Category Archives: compact disc
Shanling SCD-T200C
How we marvelled at this striking, post-modern design back when the new century was still young! Yet over a decade later, the 2003 SCD-T200C now looks positively vintage with its acres of silver brushed aluminium, blue LEDs, valves, perspex and silver painted steel.
Shanling SCD-T200C
How we marvelled at this striking, post-modern design back when the new century was still young! Yet over a decade later, the 2003 SCD-T200C now looks positively vintage with its acres of silver brushed aluminium, blue LEDs, valves, perspex and silver painted steel.
the Compact Disc story
Economic austerity, high unemployment, inflation, severe weather, humiliation for our national football team, wars in distant lands – some things never change! Looking back soberly, 1982 was hardly a vintage year, but one particular moment marks it out as special.
the Compact Disc story
Economic austerity, high unemployment, inflation, severe weather, humiliation for our national football team, wars in distant lands – some things never change! Looking back soberly, 1982 was hardly a vintage year, but one particular moment marks it out as special.
Sony SCD-XA9000ES
Sony came out in favour of SACD as its preferred digital audio format, leaving DVD-A for the likes of Pioneer and Matsushita. The company’s first machine was 1999’s SCD-1, followed by the second generation, multi channel SCD-XA777ES of 2002. Then,
Sony SCD-XA9000ES
Sony came out in favour of SACD as its preferred digital audio format, leaving DVD-A for the likes of Pioneer and Matsushita. The company’s first machine was 1999’s SCD-1, followed by the second generation, multi channel SCD-XA777ES of 2002. Then,
Arcam Delta 70/Black Box
The company’s first product, the A&R Cambridge A60 integrated amplifier, was a fine, worthy design with broad appeal to well healed, middle class audiophiles. Launched in 1976, it sold in huge quantities for a specialist British product, but after ten
Arcam Delta 70/Black Box
The company’s first product, the A&R Cambridge A60 integrated amplifier, was a fine, worthy design with broad appeal to well healed, middle class audiophiles. Launched in 1976, it sold in huge quantities for a specialist British product, but after ten
Marantz CD-45 Limited Edition
“When I first heard CD I was shocked”, Marantz brand ambassador Ken Ishiwata tells me. “I felt the potential of what you could do with this tiny disc – it was amazing. What surprised me most at first was its lack
Marantz CD-45 Limited Edition
“When I first heard CD I was shocked”, Marantz brand ambassador Ken Ishiwata tells me. “I felt the potential of what you could do with this tiny disc – it was amazing. What surprised me most at first was its lack
Marantz CD-54
The first Compact Disc players arrived in 1982 and reached British buyers a year later. This generation has since become largely forgotten, which is a shame because – ironically – many sound far more ‘analogue’ than much of today’s high end esoterica. The Marantz
Marantz CD-54
The first Compact Disc players arrived in 1982 and reached British buyers a year later. This generation has since become largely forgotten, which is a shame because – ironically – many sound far more ‘analogue’ than much of today’s high end esoterica. The Marantz
Marantz CD-52 Special Edition
When launched in 1982, opinions were strongly divided about the sound of Compact Disc. Initially there were two distinct CD player tribes – the Philips-based machines and the Japanese ones. The former, such as the Philips CD100, had DACs which only ran
Marantz CD-52 Special Edition
When launched in 1982, opinions were strongly divided about the sound of Compact Disc. Initially there were two distinct CD player tribes – the Philips-based machines and the Japanese ones. The former, such as the Philips CD100, had DACs which only ran
Cambridge Audio Sonata DV30
One British company that gets far too little recognition is Cambridge Audio, despite having a history of impressive, affordable audiophile products – and that is perhaps not surprising considering that so many who have – and/or do – work for
Cambridge Audio Sonata DV30
One British company that gets far too little recognition is Cambridge Audio, despite having a history of impressive, affordable audiophile products – and that is perhaps not surprising considering that so many who have – and/or do – work for
Audiolab 8000CDM
Nineteen ninety four was pretty much the high watermark for Audiolab in its original incarnation. It seemed like the company could do no wrong. The 8000A integrated amplifier had been repeatedly refined, and was now a seriously good sounding device –
Audiolab 8000CDM
Nineteen ninety four was pretty much the high watermark for Audiolab in its original incarnation. It seemed like the company could do no wrong. The 8000A integrated amplifier had been repeatedly refined, and was now a seriously good sounding device –
Sony CDP-101
Much has been written about this machine of late; it is fast becoming collectible. Of course it has a right to be, being not just Sony Corporation’s first ever silver disc spinner, but also the world’s first commercially available CD
Sony CDP-101
