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Specifications
Playable disc types
Super Audio CD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW
Analog audio outputs
XLR 1 pair (L/R)
Output impedance 40 Ω
Maximum output level 5 Vrms
RCA 1 pair (L/R)
Output impedance 15 Ω
Maximum output level 2.5 Vrms
Audio performance (when Super Audio CD at 0 dB, DSDF is F2, XLR output)
Frequency response 5Hz〜75kHz （-3 dB)
S/N ratio 113 dB
Distortion 0.0007％ (1 kHz)
Digital audio outputs
XLR 1
RCA 1
Digital audio input
COAXIAL 1
Input impedance 75 Ω
OPTICAL 1
USB-B (USB 2.0 supported) 1
Clock input
BNC 1
Input impedance 50 Ω
Supported input frequencies (±10 ppm) 10 MHz
Input level Sine wave: 0.5 ~ 1.0 Vrms
General
Power supply
Model for Europe AC 220–240 V, 50/60 Hz
Model for USA/Canada AC 120 V, 60 Hz
Model for Korea AC 220 V, 60 Hz
Model for Hong Kong AC 230 V, 50 Hz
Power consumption 30 W
External dimensions (W × H × D) 445 × 162 × 447 mm
(17 5/8" × 6 1/2" × 17 5/8")
(including protrusions)
Weight 35 kg (77 1/4 lb)
Included accessories
Power cord × 1
Remote control (RC-1315) × 1
Batteries (AAA) × 2
Felt pads × 4
Owner’s manual × 1
Warranty card × 1
Grandioso K1X
Grandioso F1
Grandioso G1
Please note that Esoteric products are only available from limited distributors in respective countries.
"ESOTERIC" , and "VRDS" are trademarks of TEAC Corporation, registered in the U.S. and other countries.
"Grandioso" is a trademark of TEAC Corporation. ©2019 TEAC Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
All text, images, graphics and other materials in this catalogue are subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of TEAC Corporation.
These materials shall not directly or indirectly be published, reproduced, modified or distributed in any medium.
"Super Audio CD" and "DSD" are registered trademarks. "MQA" is a trademark of MQA Limited.
Other company names and product names in this document are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Design and specifications are subject to change without notice. This product is available in four different power supply variations shown in the chart above.
Make sure that the voltage shown on the rear panel matches the AC line voltage in your area. The shape of the AC inlet and plug of the supplied power cord
depends on the voltage rating and destination country.
PRINTEDINJAPAN0919O020・TECD-0285
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TWO REVOLUTIONS
-
INTEGRATED
Two revolutions connecting people to music
— VRDS -ATLAS and Master Sound Discrete DAC —
now come to fruition in an integrated player
that carries the name… Grandioso.*
* Grandioso (music): Grand or noble.
PROUDLY MADE IN TOKYO
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An unprecedented transport mechanism that invites you to the furthest reaches of sound.
SS400 STEEL
TURNTABLE BRIDGE
(T20mm /1.8kg)
ONE - POINT SUPPORT
THRUST BEARING
DURALUMIN TURNTABLE
VRDS Technology
VRDS (
Vibration-Free Rigid Disc-Clamping System
is Esoteric’s unique CD/Super Audio CD transport
technology, which has been specially designed
to clamp the disc to a same-diameter turntable
n order to eliminate the disc’s rotational vibration,
i
as well as any extraneous vibration emanating
from the mechanism itself. It also corrects any
warpage of the disc, dramatically improving
the accuracy of both the optical pickup and
the disc pit layer’s corresponding optical axis,
while also minimizing servo current. This all
adds up to dramatically reduced disc read
error for exceptional audio quality.
Highest Rigidity & Heaviest
Construction in the 30+Year History
)
of VRDS
The new VRDS-ATLAS platform boasts
unprecedented mechanical perfection and
superlative audio quality, with heavyweight
construction that is fully 127% heavier than
previous iterations (6.6kg for the mechanism
alone, and 13.5kg including its base). This
highest rigidity and weight in the history of
VRDS mechanisms has the effect of greatly
reducing any and all vibration that could
adversely affect audio quality. The transport’s
larger new side panels and bridge are all
formed of SS400 steel, and its turntable is
made from duralumin, which is renowned for
its excellent sound quality. Also, its spindle
features a newly designed thrust bearing for a
friction-free one-point spindle support system
that ensures smooth, noiseless turntable
rotation.
