Product Description
D-02 36 Bit Stereo D/A Converter - A total redesign of every component at its heart transforms the D/A converter in a spectacular renovation. New impressions await in compelling musical playback capability that crosses all boundaries. Featuring a total redesign of all its circuit components, the new D-02X compresses the monoblock design concept of Esoteric’s premier Grandioso D1 into a single-unit dual mono D/A converter without compromise. Retaining the D-02′s original configuration of four independent toroidal power supply circuits (for the digital circuitry, clock circuit, and left and right channel analog circuits), all components and patterns in each circuit have been significantly upgraded. Notably, the D/A circuitry that lies at the heart of this advanced unit now boasts 16 differential circuits per channel (32 outputs), double that of its earlier configuration, while maintaining the same grand sense of scale as the D1. Other features include new ES-LINK4 signal inputs, 36-bit D/A processing and the same Esoteric HCLD line buffer technology that has won accolades for the Grandioso C1 preamplifier. Extensive efforts have also been made to provide support for high-resolution playback, including the 11.2MHz DSD file format, for ever more penetrating musical playback capability.
LEADING TECHNOLOGY
In the Footsteps of Esoteric’s Most Advanced Grandioso Technology
ES-LINK4
Both the P-02X and D-02X have been newly equipped with Esoteric’s state-of-the-art ES-LINK4, which provides high-accuracy digital transmission of both DSD and ultra-wideband 352.8kHz/48-bit PCM by way of its HDMI cable connections. A core feature of the Grandioso P1/D1 digital source system, and developed in line with Esoteric’s ‘Pure D/A’ concept, ES-LINK4 performs the major portion of digital signal processing on the transmission side to significantly reduce the processing load on the D/A converter in pursuit of the ultimate in sound quality.
The Expressive Power of 36-Bit D/A Processing
Like the Grandioso D1, the D-02X utilizes a 36-bit D/A processing algorithm to convert the PCM signal to analog. This 36-bit encoding provides an astounding level of digital resolution that is fully 4,096 times that of 24-bit encoding, and double that of the 35-bit model on which it is based. Taking advantage of the delicate tone realized by this high-bit data minimizes calculation errors for outstanding expression of even the most subtle musical signals.
New Dimensions in Isolated Clock Technology
Widely considered to be the core of any high-end digital player, the clock circuit provides a high-accuracy reference signal for digital circuitry. The clock circuits featured in the P-02X and D-02X are completely isolated from all other circuits, including power source and ground, enabling a pure clock signal to be supplied to the system. The clock’s voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) was specially developed for Esoteric’s Grandioso line in a joint effort with Nihon Dempa Kogyo (NDK), one of the world’s premier manufacturers of crystal oscillators, for a high-precision custom clock worthy of the world’s finest audio equipment. Its extremely low levels of phase noise combine with a large-scale crystal element to ensure exceptional sound reproduction quality.
High-Accuracy Clock Synchronization
A BNC cable connects the D-02X to the P-02X to provide a master clock sync signal for synchronized playback with minimized jitter. Esoteric’s proprietary Direct Master Clock LINK* synchronizes the two units while eliminating the need for Phase-Locked Loop (PLL), enabling clear and accurate stereo imaging and crisp sound quality. The system can be further upgraded with the addition of an optional high-accuracy G-01 Rubidium Master Clock Generator, and supports a wide range of frequencies including master clocks (22MHz/10MHz) and word clocks (44.1kHz/88.2kHz/176.4kHz).
*DMCL (Direct Master Clock LINK) DMCL links the D-02X to the P-02X with a 22.5792MHz reference clock signal that causes the two units to function as a single integrated device. Compared to normal ‘sync’ systems, which generally require PLL (Phase Lock Loop) processing of the transmitted clock signal, DMCL provides simpler and more direct clocking between multiple devices.