Still the best sounding RedBook CD player I have ever heard. Jeff Kalt et al in SF have been great in my few interactions with them. I like the HDCD.

I have no need for the balanced outputs; would like an output that bypassess the built-in Crystal analogue volume control. Sonically - none.

I've used it for 5 years, both as front end to monoblocks and speakers, with Stax earspeakers, and as part of a complete system.

Similar Products Used:

Arcam, Krell, dcs, Audio Research, Pioneer, Naim, Rega

Still the best sounding RedBook CD player I have ever heard. Jeff Kalt et al in SF have been great in my few interactions with them.

I have no need for the balanced outputs; would like an output that bypassess the built-in Crystal analogue volume control.

I've used it for 5 years, both as front end to monoblocks and speakers, with Stax earspeakers, and as part of a complete system.

Similar Products Used:

Arcam, Krell, dcs, Audio Research, Pioneer, Naim, Rega

Build quality was great, not overdone like some others with their 8lbs remotes, excellent preamp section, Great customer service.

None

Wow! This is one musical gem. I can see how the company came up with the name Resolution Audio. If you haven't heard this unit expect to hear a smooth, spacious, and detailed presentation. The nice thing about the CD 50 is that it's a CD and Preamp all in one box. The CD 50 preamp section is excellent not like some I have used. The guys at Resolution Audio seemed to be friendly,fast, and not too expensive. I had no problems getting my laser replaced.

Sound, ability to drive a power amp directly.

Summary of Problems: 1) remote was problematic and needed 2 modifications 2) transport failed after 3 years 3) an alternate and unreliable transport was used as a replacemet (full price charged) 4) replacement was not tested and failed immeadiatly upon return 5) unit had to be shipped back to the factory at my expense for second repair 6) second repair involved a cobbled together, and highly suspect solution in the form of modifications to the player's power circuits in order to accomodate the new transport 7) even after modifications this transport displayed numerous audible and irritating quirks upon opening, closing and reading 8) after 2 years of repeated, (but casually raised), concerns I was informed that the correct transport was now availabel and I could return the player yet a third time, again at my expense, this time with the expectation that it would be fully and finally returned to proper operating condition. 9) the 3rd repair was only partially succesfull, the player now displays an intermittant problem initializing disks . (in addition the player no longer shows accumulated time when programed)

This is a good sounding player but the problems I had with, both the player, and the company completely outway the positives.

Similar Products Used:

CAD Audio Transport Adcom DAC Sonic Frontiers CDP

Build quality. Unrivalled sound quality and depth.

"Cheap" remote

I bought my CD50 used and unheard based on several months of research, including the glowing reviews below. These players do not surface veryoften, and having had the chance to listen to it in my new system for a few months now, I know why. It is absolutely outstanding - particularly on a good HDCD recording. It sounds as vinyl like as any CD player I have heard and I now find myself relistening to all my CDs and really enjoying the MUSIC - that's what it is all about, right? I happen to use the unbalanced outputs, but the ability to have balanced as well is useful. the unit is built like a tank, and I agree about the remote - not the best in the world, but functional. I have had several questions since owning it, and the response and support out of Resolution Audio has been excellent - even for an out of production player like the CD50. The rest of my system is: Plinius SA102 Power Amp Plinius CD-LAD pre amp Martin Logan Sequel II speakers Richard Gray 400s power enhancer Monster interconnects all round Bottom line - if you can find one in good condition, you will be able to add a phenomenally good value deck to your system and you will NOT be disappointed.

Similar Products Used:

None

Very high resolution (umm..), fast, clean and dynamic sound

I use the cd 50 since march 1999, and this player
is just fantastic. Very highly detailed, very open
and spacious, the cd 50 simply brings loads of
information to the listener.
It is fast and powerful, and besides all the hifi criteria,
the resolution player has the ability to really sing.
I only would have liked the player with beautiful
silver front, but in Germany we can only get the black one.
Anyway, it is very well built, it looks good,
a must-have-player. I Love it.
(Damn... their DAD/DVD Player is even better...)