Wide, Low Center-of-Gravity Design
Esoteric’s impressive VRDS-ATLAS is the quietest
and most elegant transport in the history of
VRDS. The key to achieving this was a resolute
focus on mechanical grounding technology
that more effectively reduces vibration.
Adopting
mechanism helped achieve a lower center-ofgravity, and relocating the turntable motor to
below the turntable from its previous position
above the bridge dramatically shortened the
route for grounding vibration and reducing
mechanical noise. Tray hollowing has also been
minimized for increased rigidity, and special stoppers
made from vibration-absorbing elastomer cancel
out resonance when the tray is stored.
a wide & low-profile design for the entire
VIBRATION - DAMPING
SS400 STEEL SIDE PANEL
Powerful Power Circuit Essential for
Audio Quality
The Grandioso K1’s mighty power supply was
the key to its powerful and profound
three-dimensional sound. With the
introduction of its new X version, this power
supply has been dramatically enhanced to
add further depth to its exceptional audio tone.
Its built-in D/A converter features independent
power transformers for left and right channels,
and the K1X includes a total of four independent
toroidal power supply transformers. Furthermore,
technologies cultivated in the development of
the Grandioso P1X/D1X have also been
adopted, including a new low-feedback DC
ELASTOMER
(T12mm)
TRAY GUIDE SHAFT
ALUMINUM TRAY
Chassis Construction and Parts
Layout
The VRDS-ATLAS transport mechanism is
centrally located within the chassis, where it is
Semi-Floating Top Panel
The enclosure’s top panel utilizes a screwless
semi-floating structure that further contributes
to an open and expansive sound.
ALUMINUM CENTER
BLOCK (T12mm)
BRUSHLESS TURNTABLE
MOTOR
fixed to a 5mm-thick steel bottom plate and
supported by four proprietary pinpoint feet
(patent no. 4075477 and 3778108). This
effectively isolates the rotational mechanism
from vibration. The internal structure of the
chassis features a double deck design, with
the audio boards on the upper level and
power supply circuits and transformers on the
lower level to minimize magnetic flux leakage
and vibration, while also shortening the power
supply wiring.
power supply regulator featuring a discrete
circuit configuration which contributes to its
powerful open sound. The K1X also contains a
total of 76 EDLC* supercapacitors (with a total
capacity of 2,050,000μF or 2.05F). This greatly
increased power supply capacity provides a
tremendously improved sound quality for
exceptional resolution in the lower frequency
ranges.
*EDLC (
Electric Double-Layer Capacitor
oasting an astoundingly high capacity compared to the electrolytic
b
capacitors used in conventional audio equipment.
):A special type of capacitor
TOP
BOTTOM
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Bringing out all the dynamics and energy of the original master recordings.
Master Sound Discrete DAC
Bringing out all the dynamics and
energy of music.
Unattainable by integrated chips, our goal was
to assemble carefully selected and tested
discrete components into a complete circuit
that could perfectly reproduce all the
dynamics and energy of music. Our top
engineering teams put their pride on the line to
design and produce a quality of sound that
can only be found in the Master Sound
Discrete DAC discrete D/A converter.
The Finest Materials for
The Purest Output
The K1X’s Master Sound Discrete DAC is the
most revolutionary two-channel stereo DAC
circuit in Esoteric’s history, and is based on the
original circuit developed for the Grandioso
D1X monaural D/A converter.
As an extension of the D1X’s design
philosophy, an abundance of the finest
materials hes been invested in the
construction of the K1X’s Master Sound
Discrete DAC. For example, it features 32
separate elements for each channel. Key
components such as a clock driver, logic
circuit, and capacitors and resistors, are kept
independent for each of these 32 elements to
ensure the purest output with no loss of
musical energy.
Advanced Digital Processing
The K1X’s independently developed ΔΣ
modulator supports 64-bit/512Fs and the
latest high-end digital formats, including
22.5MHz DSD and 768kHz PCM signals. The
FPGA’s* dedicated digital processing algorithm
was developed exclusively for the Master
Sound Discrete DAC, and has been fully
optimized for outstanding playback of both
DSD and PCM digital audio data.
