Press release

Esoteric has launched the limited “Black Edition” of the brand’s most iconic digital players: the K-01XD SE and the K-03XD SE.

10-16-2025


TAMA, TOKYO, JAPAN, OCTOBER 16, 2025 – Esoteric is proud to announce the release of the special, limited-edition "Black Edition" of its iconic Super Audio CD players, the K-01XD SE and K-03XD SE, starting December 2025.
The "Black Edition" features a meticulously finished, black-anodized exterior. The surface textures and finishes have been carefully selected to accentuate the true beauty of black.
Production is limited to 50 units of each model.

 

 
Product Name Model Name Estimated Delivery Date Sales Region
Super Audio CD/CD Player K-01XD SE Black Edition December 2025 Worldwide
Super Audio CD/CD Player K-03XD SE Black Edition December 2025 Worldwide

K-01XD SE Black Edition

K-03XD SE Black Edition

 

K-01XD SE / K-03XD SE

Since the introduction of the original K Series models “K-01” and “K-03” in 2010, they have been highly acclaimed for their exceptional music reproduction capabilities and have established themselves as the reference digital players around the world.
The K-01XD SE, the latest SE model, is equipped with the “ATLAS 01” VRDS mechanism with a 20 mm thick platter bridge, which is the same as that used in the Grandioso K1X SE, and the Master Sound Discrete DAC is also equipped with more premium components, including “IDM-01” amplification elements. The K-01XD SE features a total of four independent power transformers with dedicated power supply sections for the left and right DACs. The K-03XD SE uses the “ATLAS 03” VRDS mechanism with 18 mm bridge thickness, Master Sound Discrete DAC and a total of two independent power transformers.
The SE models will feature the “Master Sound Discrete Clock” used in the Grandioso SE models, and by updating the analog circuitry of the DAC, listeners can enjoy even more advanced presence, dynamics and musicality in the texture of the sounds.

 

K-01XD SE – Key Features
  • “VRDS-ATLAS (ATLAS 01)” Super Audio CD transport mechanism with 20 mm turntable bridge
  • “Master Sound Discrete DAC” – In-house developed ladder DAC with unique FPGA, 64bit/512Fs Delta-Sigma modulator
  • Up-graded DAC board with specially selected premium grade parts including IDM-01
  • Super high slew-rate, “Esoteric-HCLD” high current line driver (2,000V/μs)
  • “ES-Link Analog” current signal transmission output
  • “Master Sound Discrete Clock for Digital Player” – in-house developed discrete clock module
  • Clock sync function
  • Four independent toroidal power supply transformers (incl. two for left and right DACs)
  • Low-feedback discrete DC regulators
  • 71 × EDLC super capacitors (total capacitance: 1,850,000μF＝1.85F)
  • Up-sampling function (x2/x4/x8/x16, max. 768kHz), PCM to DSD (22.5MHz) convert function
  • USB Type-B port supporting 22.5MHz DSD and asynchronous transmission
  • RC-1333 double-face remote controller that can also control Esoteric amplifiers.
K-03XD SE – Key Features
  • “VRDS-ATLAS (ATLAS 03)” Super Audio CD transport mechanism with 18 mm turntable bridge
  • “Master Sound Discrete DAC” – In-house developed ladder DAC with unique FPGA, 64bit/512Fs Delta-Sigma modulator
  • Up-graded DAC board with premium grade parts
  • Super high slew-rate, “Esoteric-HCLD” high current line driver (2,000V/μs)
  • “ES-Link Analog” current signal transmission output
  • “Master Sound Discrete Clock for Digital Player” – in-house developed discrete clock module
  • Clock sync function
  • Two independent toroidal power supply transformers (for digital and analog circuits)
  • Low-feedback discrete DC regulators
  • 26 × EDLC super capacitors (total capacitance: 650,000μF＝0.65F)
  • Up-sampling function (x2/x4/x8/x16, max. 768kHz), PCM to DSD (22.5MHz) convert function
  • USB Type-B port supporting 22.5MHz DSD and asynchronous transmission
  • RC-1333 double-face remote controller that can also control Esoteric amplifiers.

Rear panel (K-01XD SE, K-03XD SE) 

Specifications
Analog audio outputs
  • XLR/ES-Link Analog × 1 pair
  • RCA × 1 pair
Digital audio outputs
  • XLR × 1
  • RCA × 1
Digital audio inputs
  • RCA × 1
  • Optical × 1
  • USB TYPE-B × 1
Clock sync input
  • BNC × 1 (10MHz)
Audio performance
  • Frequency responce: 5Hz to 30kHz (–3dB)
  • S/N ratio: 113dB (IHF-A)
  • Total harmonic distortion: 0.0007% (1kHz)
General
  • External dimensions (W×H×D):
      445 × 162 × 438mm / 17-⅝” × 6-½” × 17-¼”
  • Weight:
      31kg / 68-⅜ lb (K-01XD SE Black Edition)
      28kg / 61-¾ lb (K-03XD SE Black Edition)

Specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice.

 

K-01XD SE Black Edition

K-01XD SE Black Edition

K-03XD SE Black Edition

K-03XD SE Black Edition

Links
K-01XD SE Black Edition
K-03XD SE Black Edition