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Welcome to Esoteric!

Click here to learn more
about the TWBAS
competition and see
the introductory
video on the products

The P-02/D-02 Story from
SoundStage
writer Vade Forrester

Why ESOTERIC has been selected as the World's best:

First report on TWBAS 2012
"The World's Best Audio System" selects ESOTERIC as the supplier of the CD/SACD playback device, the ESOTERIC P-02 and, the Digital to Audio Decoder the ESOTERIC D-02": TWBAS is a competition sponsored by SoundStage Network's Editor-in-Chief, Jeffrey Fritz. The selection process involves seeking out the absolute best audio system one can assemble without consideration of price. This year the system consists of Magico's Q-7 loudspeakers, AudioQuest WEL Signature wire and cables, Vitus Audio Masterpiece MP-M201 amplifiers and MP-L201 preamplifier, Silent Running Audio Scuttle rack and Virginia Class Isolators, Widealab's Aurender S10 Music Server and recordings by 2L "TWBAS High-resolution Sampler" and, of course ESOTERIC's P-02 transport and D-02 Digital to Analog decoder.

SoundStage selected the ESOTERIC P-02 CD/SACD transportas the best front end in the world. The P-02 incorporates a number of new technologies including "ES-LINK3", new highly accurate PLL-less word clock and "35-bit D/A processing”. The P-02 and D-02 implement a new inter-component transmission protocol, ESOTERIC’s newest advancement to the original transmission format "ES-LINK3" that can operate at a maximum 48-bit/176.4kHz broadband PCM digital transmission using two XLR cables. These models also support "Dual AES 8Fs" standard (maximum 24-bit/352.8kHz). These models can also perform conventional Direct Stream Digital (DSD) transmission and direct DSD-to-analog conversion processing for Super Audio CD (SACD) playback. This super-high resolution transmission protocol increases the musicality, accuracy and openness of the components.

The P-02 is equipped with the Esoteric-original VRDS-NEO "VMK-3.5-20S" transport mechanism. This mechanism enhances readout accuracy by using a high-precision turntable which corrects the “wobbling effect” of the disc during rotation. The disc tray loader is equipped with a shutter mechanism to further reduce resonance and airborne particles from entering the transport.

SoundStage selected the ESOTERIC D-02 as the Digital to Analog decoder for both CD or SACD playback as well as the Widea Aurender music server. The D-02 was selected because of it's superior technical design and performance. The D-02 has a patent applied for technology "35-bit digital processing" where this DAC can decode digital data in a 35 bit realm. This decoding process is 2,078 times higher resolution than 24 bit decoding producing astonishingly warm, musical and detailed music.

The D-02 allows streaming asynchronous USB 2.0 data at 192 kHz sample rates and at 32 bit resolution making it the ideal decoder for both the Widea music server and the P-02.

The P-02 and D-02 share several technologies: A total of eight (8) independent ESOTERIC toroidal core power supply units are installed in the combined system to supply clean and stable power to each circuit. The chassis has our multiple layer structure that is partitioned into 5 sections. Each circuit block is assembled in a dedicated compartment and placed three-dimensionally, in order to minimize interference between circuits and to achieve the shortest signal paths. The exterior is constructed with aluminum and a 5mm gauge steel bottom chassis, supported at four points with Esoteric pinpoint feet (patent No. 4075477). This four-point system effectively suppresses vibration, reduces resonance and assures extremely high rigidity.

The D-02's D/A converter ICs incorporate top-end 32-bit AK4399 chipsets by ASAHI KASEI Microdevices Corporation. Eight (8) circuits per channel are provided to achieve phenomenal linearity and low noise. In addition to direct processing of DSD signals, the D-02 has newly adopted a "35-bit D/A processing" algorithm that converts PCM signals to analog signals, at a high resolution of 35 bits. As a result of this new technology, the D-02 achieves an improved level of delicate sound quality and imaging with ultra high resolution.

The D/A converter circuits are mounted on separate analog audio boards for each of the left and right channels. All components, including the power circuits and power transformers, are separated forright and left channels to implement a fully dual-monaural configuration. This identical layout per channel, achieves ideal power supply performance and exce llent channel separation, enabling high-quality playback with a deep and wide soundstage.

MSRP = $23,500 for each component"


ESOTERIC - TECHNOLOGY

Technological Fusion and the Goal of Esoteric Engineering: Simply stated: the result of fusing the best in design, technology, engineering, materials and manufacturing. As an early innovator in magnetic tape recording and data storage, the TEAC Corporation was founded in Japan in 1953. As a 25 year old member of the TEAC family, ESOTERIC Company's design, engineering and manufacturing improves upon the "state of the art," providing our customers a higher level of audio excellence! Our goal is simple, to provide new technology and innovation in categories where we know our engineering can improve our end-users listening experience. If we cannot achieve that goal for the category and price points that we target, we will not build the product. In Janaury 2011 we added M2TECH products of Italy to the TEAC America family. For information on this exciting new line of PC streaming media products please visit: www.m2techusa.biz.

ESOTERIC SACD / CD players, including our new P-02/D-02, K-01 and K-03 Digital Source Devices proudly use the new AKM 32 bit DACS, which support CD/SACD audio discs and provide PCM up-conversion capability for CD audio and PC based streaming audio. Proprietary algorithms are used for CD and PC audio playback offering a wide range of options including 32 bit D/A conversion and 24 bit, 32 times over-sampling. The new K-01, K-03, K-05, K-07, D-05 DAC, D-07X DAC and RZ-1 music system all include 32 bit dual mono processing. The use of these AKM DACs allow us to improve digital to analog resolution by 2,048 times. These products allow signal conversion of PCM digital audio into the SACD direct stream digital ("DSD"), format. The new K-01, our "top of the line," integrated digital source device as well as the D-02 DAC use 16, 32 bit DACs (8 per channel), for CD/SACD playback and for D/A conversion of all digital sources. All ESOTERIC products built since 2011 include asynchronous USB connectivity to outside components at up to 24bit/192kHz. Proprietary HS1 and HS2 drivers are available for ESOTERIC.

ESOTERIC is the designer and manufacturer of the finest transports built in the world. All Esoteric disc playback mechanisms include proprietary disc transport and optical systems (VOSP or VRDS), providing highly precise data retrieval. No off axis error correction is ever required because no off axis data retrieval is allowed. It is recognized by the audiophile community that ESOTERIC is the mechanism of choice. Many very high end players made by our competition proudly use ESOTERIC transports in their products.

All ESOTERIC products are conceived, designed, and engineered in Japan. Manufacturing takes place in Japan for all electronics and in the U.K. for our magnesium compound loudspeakers.

All M2TECH products are designed, engineered and manufactured in Italy