L'Esoteric Grandioso D1X SE is the mono D/A converter Esoteric's flagship, the latest descendant of the D-01 which in 2004 was the world's first monoblock DAC. It is for sale in pairs: two mono chassis, one for the left channel and one for the right, each with its own digital inputs, analog outputs, clock input and power supply. The configuration dual mono brings channel separation to the maximum level, maintaining a complete stereo soundstage.
The conversion is handled by the Master Sound Discrete DAC , designed entirely by Esoteric without generic DAC chips: 64-bit/512Fs resolution (compared to the 36-bit of previous Esoteric DACs) and processing with proprietary FPGA algorithms. Each channel uses four DAC circuits, each made up of eight elements arranged in a semicircle to have identical signal paths: 32 elements in total, on two circles, each with its own resistors, logic, and power supply. The resistors are of the highest precision, the same type used in measuring instruments. In the SE version, the analog section uses the IDM-01 amplifier module with selected resistors and filter capacitors.
The digital inputs are complete: two ES-Link5 on HDMI cable for the Grandioso P1X SE mechanics (PCM up to 768 kHz/48 bit, DSD up to 22,5 MHz), AES/EBU XLR also in modality Dual AES, two coaxial, one optical and one Asynchronous USB for computer or network transport, with PCM up to 768 kHz/32 bit and DSD up to 22,5 MHz. PCM can be oversampled 2, 4, 8 or 16 times (up to 768 kHz) or converted to DSD up to 22,5 MHz, with a switchable DSD digital filter. The internal clock is the Master Sound Discrete Clock for Digital Player, with BNC input for an external 10 MHz master clock.
The output buffer Esoteric-HCLD It is on a separate board from the converter, has a double circuit scale compared to the original Grandioso D1 and a slew rate of 2.000 V/µs: four circuits in parallel for the RCA output, two hot circuits and two cold circuits for the XLR, which also works in ES-Link Analog To devices compatible with standard balanced cables. Analog and digital circuits are electrically isolated and powered by two large toroidal transformers.dali per chassis, with discrete low-feedback regulators and 50 EDLC supercapacitors (1,3 F per pair). The chassis have thick aluminum panels, a multi-layered steel bottom, new bolt-free Pinpoint feet, and a semi-floating lid.
What transport does the D1X SE pair with? The natural partner is the Grandioso P1X SE transport, connected via ES-Link5 with an HDMI cable; the USB, AES/EBU, coaxial, and optical inputs also make it suitable for computers, streamers, and other transports.
