Category Archives: compact disc
Marantz CD65II SE
The number of budget, Philips-based Marantz CD players made in the nineteen eighties and nineties is quite overwhelming. Back in the heyday of the silver disc, the market was constantly shifting and Marantz – like everyone else – had to
Marantz CD65II SE
The number of budget, Philips-based Marantz CD players made in the nineteen eighties and nineties is quite overwhelming. Back in the heyday of the silver disc, the market was constantly shifting and Marantz – like everyone else – had to
Audiolab 8300CDQ
Although just a hundred or so pounds more than its 8200 predecessor, the 2019 8300CDQ was slicker and more sophisticated in terms of build, finish and functionality – and sported something Audiolab believed to be a worthwhile new feature –
Audiolab 8300CDQ
Although just a hundred or so pounds more than its 8200 predecessor, the 2019 8300CDQ was slicker and more sophisticated in terms of build, finish and functionality – and sported something Audiolab believed to be a worthwhile new feature –
Marantz DR6000
Recordable CD (called CD-R) was launched in 1988. Called CD-WO (CD-Write Once), the format was fully compatible with the original ‘Red Book’ CD standard when giving up to 74 minutes of recording (650 MB), but later CD-Rs offered up to
Marantz DR6000
Recordable CD (called CD-R) was launched in 1988. Called CD-WO (CD-Write Once), the format was fully compatible with the original ‘Red Book’ CD standard when giving up to 74 minutes of recording (650 MB), but later CD-Rs offered up to
Audiolab 6000CDT
While affordable DACs are ten-a-penny, there’s a relative scarcity of decent Compact Disc transports around. Given that – although new music sales are tumbling in this format – there are gazillions of CDs in circulation, you’d think that there would
Audiolab 6000CDT
While affordable DACs are ten-a-penny, there’s a relative scarcity of decent Compact Disc transports around. Given that – although new music sales are tumbling in this format – there are gazillions of CDs in circulation, you’d think that there would
Sony CDP-911E
It’s often said that the nineteen sixties didn’t start until half way through that decade, and didn’t fully end until the mid seventies. Perhaps you could say the same about the eighties, because the Sony CDP-911E is very much a
Sony CDP-911E
It’s often said that the nineteen sixties didn’t start until half way through that decade, and didn’t fully end until the mid seventies. Perhaps you could say the same about the eighties, because the Sony CDP-911E is very much a
Cyrus CD t
Launched in 2011 for £699, the Cyrus CD transport filled a much-needed gap in a hi-fi world that was suddenly beginning to see a decline in the number of silver disc spinners being made. By this time, Linn had already announced it would
Cyrus CD t
Launched in 2011 for £699, the Cyrus CD transport filled a much-needed gap in a hi-fi world that was suddenly beginning to see a decline in the number of silver disc spinners being made. By this time, Linn had already announced it would
Philips DVD 763SA
Just a couple of years after the first SACD players arrived, prices began to fall. No longer did you need to drop £5,000 on Marantz’s seminal SA-1. Suddenly, DVD players were available with SACD compatibility for one twentieth of the price
Philips DVD 763SA
Just a couple of years after the first SACD players arrived, prices began to fall. No longer did you need to drop £5,000 on Marantz’s seminal SA-1. Suddenly, DVD players were available with SACD compatibility for one twentieth of the price
MEL Audio Rechav II
Even back in 2004, it felt like CD players were reaching the autumn of their lives. The onslaught from DVD-Audio, SACD and indeed universal machines was such that fewer and fewer folk wanted old, unreconstructed CD separates anymore. Those who
MEL Audio Rechav II
Even back in 2004, it felt like CD players were reaching the autumn of their lives. The onslaught from DVD-Audio, SACD and indeed universal machines was such that fewer and fewer folk wanted old, unreconstructed CD separates anymore. Those who
Marantz DV-12S1
By 2002, the DVD-Audio versus SACD war was raging. Many manufacturers first nailed their colours to one format’s mast, but soon realised they needed to cater for both new hi-res disc types. This was before the era of so-called ‘universal’
Marantz DV-12S1
By 2002, the DVD-Audio versus SACD war was raging. Many manufacturers first nailed their colours to one format’s mast, but soon realised they needed to cater for both new hi-res disc types. This was before the era of so-called ‘universal’
Rega Planet 2000
Rega’s first Planet CD player – not to be confused by the original Planet turntable – was the company’s entry-level silver disc spinner of the mid nineteen nineties. This, as its name suggests, was the 2000-model year update, and an
Rega Planet 2000
Rega’s first Planet CD player – not to be confused by the original Planet turntable – was the company’s entry-level silver disc spinner of the mid nineteen nineties. This, as its name suggests, was the 2000-model year update, and an
Sony MDS-JA333ES
