Esoteric N-05XD Network Player / DAC / Preamplifier

An integration of essences only Esoteric can achieve.

As Esoteric’s first-ever network DAC/preamp, the N-05XD was specifically designed to deliver superior sound quality from the smallest system configurations combining your favorite power amplifier, speakers, and headphones. Integrating fully balanced circuitry directly derived from Esoteric’s flagship series, the N-05XD’s network engine is equipped with a pure, dedicated linear power supply and an in-house designed discrete DAC that ensures that its preamplifier and headphone amplifier are capable of clearly reproducing the full sound of a recording’s original master.

A seamless integration of the most Esoteric-like essences, the N-05XD has been thoroughly refined under the guiding principles of ultimate sound quality. Just a touch of its volume knob clearly reveals this quality in its most exquisite form, and promises the fullest and most satisfying enjoyment of Esoteric’s pure signature sound. No longer must superior sound quality be sacrificed in the pursuit of a simplified high-end audio system.

Faithful Reproduction of the Liveliness and Energy of Music

Esoteric’s primary goal in the creation of the N-05XD Network DAC/Preamp was to assemble a careful selection of rigorously tested discrete components into a complete circuit that could perfectly reproduce all the dynamics and energy of recorded music, something simply unattainable using ordinary integrated chips. Esoteric’s top engineering teams put their pride on the line to design and produce a quality of sound that can only be experienced by way of our Master Sound Discrete DAC.

Luxurious Materials and Powerful Current Output Capacity

The N-05XD’s Master Sound Discrete DAC is the most revolutionary two-channel stereo DAC circuit in Esoteric history, and is based on the original circuit developed for the Grandioso D1X Monoblock D/A Converter. As an extension of the D1X’s design philosophy, an abundance of luxurious materials have been invested in the construction of N-05XD’s Master Sound Discrete DAC, including 16 separate elements for each channel. Each of these 16 elements, including such key components as the clock driver, logic circuitry, capacitors and resistors, are kept fully independent in order to ensure the purest sound output with virtually no loss of musical energy.

Advanced Digital Processing Capability

The N-05XD is also equipped with Esoteric’s exclusive Delta-Sigma (ΔΣ) modulator, which supports 64-bit/512Fs audio frequency sampling. To perform D/A conversion on par with its excellent DSD and PCM characteristics, separate FPGA* digital processing algorithms were developed for each step in the conversion process. This enables the N-05XD to extract the optimum sound quality from all compatible digital sources.

Network Engine with Dedicated Linear Power Supply

As a source component, the N-05XD is equipped with a dedicated high-end network audio engine that supports DSD 22.5MHz playback. The key component in this design is its dedicated linear power supply. With a component configuration equivalent in scale to that of Esoteric’s top-of-the-line N-01XD, the N-05XD’s large toroidal transformers, high-capacity filter capacitors, Schottky barrier diodes, and high-end super capacitors — which feature a whopping 2,333,333μF in total capacity — and forgoing the use of any noisy switching elements, the N-05XD realizes a singularly impressive sound brimming with an analog-like sense of reality.

The Heart of the System: A Fully Balanced Dual Mono Preamplifier.

At the core of any audio system, the preamplifier circuitry plays the central determining factor in how sound is perceived. The N-05XD inherits the Grandioso line’s high fidelity and superb musical expression, a compendium of both Esoteric’s long-held philosophy and advanced technology, while further inheriting its esteemed pedigree. With its long-established fully balanced dual mono configuration, the preamplifier’s dynamic yet delicate sound transcends the boundaries of playback quality, and even goes so far as to delineate the sensibilities of both the performers and the sound engineer.

Esoteric-QVCS Attenuator System Achieves Both Excellent Operability and Sound Quality

Installed in the N-05XD’s preamplifier section, the Esoteric-QVCS* Attenuator system features a total of four collectively operated attenuator circuits that independently and electronically control the left and right audio channels and their positive and negative phases. This system helps maintain superb audio clarity, excellent channel separation and highly accurate phase characteristics. Additionally, the vastly shorter audio signal path helps minimize sound quality deterioration at both low and high volumes and allow the complete, unadulterated expression of musical passion.

