N-01XD SE
£25,500
The N-01XD is equipped with a Master Sound Discrete DAC, developed entirely in-house to achieve the original master sound, and a high quality network module that delivers a three-dimensional sound as if you were listening to a vinyl recording.
The N-01XD is now even more advanced as an SE model with further sound quality updates.
Master Sound Discrete DAC Bringing Out All the Dynamics and Energy of Music.
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.
Luxurious Materials and Powerful Current Output
The N-01XD 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 Monoblock D/A Converter. As an extension of the D1X SE’s design philosophy, an abundance of luxurious materials have been invested in the construction of N-01XD SE’s Master Sound Discrete DAC, including 32 separate elements for each channel. Each of these 32 elements, including such key components as a clock driver, logic circuitry, capacitors and resistors, are kept independent to ensure the purest output with virtually no loss of musical energy.
Advanced Digital Processing Capability
The N-01XD SE incorporates Esoteric’s exclusive Delta-Sigma (ΔΣ)
modulator supporting 64-bit/512Fs audio frequency sampling. To perform
D/A conversion on par with the excellent DSD and PCM format
characteristics, separate FPGA* digital processing algorithms have been
developed for each conversion process. This enables the N-01XD SE to
extract the optimum sound quality from CDs, Super Audio CDs, and network
audio playback.
* FPGA: Field-Programmable Gate Array
Upgraded with IDM-01 and Other Quality Parts
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.
Unique Esoteric-HCLD* Output Buffer Circuit with Enhanced Current Transmission
The N-01XD SE’s Esoteric-HCLD output buffer amplifier boasts an astonishing high-speed slew rate (response speed) of 2,000V/µs. Current transfer and speed – the most important factors in the design of any analog output circuit – have been pushed to the limit, while the array of EDLC** supercapacitors used in the buffer circuit's power supply provides a staggering 250,000μF of capacitance per channel for solid bass support and exceptionally dynamic music reproduction.
*HCLD: High Current Line Driver
**EDLC = Electric Double-layer Capacitor
ES-Link Analog – Esoteric’s Proprietary Current Transmission
In addition to line connections (XLR, RCA), ES-Link Analog,
Esoteric’s proprietary current transmission system, is employed for
connection to an amplifier. ES-Link Analog is the ideal method for audio
signal transmission. Compared to the conventional voltage transmission,
it transmits approximately 100 times more current, making it less
susceptible to noise and sending the full energy of the music to the
amplifier.
Also, it is not affected by the impedance of the interconnects running
between the source device and amplifier, so it maintains a perfect
integrity between the output signal of the source and the input signal
to the amplifier.
Transport Connections for Super Audio CD Playback
The N-01XD SE supports Esoteric’s proprietary ES-Link 5 ultra-wideband digital transmission standard, and you can connect Esoteric’s Super Audio CD Transport models using either two HDMI cables or a single XLR cable.
Tech spec
Digital audio input
ES-LINK
1 (L/R)
Input signal formats
Linear PCM
44.1k to 768kHz, 48bit (ES-LINK5 format)
DSD
2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz, 22.4
XLR
1
Input level
5.0Vp-p
Input impedance
110Ω
Input signal formats
Linear PCM
32k to 192kHz, 16bit / 24bit (AES/EBU format)
DSD
2.8MHz (ES-LINK1, ES-LINK2, DoP format)
RCA
2
Input level
0.5Vp-p
Input impedance
75Ω
Analog audio outputs
XLR/ESL-A
1 pair (L/R)
Output level
5.0Vrms (1kHz, 10kΩ loaded)
Output impedance
40Ω
RCA
1 pair (L/R)
Output level
2.5Vrms (1kHz, 10kΩ loaded)
Output impedance
15Ω
External dimensions (W×H×D)
445 × 162 × 438mm / 17-⅝" × 6-½" × 17-¼" (including protrusions)
Weight
26.3kg / 58 lb
