly on the top layer and power circuits and transformers on the bottom layer to prevent magnetic flux leakage and vibration, and to minimize power supply wiring. Esoteric’s original Pinpoint foot*, which integrates a spike and saucer, has been replaced with a new foot that is not bolted to the lower chassis, but is held in place by the weight of the chassis when installed. By avoiding the stress concentration caused by screwing the Pinpoint foot body into the large surface area of the lower chassis, a more open sound is created.
*Patent JP4075477 / JP3778108

Grandioso K1X SE’s Newly Designed Pinpoint Foot

Upper Section of the Grandioso K1X SE

Lower Section of the Grandioso K1X SE

The enclosure’s top panel utilizes a screwless semi-floating structure that further contributes to an open and dynamic sound.

Unattainable by integrated chips, our goal was to assemble carefully selected and tested discrete components into a complete circuit that could perfectly reproduce all the dynamics and energy of music. Our top engineering teams put their pride on the line to design and produce a quality of sound that can only be found in the “Master Sound Discrete DAC” discrete D/A converter.

The K1X SE’s Master Sound Discrete DAC is the most revolutionary two-channel stereo DAC circuit in Esoteric's history, and is based on the original circuit developed for the Grandioso D1X SE monaural D/A converter.
As an extension of the D1X SE's design philosophy, a luxurious volume of materials have been invested in the construction of K1X SE’s Master Sound Discrete DAC. For example, it features 32 separate elements for each channel. Key components such as a clock driver, logic circuit, and capacitors and resistors, are kept independent for each of these 32 elements to ensure the purest output without no loss of musical energy.

The K1X SE's independently developed Delta-Sigma (Δ∑) modulator supports 64-bit/512Fs and the latest high-end digital formats, including of 22.5MHz DSD and 768kHz PCM signals. The FPGA's* dedicated digital processing algorithm was developed exclusively for the Master Sound Discrete DAC, and has been fully optimized for outstanding playback of both DSD and PCM digital audio data.
*FPGA: Field-Programmable Gate Array

In the new SE model, the discrete parts of the analog circuitry on the DAC board have been refreshed for even better sound quality. The amplifier element is the original "Integrated Discrete-Amplifier Module IDM-01". The materials, circuit patterns, and layout have been carefully studied by Esoteric's engineers as if designing an amplifier with a discrete configuration, and the extremely short signal path that takes advantage of integrated circuits amplifies the vibrancy of music in a dynamic and subtle way. The IDM-01 and other analog parts, such as analog filter resistors and capacitors, have been carefully selected to achieve a more vivid live sound, improved audible dynamics, and a more organic texture.

With a discrete DAC, where component tolerances are directly linked to arithmetic precision, highly advanced quality control is also required for the manufacture of electronic circuit boards. Esoteric's own in-house factory boasts some of the world's leading board mounting technologies, such as soldering performed in an oxygen-free furnace, which is located in a clean room featuring the same level of cleanliness found in a hospital operating room. Technologies cultivated in the production of electronic circuit boards for audio, medical, aerospace, and defense industries support the high production quality of the Master Sound Discrete DAC.

The Esoteric-HCLD output buffer amplifier boasts an amazingly high-speed slew rate (response speed) of 2,000V/µs. Current transmission and speed—the most important factors for an analog output circuit—have been pushed to the limits to reproduce the reality of music with a dynamic range that is truly breathtaking.
*HCLD: High Current Line Driver

In addition to its XLR and RCA amplifier line connections, the K1X SE also features the ES-Link Analog method of current transmission. Taking full advantage of the HCLD buffer circuit's powerful current supply makes the K1X SE less susceptible to the detrimental effects of impedance on the signal route. It also enables a more powerful signal transmission, fully driving connected compatible devices.