ESOTERIC - P-03 UNIVERSAL REFERENCE TRANSPORT

ESOTERIC/P-03 UNIVERSAL REFERENCE TRANSPORT

Esoteric's Amazing P-03/D-03 Combo Gets Golden Ear Award from Robert Harley at The Absolute Sound!

The Most Sophisticated Universal Transport Ever Designed... Period!

The Esoteric P-03 Universal is the finest transport you’ll ever own. Resolution always starts at the source, and with this transport, you’ll know you have extracted the maximum amount of information for every CD/SACD/DVD-A/DVD-V you play.

The only difference between the P-03 and the P-03 Universal is the ability to play DVD based media sources. The P-03 Universal will play every single format currently available. NOTE: Those of you with no interest in video, choose the P-03 CD/SACD Version.

The integrated one-piece body is actually two separate chassis in one. Separate compartments house the power supplies, transport mechanism and all the digital circuitry; greatly protecting the delicate signal from any deterioration and greatly reduces noise.

This unit is built like the proverbial tank. Weighing in at over 70 pounds, nothing has been overlooked. It’s completely overbuilt to help reduce the negative effects of vibration and resonance.

The P-03 Universal includes Esoteric’s most sophisticated transport mechanism, the VRSD-NEO. No one else has spent this much time and money in the development of a transport. If you want the best, this is it!

Designed and Built to partner with Esoteric's D-03 Digital to Analog Converter.

“My true passion lies in audio, and here the P-03/D-03 combination was among the best digital sources for music playback I’ve heard. The Esoteric was characterized by an extremely smooth, sophisticated, and finely textured rendering that conveyed an amazing wealth of subtlety in the music without the sound ever becoming forward or analytical. The Esoteric was utterly devoid of the hardness and glare one often hears in digital playback. For the music lover, the Esoteric pair delivers world-class sound quality from CD, SACD, and DVD-Audio. Indeed, it is among the best digital playback I’ve heard, regardless or price. Moreover, the interior build quality and chassis metalwork are drop-dead gorgeous. These are among the most lavishly designed and executed products I’ve encountered in 17 years of reviewing high-end audio gear!”
- Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound/Perfect Vision, avguide.com

Features:

• Highly acclaimed VRDS-NEO mechanism (Newly developed vibration free, rigid disc clamping system), AC power drive components, chassis construction, and cosmetics ...the P-03 Universal shares most of its basic design features with the P-03.

• In addition to conventional playback, the P-03 Universal also features native PCM to DSD signal conversion for CD audio. Users may select suitable digital conversion options based on personal preference relative to the type of source material used, the category of music selected or simply to match the capability of other components used within the system.

• The “P-03 Universal,” integrates proven, high quality video processing technologies enhanced by ESOTERIC. Unlike other players using 10 bit or 12 bit video processing, the P-03 Universal is equipped with the latest 14 bit / 216 MHz video D / A converter chip from Analog Devices as well as the latest video scaling chip from Anchor Bay technologies. This provides for DVD Video up-conversion capability as high as 1080p (progressive scan).

KEY FEATURES:

• Fully tuned & matched components including newly designed analog & digital video output circuits.

• The latest 14 bit / 216 MHz video D / A converter chip (ADV 7324), from Analog Devices.

• The latest digital video up-scaling chip (LSI ABT 1080), from Anchor Bay Technologies.

• Exclusive AC power components (transformer and circuit board), isolated from the audio section, are dedicated for video processing, providing superior video output display performance.

• Various signal output interfaces are provided including HDMI (High definition multi-media interface). The P-03 Universal is equipped with a HDMI terminal (maximum up-scaling to 1080P), component video outputs, 12V DC trigger/remote control output for compatible external control components, and RS232C for custom installers and home theater control applications.

• High definition video up-conversion to 1080P. Scaling: 480i / 576i, 480P / 576P, 720P, 1080i, 1080P

• The same state of the art commercial technologies shared with the P-03 audio transport including: drive mechanisms, AC power component, digital audio output circuits, internal circuit layouts, chassis construction , chassis isolation, horizontal sled, vertical pickup implementation and design cosmetics.

• VRDS-NEO mechanism, highly acclaimed for its accurate alignment properties for reading digital data. Used in conjunction with ESOTERIC’s horizontal sled and proprietary pick-up assembly, prevents any off axis data read and greatly reduces or eliminates the need for error correction.

• New for the P-03 Universal: Tray top surface illumination during loading. This allows easier disc placement, disc change out, or disc removal in low light or no light situations.

• Integrated separate-chassis construction: highly rigid integrated one-piece body style containing separate power supply, electronics and transport compartments. This greatly reduces interference potential and inherent noise associated with more common single chassis designs.

• Thick aluminum front panel, side panels, top panels and front-corner rounded blocks, covers the integrated chassis supported by a 5 mm-thick steel bottom chassis. This design implementation further reduces overall system noise, created by external influences during the playback process

• Three pinpoint isolation feet (patent pending), made of quenched steel provide a level and isolated “buffer,” zone between the chassis and the surface where it is placed, further reducing vibration

• User selectable digital audio output features DSD (native mode for SACD), PCM native mode, PCM digital signal up-conversion, and, PCM to DSD conversion function for standard CDs.

• Word Synchronization: The P-03 Universal can accept and synchronize (WORD SYNC), to the following clocking frequencies received from external devices such as ESOTERIC’s G25U, AZ-1 or G-0s : 44.1 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz, 192 kHz, 100 kHz.

• Exceptionally high grade selection of parts and internal wiring (6N copper, etc). for top quality audio/video playback performance.

MAIN SPECIFICATIONS

System: DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD (SACD), CD, CD-R / RW, Video-CD, and DVD-R / RW

Video output

Composite video output

Output level: 1 Vp-p (75 ohm)

Jacks: RCA jack

Component video output (Y, PB, PR)

Output level: Y: 1 Vp-p (75 ohm)

PB, RB: 0.7 Vp-p (75 ohm)

Jacks: BNC jacks

Digital video output

Jacks: HDMI

Digital Audio output

i.LINK (AUDIO) output x 1

XLR output x 2 (Use 2 terminals for ES-LINK or Dual AES output)

RCA coaxial output x 1

Word clock

Jack: BNC x 1

Input level: TTL level / 75 ohm

The main unit can accept and synchronize to the following frequencies received from external devices

44.1 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz, 192 kHz, 100 kHz. (Rectangular wave)

12V DC trigger output

Jacks: 3.5 mm mini jack

External control terminal

Jacks: RS-232C x 1

General

Power supply: AC 120 V, 60 Hz

Power consumption: 24W

Weight:  71.5 lbs.

Dimensions: (W x H x D) (17-1/2” x 6-1/4” x 16-4/5”)