Volume 12, Issue 2
EAC IS ABOUT AS WELL
-
KNOWN
a name in consumer
electronics as there is. But if you are looking for cutting
edge audiophile equipment within the Teac world, their
Esoteric division is where the truly hot action is. That’s
where some of today’s most-advanced and best-execut-
ed high-end equipment is being conceived and pro-
duced. With the introduction over the last couple of
years of some very sophisticated products like the two I
am reviewing here, Esoteric has firmly established a
name for itself in audio’s upper echelon.
From what I have observed, Esoteric does their best
work when it comes to CD playback products. They are
the same folks who, some 20 years ago, set the CD
playback world reeling when they unleashed the T-1
VRDS CD Drive Unit (CD Transport to everyone else).
With the introduction of the VRDS technology (that’s
V
ibration-free
R
igid
D
isc-clamping
S
ystem), Esoteric
took a huge step forward in quality CD playback. It can
be argued that to this day the Esoteric VRDS transports
remain the standard by which all other transports are
measured. Why else would companies like Spectral and
Wadia buy the VRDS transport mechanism for inclusion
it in their own products?
As their latest wrinkle, Esoteric has upgraded the
VRDS CD transport to the VRDS-NEO level. This step
was thought necessary not only to address the needs of
SACD playback, but also because it would significantly
improve playback of the standard Red Book CDs. After I
heard the $50,000 Teac flagship P-01 CD transport and
the dual mono D-01 DAC combination at the 2005
CES, I wrote in my Show report: “To me, this was the
very best sonic performance, at any CES, so far in this
century.” I still think that demonstration was one of the
most exhilarating CES experiences ever.
The Esoteric P-03 SACD and CD transport and D-03
D/A converter reviewed here are directly derived from
their two very expensive flagship units. Both of the
“03s” are very closely related to “01s” technically and
aesthetically, but the prices of the P-03 and D-03 are
significantly lower, though not at pocket-change levels,
with MSRPs of $13,200 each. The P-03 and the D-03
are styled and executed with an elegant to-die-for look,
right along the lines of the Big Brother units. Just like the
P-01 and the D-01 jewels, the P-03 and the D-03 sport
a champagne-hued anodized finish with the front and
side panels showing a brushed texture, while the top
panel is sandblasted. The resulting presentation is sim-
ply breathtaking.
But let’s take a deep breath here. As gorgeous as
these units are appearance-wise, their great looks are
T
Esoteric P-03
CD Transport and
D-03 D/A Converter
Arnis Balgalvis
Reprinted from
The Audiophile Voice
Vol. 12, No. 2
