ESOTERIC - X-05 CD - SACD PLAYER
The Esoteric X-05 CD/SACD Player is an Amazing 2-Channel Disc Player! Hear Details You’ve Never Heard Before from Even the Most Familiar Discs... all with the Warmth and Natural Musicality of Live Music! Choose Silver or Black Finish!
2009 Golden Ear Award Winner in The Absolute Sound!
The new Esoteric X-05 is the most musically satisfying digital component you’ll find at this price. It includes their newest version of the world’s most sophisticated transport, the VRDS-Neo, the VMK-5 Transport Mechanism. The X-05 uses Cirrus Logic's Best 24-bit/192 kHz processing DAC, model CS-4398, in a dual mono configuration. This dedicated 2-channel circuit design contributes to precise imaging and a deeper sound stage from the X-05. The dual-mono configuration directly leads to the lower noise-floor and the incredible detail retrieval from the X-05 Player while maintaining the non-fatiguing sound of live music. We guarantee you will love listening to this player... or we'll give you your money back! Highly recommended!
“The X-05 restores a level of warmth and depth that is consonant with real music but rare with digital playback. It may not be scientific, but that analog-like-effortlessness is what I hear with the X-05. Perhaps the salient point that I keep returning to is that the X-05 manages to sounds analogous to vinyl minus vinyl’s most annoying artifacts…I heartily recommend the X-05. You will experience your music in a new light. The view up there is dazzling!”
Neil Gader, The Absolute Sound, February 2009
“It would be easy to be seduced by the superb build-quality of the Esoteric X-05. But none of this would mean a thing if the X-05 were merely a great CD player. It’s much more than that. The X-05 is, in its own soulful way, the anti digital player. Suddenly the familiar sonic chasm between digital and analog no longer exists. The X-05 bridges the gap between them!”
– Neil Gader, The Absolute Sound, Golden Ear Award Issue, June/July 2009
VRDS-NEO "VMK-5” mechanism – incorporating high reliability and exceptionally quiet turntable rotation
The VRDS-NEO “VMK-5” mechanism is a completely new development by Esoteric and an evolution of 20 years of Esoteric turntable disc drive mechanisms. The new “VMK-5” is optimized for high speed disc rotation of Super Audio CD software, incorporating a high precision aluminum turntable. The polycarbonate anti-resonance disc clamp is attached to the turntable to reduce unwanted resonance associated with single material turntable design. As a result of this engineering implementation, the “VMK-5” keeps the rotational inertia within a minimum level, as compared to conventional designs. This ensures high reliability, controlled resonance and extremely quiet operation.
Highly rigid BMC + steel hybrid turntable bridge component
The turntable bridge component incorporates a highly rigid BMC (Bulk Molding compound) + a steel hybrid material design. The BMC has a high specific gravity and high internal loss, helping to enable high precision cast molding. This hybrid design reduces unwanted motor noise and vibration, while ensuring very smooth turntable rotation.
Esoteric’s proprietary disc loading mechanism
The series of operation from the tray closing (opening), to the disc clamping (release), is managed by a unique disc loading mechanism which uses Esoteric’s proprietary “differential gear” system. This “differential gear” system enables exceptionally smooth disc loading operation thanks to the seamless engagement of the tray and disc clamp gears during the entire loading operation.
Turntable motor spindle design
The turntable motor is placed under the turntable and the spindle is temporarily disconnected from the turntable to accept the disc during loading operation (PAT. Pend.). With this implementation, the “VMK-5” applies VRDS technology in a compact and low-profile design. The short spindle shaft design contributes to very stable turntable rotation, eliminating vibration and random movements associated with long shaft designs. The spindle motor incorporates a FG (Frequency generation), sensor enabling self detection of rotational speed. This design provides ultra fast motor response and optimal speed control capability. By comparison, conventional mechanisms cannot detect motor speed before reading disc information.
Pickup structure designed to prevent laser optical axis tilting during lens movement
Esoteric developed an ingenious component structure for driving the pickup lens using a highly accurate shaft-mounted laser pickup assembly. This system ensures that the laser optical axis is always positioned at the very center of the pit track for optimal reading, making it possible to minimize the adverse effects of disc surface shaking and offset tracking. This highly accurate pickup system design (also used by Esoteric in the P-01 and the P-03 transports), and vibration-free VRDS turntable are the primary factors defining the outstanding mechanical performance of the X-05.