*FPGA: Field-Programmable Gate Array
Advanced Quality Control
With a discrete DAC, where component
tolerances have a direct influence on
mathematical accuracy, highly advanced
quality control is also required for the
manufacture of electronic circuit boards.
Esoteric’s own in-house factory boasts some
of the world’ s leading board mounting
technologies, such as soldering performed in
an oxygen-free furnace, which is located in a
clean room featuring the same level of
cleanliness found in a hospital operating room.
Technologies cultivated in the production of
electronic circuit boards for audio, medical,
aerospace, and defense industries support
the high production quality of the Master
Sound Discrete DAC.
Grandioso K1X Signal Block Diagram
VRDS-ATLAS
Mechanism
CD / SACD
RCA
XLR
CLOCK
OPTICAL
COAXIAL
USB
CD / SACD
Playback
Circuit
Digital
Audio I/F
Transmitter
Clock Sync
Circuit
Grandioso
Custom
VCXOⅡ
Digital
Audio I/F
Receiver
USB
Audio I/F
DSP
PCM/DSD
Master Clock
PCM
Master Clock
MQA
Decoder
PCM/DoP
PCM/DSD
USB PCB
Digital PCB
Digital FPGA
PCM Upconverter
PCM
DSD
Converter
DoP Decoder
Rch PCM/DSD
Master Clock
Lch PCM/DSD
Master Clock
Isolator
Isolator
DAC FPGA
Master Sound
Discrete DAC
Modulator
D/A
Data/Clock
Data/Clock
Data/Clock
Data/Clock
Data/Clock
Analog Rch PCB
Analog Lch PCB
D/A
HCLDLPF
D/A
XLR
ESL-A
RCA
D/A
HCLDLPF
D/A
Selector
XLR
/ ESL-A
RCA
Unique ESOTERIC-HCLD* Output
Buffer Circuit with Enhanced
Current Transmission
The ESOTERIC-HCLD output buffer amplifier
boasts an amazingly high-speed slew rate
(response speed) of 2,000V/μs. Current
transmission and speed—the most important
factors for an analog output circuit—have
been pushed to the limits to reproduce the
reality of music with a dynamic range that is
truly breathtaking.
*HCLD: High Current Line Driver
High-Quality ES-LINK Analog
Current Transmission
In addition to its XLR and RCA amplifier line
connections, the K1X also features the
ES-LINK Analog method of current
transmission. Taking full advantage of the
HCLD buffer circuit’s powerful current supply
makes the K1X less susceptible to the
detrimental effects of impedance on the signal
route. It also enables a more powerful signal
transmission, fully driving connected
compatible devices.
Grandioso Custom VCXO* II
A high-accuracy clock circuit is the key to
achieving superlative sound quality in digital
audio playback. A top-quality clock circuit is
truly the heart of any high-end digital player.
The K1X now features the superb Grandioso
Custom VCXO II clock originally developed for
the Grandioso P1X/D1X . This clock was developed
with carefully considered modifications made
to the earlier model’s internal circuitry and
components to more vividly emphasize the
K1X’s ultimate audio quality while further
boasting remarkably low phase noise and
excellent center precision (±0.5ppm).
The K1X can also be connected to the
Grandioso G1 Master Clock Generator for
playback, with internal circuits synchronized to
a 10MHz clock that features the same high
precision as an atomic clock, enabling further
pursuit of high sound quality.
*VCXO: Voltage Control-type Crystal Oscillator
D/A Converter Functions for
External Input, D/D Conversion,
MQA Support & USB Input
In addition to its coaxial and optical inputs, the
K1X also features a USB type-B port that is
compatible with both 22.5MHz DSD and
768kHz/32-bit PCM asynchronous signal
transmission, thus enabling it to also be used
as a stand-alone D/A converter. Functions are
provided for upsampling a PCM digital signal
to 2/4/8/16× (max . 768kHz) and converting
PCM to DSD. The K1X is also compatible with
MQA-CD decode playback and full MQA
decoding for playback of various digital inputs
including USB.*
*MQA certification is pending as of August, 2019, and support is
scheduled to be added via a software update as soon as
certification is complete.
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