Much has been written about this machine of late; it is fast becoming collectible. Of course it has a right to be, being not just Sony Corporation’s first ever silver disc spinner, but also the world’s first commercially available CD
Astin Trew AT3500
Back in 2006 a new name appeared on the British hi-fi scene, launching a small range of mid-price hi-fi separates. The pick of this was the tube-buffered CD player, which sounded quite distinctively different to its price rivals. It didn’t take
Astin Trew AT3500
Back in 2006 a new name appeared on the British hi-fi scene, launching a small range of mid-price hi-fi separates. The pick of this was the tube-buffered CD player, which sounded quite distinctively different to its price rivals. It didn’t take
Sony DVP-S7000
Launched in March 1997 in Tokyo, Japan, the DVP-S7000 began to hit UK shores six months or so later and was one of the most prestigious and exciting of first generation DVD players. As ever with Sony’s ‘first’ ever product
Sony DVP-S7000
Launched in March 1997 in Tokyo, Japan, the DVP-S7000 began to hit UK shores six months or so later and was one of the most prestigious and exciting of first generation DVD players. As ever with Sony’s ‘first’ ever product
Micromega CD-30
In 2007, the well established French hi-fi brand Micromega was acquired by the flamboyant ex-motorsport man Didier Hamdi, leaving the company’s founder Daniel Schar to engineering duties. The 2010 CD-30 was one of the first products of the new epoch. On the
Micromega CD-30
In 2007, the well established French hi-fi brand Micromega was acquired by the flamboyant ex-motorsport man Didier Hamdi, leaving the company’s founder Daniel Schar to engineering duties. The 2010 CD-30 was one of the first products of the new epoch. On the
Sony RCD-W3
It was late 1998 that Sony’s first CD recorder was released in the company’s home market of Japan. At the time it came as something of a surprise, as Sony had previously intimated that MiniDisc was its rival to Philips’
Sony RCD-W3
It was late 1998 that Sony’s first CD recorder was released in the company’s home market of Japan. At the time it came as something of a surprise, as Sony had previously intimated that MiniDisc was its rival to Philips’
Esoteric P-0
Surprisingly few great CD transports have surfaced over the years, and you have to wonder why. Until computers showed up they were pretty much the only way of getting digits into your DAC, so they did – and still do
Esoteric P-0
Surprisingly few great CD transports have surfaced over the years, and you have to wonder why. Until computers showed up they were pretty much the only way of getting digits into your DAC, so they did – and still do
Meridian MCD Pro
Ever since its inception back in 1977, Meridian has been a great innovating company. Before its launch, founders Bob Stuart and Allen Boothroyd had already been involved in some of the most interesting hi-fi products to come out of the nineteen seventies – from the Lecson
Meridian MCD Pro
Ever since its inception back in 1977, Meridian has been a great innovating company. Before its launch, founders Bob Stuart and Allen Boothroyd had already been involved in some of the most interesting hi-fi products to come out of the nineteen seventies – from the Lecson
Cyrus dAD7
The nineteen nineties was Cyrus’s first decade, having previously been a mere sub-brand of loudspeaker specialist Mission. For this reason, it was an interesting time – a number of products appeared which showed the genesis of the company’s thinking, and
Cyrus dAD7
The nineteen nineties was Cyrus’s first decade, having previously been a mere sub-brand of loudspeaker specialist Mission. For this reason, it was an interesting time – a number of products appeared which showed the genesis of the company’s thinking, and
Esoteric X-05
Every Japanese company has a specialisation; something about which it’s particularly proud. With Sony it was always innovation and miniaturisation, with Matsushita it was always reliability and affordability (just like Honda and Toyota respectively). Nakamichi’s oeuvre was always cassette, Pioneer made
Esoteric X-05
Every Japanese company has a specialisation; something about which it’s particularly proud. With Sony it was always innovation and miniaturisation, with Matsushita it was always reliability and affordability (just like Honda and Toyota respectively). Nakamichi’s oeuvre was always cassette, Pioneer made
Sony CDP-557ESD
Remember the CD player numbers game? The first Philips-based machines had 14-bit, 4 times oversampling, the original Japanese used 16-bits. Then in 1986 the 16×4 Philips players arrived and by 1988 a raft of 18×8 machines appeared from the Orient.
Sony CDP-557ESD
Remember the CD player numbers game? The first Philips-based machines had 14-bit, 4 times oversampling, the original Japanese used 16-bits. Then in 1986 the 16×4 Philips players arrived and by 1988 a raft of 18×8 machines appeared from the Orient.
Naim CDX2
When the Naim CDX2 was launched in 2003, it seemed that Compact Disc was beginning to falter, faced as it was with an onslaught from SACD and DVD-Audio. So for Naim to pitch a new CD player right into the
Naim CDX2
When the Naim CDX2 was launched in 2003, it seemed that Compact Disc was beginning to falter, faced as it was with an onslaught from SACD and DVD-Audio. So for Naim to pitch a new CD player right into the
zStereo 