Von Schweikert Endeavor E-5 MKII Speakers, Grand Prix Audio Rack, MasterBuilt Cabling and AC Management, Esoteric Grandioso Series PIX Transport, D1X Monoblock DAC, N-03T Network Audio Transport, G1 Rubidium Master Clock, C1 Linestage Preamp, Etc.

I don’t know about you, but I find the design of Esoteric’s Grandioso series enclosures quite attractive. In Long Beach, they also sounded great. Paired with Von Schweikert Endeavor E-5 MKII Speakers ($40,000/pair), an entire SUV full of Grandioso gear (including multiple outboard power supplies) impressed as exceptionally lively, solid, and musical.

I’ve sometimes described the Esoteric sound as dark, but I heard none of that in the company’s new top-of-the-line components. Backgrounds were gratifyingly quiet on Patricia Barber’s “She’s a Lady,” the top was open and illumined, midrange was full and true, and bass was solid. “Love the bass,” I scribbled about music that seemed a perfect complement to the look of Esoteric’s Grandioso components.

Cue up entirely different fare—the Patricia Barber antithesis, soprano Carolyn Sampson singing Fauré’s “Les Roses d’Ispahan” on her marvelous BIS SACD, Fleurs. The piano’s midrange was beautiful and strong—perhaps a bit too full—and the highs gorgeous. Ladies and Gentlemen, this system was a winner.

Doing the rest of the honors: Esoteric Grandioso Series PIX Transport ($50,000), D1X Monoblock DAC ($50,000), N-03T Network Audio Transport ($11,000), G1 Rubidium Master Clock ($26,000), C1 Linestage Preamp ($38,000), and S1 Power Amplifier ($27,000). Also essential to the system’s success: Grand Prix Monaco Audio Racks and MasterBuilt Cabling and AC Management.

COMMENTS
eriks's picture

were maddeningly placed! They're like 3' off the ground. Seated, they were about chest level. Anyone not in the front row was effectively blocked.

I'm afraid the room was otherwise like every other, hard to hear anything in it worth the prices.

Ortofan's picture

... a rack of TEAC/Esoteric source equipment and amps versus a pair of Lexus LS500s?

Wimbo's picture

Esoteric kit and a Harley Shovel.

Bogolu Haranath's picture

I'll take the Lexus LS with the Mark Levinson audio system :-) ..........

Bogolu Haranath's picture

....Or, the BMW 7 series with Harman Kardon Logic7 surround sound :-) .........

Bogolu Haranath's picture

.... Or, the Mercedes S-Class with Burmester audio system :-) ........

Bogolu Haranath's picture

..... Or, the Audi A8 with the Bang & Olufsen audio system :-) ........

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Oh Lord won't you buy me one of the cars above :-) ........

Jason Victor Serinus's picture

If you promise to restrain yourself from posting 5000 times per day, this is a possibility. Otherwise, one of these days, a Lexus may just come crashing down onto your head from on high. But please don't blame me if that happens; the Devil will have made me do it.

Bogolu Haranath's picture

I just praised your skills ...... Check EleKit post :-) ........

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Ok Lord ..... I'll settle for the American made Lincoln with the Revel audio system ....... I promise, I'll only post 4999 times/day :-) .........

Jason Victor Serinus's picture

You had your chance. A hard Lexus's gonna fall.

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Lord, make that two .......... One for me and one for Ortofan ........ Ortofan started it all :-) .........

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Lord, can you throw in a stretched version of American made Cadillac limousine with the Bose audio system and color TV for nights on town, for all our friends? ........ for good measure? :-) ........

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Let all my non-audiophile friends with Porches and Burmester audio systems, get jealous :-) ........

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