* QVCS = Quad Volume Control System

Specifications

Digital audio inputs

XLR 1

Input Level 5.0Vp-p

Input Impedance 110Ω

Input signal formats

Linear PCM 32k to 192kHz, 16bit / 24bit (AES/EBU format)

DSD 2.8MHz (ES-LINK1, ES-LINK2, DoP format)

RCA 2

Input Level 0.5Vp-p

Input Impedance 75Ω

Input signal formats

Linear PCM 32k to 192kHz, 16bit / 24bit (IEC60958 format)

DSD 2.8MHz (DoP format)

Optical 2

Input Level –24.0 to –14.5dBm peak

Input signal formats

Linear PCM 32k to 192kHz, 16bit / 24bit (IEC60958 format)

DSD 2.8MHz (DoP format)

USB 1 (USB B connector)

Input signal formats

Linear PCM 44.1k to 384kHz, 16bit / 24bit / 32bit

DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz, 22.5MHz

ETHERNET 1 (1000BASE-T)

Input signal formats

Linear PCM 44.1k to 384kHz, 16bit / 24bit / 32bit (stereo)

• Only integer format file supported

DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz, 22.5MHz (stereo)

Supported file formats

PCM Lossless FLAC, Apple Lossless (ALAC) , WAV, AIFF, MQA

DSD Lossless DSF, DSDIFF (DFF) , DoP

Compressed audio MP3, AAC (m4a container)

USB DRIVE 2 (Front, Rear)

Supported file system FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, Single partition, USB2.0 or later recommended

Maximum power supply 0.5A

Input signal formats

Linear PCM 44.1k to 384kHz, 16bit / 24bit / 32bit (stereo)

• Only integer format file supported at 32bit

DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz, 22.5MHz (stereo)

Supported file formats

PCM Lossless FLAC, Apple Lossless (ALAC) , WAV, AIFF, MQA

DSD Lossless DSF, DSDIFF (DFF) , DoP

Compressed audio MP3, AAC (m4a container)

Analog audio inputs

XLR 1 pair (L/R)

Input Impedance 50kΩ

Maximum Input Voltage 8Vrms

RCA 1 pair (L/R)

Input Impedance 25kΩ

Maximum Input Voltage 4Vrms

Analog audio outputs

XLR/ESL-A 1 pair (L/R)

Output Impedance 220Ω

Maximum Output Level 5.0Vrms (PCM Full-scale signal input, Analog output level setting: FIX)

ESL-A PRE-OUT 1 pair (L/R)

RCA 1 pair (L/R)

Output Impedance 60Ω

Maximum Output Level 2.5Vrms (PCM Full-scale signal input, Analog output level setting: FIX)

Bluetooth® section

Version 4.0

Supported profile A2DP, AVRCP

Supported A2DP codec LDAC, LHDC, aptX™ HD audio, aptX™ audio, AAC, SBC

Headphone out section

Balanced 4-pin XLR × 1

Output Power 1500mW + 1500mW (at 32Ω load)

Compatible Impedance 16 to 600Ω

Unbalanced ¼" (6.3mm) Standard Phone jack × 1

Output Power 750mW + 750mW (at 32Ω load)

Compatible Impedance 16 to 600Ω

Clock sync section

Clock Input BNC × 1

Input frequency 10MHz (±10ppm)

Input impedance 50Ω

Input level

Rectangular wave TTL level or equivalent

Sine wave 0.5 to 1.0Vrms

External control section

RS-232C × 1

Trigger In ⅛" (3.5mm) Monaural mini jack × 1

Input level

Trigger Out ⅛" (3.5mm) Monaural mini jack × 1

Output level

General

Power

AC 120V, 60Hz

AC 220 - 240V, 50Hz

Power consumption 38W

Overall dimensions (W×H×D) 445 × 131 × 377mm / 17-⅝" × 5-¼" × 14-⅞" (including protrusions)

Weight 13.8kg / 30.5 lb.

Included accessories Power cord × 1

Remote control unit (RC-1334) × 1

AA batteries × 2

Felt mats × 3

Owner's manual × 1

Audio Performance

Frequency response 5Hz to 75kHz (–3dB)

S/N ratio 105dB

Distortion 0.0015% (1kHz)