Similar Products Used:

Creek CD 60, Naim CD 3.5

Over the past 6 months I have been on a quest to get a good single box cd player. I have recently owned a Marantz CD67SE and YBA CD Integre. Not being happy with the prevalent digital nasties in the CD67 I upgraded to the YBA. At first I was pretty happy with it but after a few weeks I really felt I was missing something - namely hearing the music as it should be. I spent a long time researching cd players. In my home town I had access to and auditioned at home the Rega Planet, YBA 3, Anthem UCD1, Classe CDP .5, Cambridge CD4 and Sonic Frontiers SFCD1. I liked the SFCD1 and YBA 3 but was not comfortable going with either one because of concerns related to build quality or company stability. Through research I made a short list of possible players including the Theta Miles, new Camelot Morganna 24 and G&D Transforms UCD2. There was no local access to these players so I would have to order them in and risk not getting a credit if I was unhappy. As I was trying to rationalize out which one to bring in a friend or two told be about the Resolution Audio CD50. I did some more research on it and it really looked like a winner and a good first choice to bring in. Did I ever luck out.
The CD50 is very well built and has very good ergonomics. Having never heard or seen one I was pleasantly surprised by the weight of the box when it first arrived. After opening it up like a kid at Christmas I was pleased to see that it looked really good and was built like a tank. So, I hooked it up and it blew me away right out of the box. After a while things smoothed out even more. It has many sonic strengths including great balance and neutrality, sparkling highs and deep tight bass. The soundstage is deep and wide and it projects a great image with uncanny resolution. The separation and air around objects is incredible. It resolves so much detail I was hearing many things not heard before - not just the objects but it's placement in the soundstage. It's also very smooth sounding and not a hint of digital grain or nasties. Female vocals are so fine sounding. I now hear not only all the usual things one hopes for in a great cd source but I also hear the soul and emotion of the music. Killer.

The CD50 has some very good technical specs too. It is fully, truly balanced with a total of 4 20-bit PCM63P-K Burr Browns in it. PMD-100 HDCD. An analog domain volume control. It can be hooked direct to an amp without sacrificing any of the resolution associated with digital volume controls found in cheap players. Besides, now one can save money by not buying a preamp. Philips based transport with custom servo board. Not mention a killer power supply and other usual high end player attributes.

For more info go to http://www.audiofreaks.i-way.co.uk/resolutionCD.html

Associated Equipment:
Celeste 4070SE amp
JPS Cables
JM Labs Daline 3.1 speakers

The CD50 lists for US$3000 and I give it a hearty 5 star rating.

I have had the ResAudio CD50 for only a few months now but I have been really blown away by how much better my CD's sound. As I upgraded my speakers and amplifier, the weaknesses (harshness, graininess) of digital recordings really started to come out, and I needed to find a CD player that was pleasant to listen to. All the routine audiophile mumbo jumbo pleasantries can be applied to this unit, and I especially like the analog volume control because I have no preamp. Other good features are the dual outputs (1pair balanced, 1 pair unbalanced), HDCD, detachable power cord, etc.. My only recommendation would be that the remote control have fewer and larger buttons, and I would be willing to pay a few hundred bucks for it. The CD50 is a versatile machine, well built, and I'm glad I bought it. Give this unit serious consideration, especially for a minimalist system.

Clean high end appearance. Stunning blue display. Heavy indicating good build quality.

None

Very smooth overall sound spectrum. The midrange sweetness is better than the CAL separates I auditioned. Female vocals are to die for! It produces the very low bass just about as well as the Krell players I have heard. The highs are very detailed with out the slightest hint of the typical high end harshness associated with digital.

The build quality is superb. Heavy front face plate. Solid drawer mechanism. Quiet operation. Large rubber isolation feet. The blue display is very attractive.

Has balanced and unbalanced outputs to drive a power amplifier directly.

Truly a high-end CD player that rivals anything I have heard at just about any price! Sure the big Krell top loader or the Mark Levinson separates might give you a little more, but at what cost.

I'm a small customizer that builds custom speakers and subwoofers. It was important that I have a good CD player for evaluating my speakers.

Associated equip:

Carver 25.1 pre/pro
Parasound HCA-3500 and HCA-2003 amplifiers
Art of Sound line array tower speakers. (similiar to the pipe dreams)

Visit www.artofsound.net

Similar Products Used:

Marantz 67SE, California Audio Labs separate transport & DAC (Alpha Delta), Krell KAV-250

Solid build quality, smooth, detailed, musical and involving

None

Eminently musical. No digititis. Posseses an analog-like smoothness without sacrificing the nuances that make the emotional connection with the listener. I could go into all the audiophile terminology to share with you what I experience with the CD-50, but I'll just say that with this unit I relax and enjoy spending time listening to music. My system consist of: Krell KSL-2 preamp, SCE's Harmonic Recovery System, B&K ST-202 power amp, ProAc Response 1SC speakers, Hsu Research 10 subwoofer w/active xover/amp, Rega Planar 3 w/Stanton 881s. Interconnects: Marigo 8.8 and Audioquest Lapis x3's. Speaker cables: Marigo 3.1.

Similar Products Used:

Rotel RCD971, Denon 1560