ESOTERIC N-01XE Network/DAC Brings Grandioso N1 Core Tech to 01 Series
The N-01XE carries the Grandioso N1's two core technologies into the 01 series, evolving from the N-01XD SE with a second-generation discrete DAC and a fourth-generation network engine.
Reporting from 1 source: ASCII.jp.
ESOTERIC will release the N-01XE network/DAC on October 1, adopting the two core technologies of the Grandioso N1 flagship: the Master Sound Discrete DAC G2 and the ESOTERIC Network Engine G4. The unit supports DSD 22.5MHz and PCM 768kHz, adds an SFP port for optical network connection, and runs a fully dual-mono DAC with five power transformers. It weighs 25.7kg and streams from Tidal, Qobuz, Roon, Spotify, and QQ Music.
ESOTERIC positions the N-01XE as the evolution of the N-01XD SE, and the internal changes are substantial. The Master Sound Discrete DAC G2 is a 64-bit/512Fs multi-level delta-sigma converter built from 32 discrete elements per channel, with no general-purpose DAC IC in the signal path. Each element carries its own clock driver, logic circuit, capacitors, and resistors, and the FPGA runs separate processing algorithms for DSD and PCM.
The power stage is a fully dual-mono layout with five transformers: two for the left and right DACs, one each for the network engine, the digital circuits, and the microcomputer. Output uses ESOTERIC's ES-LINK Analog current transmission, and the unit syncs to a 10MHz clock from the G-01XD or G-05. The N-01XE also works as a music server with one large USB drive attached, and its ES-LINK5 connection links to an ESOTERIC Super Audio CD transport.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.