In 2003, MiniDisc was well on the way out. Sales were plummeting, and the spurt that the format enjoyed between 1998 and 1999 looked like ancient history. Of course, it was precisely at this stage in its sales cycle that
Sony MDS-JA333ES
In 2003, MiniDisc was well on the way out. Sales were plummeting, and the spurt that the format enjoyed between 1998 and 1999 looked like ancient history. Of course, it was precisely at this stage in its sales cycle that
Marantz CD-7
“The first Bitstream players sounded dire”, a senior Marantz engineer once told me. Strictly not for publication you understand, but refreshingly candid all the same. At the time, others couched the phrase in rather more diplomatic language, but it’s worth
Marantz CD-7
“The first Bitstream players sounded dire”, a senior Marantz engineer once told me. Strictly not for publication you understand, but refreshingly candid all the same. At the time, others couched the phrase in rather more diplomatic language, but it’s worth
TEAC VRDS-20
The early nineteen nineties was an interesting time for Compact Disc. Rather like ‘that difficult second album’, digital audio faced a dilemma as to how to evolve. Philips and Sony had come up with slick second generation machines, but these
TEAC VRDS-20
The early nineteen nineties was an interesting time for Compact Disc. Rather like ‘that difficult second album’, digital audio faced a dilemma as to how to evolve. Philips and Sony had come up with slick second generation machines, but these
Marantz SA-10/PM-10
Launched on December 1st, 2016, the new Marantz SA-10 SACD player/DAC and PM-10 amplifier are technologically the boldest products the Eindhoven-based company has done in many years. The silver disc spinner replaces the SA-7, and sports a bespoke, newly designed optical disc
Marantz SA-10/PM-10
Launched on December 1st, 2016, the new Marantz SA-10 SACD player/DAC and PM-10 amplifier are technologically the boldest products the Eindhoven-based company has done in many years. The silver disc spinner replaces the SA-7, and sports a bespoke, newly designed optical disc
Esoteric K-03
Launching a £9,495 silver disc spinner in the middle of a global recession isn’t always a recipe for success, but in 2011 that didn’t seem to worry Esoteric. Here was a beautiful, statement optical disc player that made anything from
Esoteric K-03
Launching a £9,495 silver disc spinner in the middle of a global recession isn’t always a recipe for success, but in 2011 that didn’t seem to worry Esoteric. Here was a beautiful, statement optical disc player that made anything from
Rotel RCD-1570
Although production is based in Zhuhai, China, this fifty-five year old company has engineering offices in the UK, USA, Japan, Korea and China, and a sixty-strong R&D team including design input from the UK. This CD player is something of a
Rotel RCD-1570
Although production is based in Zhuhai, China, this fifty-five year old company has engineering offices in the UK, USA, Japan, Korea and China, and a sixty-strong R&D team including design input from the UK. This CD player is something of a
Hitachi DA-1000
When you think of a first-generation CD player, then it’s either Philips or Sony that springs to mind. However, there were many other machines that were sold to eager aspiring digiphiles, which didn’t receive the same attention or achieve similar
Hitachi DA-1000
When you think of a first-generation CD player, then it’s either Philips or Sony that springs to mind. However, there were many other machines that were sold to eager aspiring digiphiles, which didn’t receive the same attention or achieve similar
Sony CDP-X33ES
The nineteen nineties would prove to be the decade that Compact Disc truly came of age. Whereas eighties players had usually been eccentric – sometimes even strange – by 1990 the breed was fast becoming refined into what we would
Sony CDP-X33ES
The nineteen nineties would prove to be the decade that Compact Disc truly came of age. Whereas eighties players had usually been eccentric – sometimes even strange – by 1990 the breed was fast becoming refined into what we would
Denon DCD-SA1
Costing a cool £5,000 in 2002, this was one of Denon’s most expensive universal disc players ever – to call it a ‘Japanese battleship’ rather understates its staggering build quality. Measuring 434x150x410mm and weighing in at 21.8kg, it is massively constructed with huge
Denon DCD-SA1
Costing a cool £5,000 in 2002, this was one of Denon’s most expensive universal disc players ever – to call it a ‘Japanese battleship’ rather understates its staggering build quality. Measuring 434x150x410mm and weighing in at 21.8kg, it is massively constructed with huge
Marantz KI Pearl
The British launch of the Marantz KI Pearls in Autumn 2009 was a suitably auspicious affair at The Ivy in London’s Soho, with Ken Ishiwata making a speech to a room of assembled journalists in which he traced his career trajectory,
Marantz KI Pearl
The British launch of the Marantz KI Pearls in Autumn 2009 was a suitably auspicious affair at The Ivy in London’s Soho, with Ken Ishiwata making a speech to a room of assembled journalists in which he traced his career trajectory,
zStereo 