2-Channel dedicated analog audio output for Precise imaging and deeper sound stage
The D/A converter incorporate Cirrus Logic’s 24-bit / 192 kHz processing DAC device, model CS4398 in a dual mono configuration. The analog audio output circuits are also in a dual mono configuration producing exceptionally good channel separation. This 2 channel dedicated circuit design contributes to precise imaging and a deeper sound stage for the X-05.
Rich and high speed power supply capability
The large toroidal transformer has a highly efficient power supply capability. This provides electric power to the drive mechanism and audio circuits very quickly, without adding noise or distortion to the signal path.
Word synchronization
The X-05 features a WORD SYNC input terminal to accept an incoming external WORD clock signal. The input can operate with 44.1 / 88.2 / 100 / 176.4 kHz clock signals. The unit can also operate using an Esoteric original 100 kHz Universal Clock signal (Single freq. compatible w/ SACD/CD and DVD). The incoming ultra-stable clock signal produced by external components such as a master clock sync generator, effectively upgrade the unit, delivering higher performance with better detail and a more natural sound. Because master clocks generate a signal to re-time the DAC and transport, acoustic transparency, staging, imaging and detail often improve.
Highly rigid chassis construction for optimal resonance control capability
The X-05 front panel is made of thick extruded aluminum. This helps to insure chassis rigidity which reduces unwanted resonance and provides a stronger support structure for the center mounted VRDS mechanism. The top and side panels are made of 5 mm thick aluminum. The bottom chassis features a heavy duty 5 mm thick steel plate. The toroidal transformer support base also features 5 mm steel plate for better resonance absorption. Combined with three pinpoint isolation feet made of quenched steel, this chassis design helps to isolate the unit from external vibrations, allowing precise mechanism mounting and highly-rigid, resonance-free system construction. The VRDS-NEO “VMK-5” and its operation are visible from the top panel window. The mechanism is illuminated with LEDs during disc load and unload operations, enhancing both its mechanical and cosmetic appeal.
MORE - Disc tray opening, clamping and closing is managed by a proprietary process know as "differential gearing". This system enables exceptionally smooth disc loading through the seamless engagement of the tray and disc clamp gears during the entire loading process. This reduces the number of parts required and adds to the longevity of the transport. The short spindle shaft design implemented in the X-05 contributes to very stable turntable rotation, reducing vibration and random movements associated with longer shaft designs. The spindle motor incorporates a frequency generation sensor which enables self detection of rotational speed. Unlike conventional designs, this provides ultra fast motor response and optimal speed control capability. This is quite technical, but the results are much better rhythm, pace and timing. The sound quality is more natural and life-like. The new VMK-5 also allows the player to extract more detail for every disc it plays.
The X-05 uses Cirrus Logic's 24-bit/192 kHz processing DAC, model CS-4398, in a dual mono configuration. The analog audio output circuits are engineered in a dual mono configuration, as well, helping to produce superior channel separation. This dedicated 2-channel circuit design contributes to precise imaging and a deeper sound stage from the X-05. The dual-mono configuration directly leads to the lower noise-floor and the incredible detail retrieval from the X-05 Player.
MAIN SPECIFICATIONS:
System Super Audio CD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW
Output terminals: XLR (2 channel), RCA jacks (2 channel)
Audio output (analog audio):
Maximum output level 2.2 Vrms / 10kΩ (1 kHz, full scale)
Frequency response 5 Hz to 80 kHz (SACD, DSD mode direct)
Signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) 130 dB (SACD, CD)
Dynamic range 107 dB (SACD, CD)
Total harmonic distortion 0.001% (Super Audio CD, 1 kHz, JEITA)
Audio output (digital audio):
OPTICAL Optical digital jack x 1
COAXIAL RCA jack x 1
i.LINK (AUDIO) terminal / 4-Pin x 1
Multi-channel output (optional)
i.LINK (AUDIO) terminal / 6-Pin x 1
Input terminal BNC jack x 1
Input frequency Word synchronization input format 44.1, 88.2, 176.4, 100‚‹Hz (rectangular wave)
Input level TTL level / 75 ohms
General:
Power supply U.S.A Model: AC 120V, 60Hz
Power consumption: 15W
External Dimensions: (W×H×D) 17.4” x 6” x 13.9” - Weight: 40 lbs.
