Bought my unit used about 4 years ago, my wife thought way too much money for used electronics needless to say her attitude has changed with hundreds and hundreds maybe a thousand plus CDs under its' belt and who knows how many before we bought it, Flawless operation and beautiful uncolored music and it plays on today !

I H-A-T-E People like me. We've all experienced the type. THE REVERSE BRAGGARD. Anyone can BRAG about the $10,000.00 ROLEX WATCH they just bought. But go up to people and say "Like my new ROLEX Watch? My Aunt caught my Uncle cheating on her and just sold it to me for $100.00!!! Anyone want to go for a ride in my new $500.00 Ferrari F50?

You SEE Acurus a-n-y-t-h-I-n-g, you buy it. Why is that? THINK OF WHAT MATTERS MOST: DESIGN, BUILD QUALITY, MILSPEC PARTS UNDER THE HOOD, LONGIVITY, AFFORDABILITY. Purchased brand new with a 10% discount no less, my 22 year old Acurus RL11 Line Stage Pre-Amp and matching Acurus A150 amp are still going strong. When my 25 year old ADCOM GCD 575 gave up the ghost, I needed an inexpensive CD player because, like, who buys CDs these days?---Everyone I know downloads music for free else goes to the library and rip CDs directly to their Laptops..not to say I would do such a thing because, well---I HAVE INTEGRITY (cough, cough)!!!

Before I get all weepy eyed and humiliate myself by totally fawning over this product, let me first state that I only paid $166.00 for a MINT CONDITION Acurus ADC11 which is less than dinner for two at a certain unmentioned San Francisco Steak House. Are you green with envy yet? Read on.

First, my 1997 era Acurus ACD11 is EASILY a 2017 $5,000.00 dedicated CD TRANSPORT. Why is that. Mondail Designs approached the design question as solving the VIBRATION ISSUE first & foremost. That means 20 lbs of steel with internal vibration buffers and a rock solid CD TRANSPORT.

Second, although it comes with a 'Good Enough for your Broke self' 1 Bit DAC, you are not a 'REAL AUDIOPHILE' unless you use a dedicated outboard DAC on your CD player via an audio grade Digital Coaxe cable & upgraded audio power cord as connected to a dedicated Line Conditioner.

Third, it has a massive power supply (internal). Combine the two and you get GRAVE YARD SILENCE around the notes, more shimmer off the Ziidian High Hats, better soundstage & better accuracy in resolution.

01JUN2017 was the 50th Anno of the Release of SGT PAPER and my Acurus ACD 11 transported me back to Abby Roads Studios as if it were an episode on STARTREK.. Remember the final cord in DAY IN THE LIFE?

With a ROTEL or a NAD or an OPPO or a SONY or a REGA or a MARANTZ, You H-E-A-R absolute PERFECTION---you can actually reach out and touch the face of GOD. WIth the Acurus ACD11, you H-E-A-R the Air Conditioning go on and the piano bench squeak as Ringo sat down on it!!! [FYI, George Martin had me escorted out of the building when I screamed 'YOU RUINED THE TAKE, DICK!!!. Never ask a Drummer to do anything but play drums, Go ahead, Martin---tell RINGO how he messed up Johnny's Song!!!"] . My used Acurus ACD11 is a virtual TIME MACHINE allowing me to go anywhere from the privacy of my 'MUSIC OBSERVATORY' and be that UGLY American making snide comments.

Does the Acurus ACD 11 have any negatives? Not at the price I paid for it. But at $900.00 (1997 dollars) Y-E-S, the pea green yellow digital screen is hard on the eyes in a darken room and perhaps the lay out of the half moon program buttons are a bit COUNTER-INTUTIVE. In defence of my review, I quote Vice Principle Edward Rooney (Ferris Bueller's Day Off.) who said, and I qoute: 'Yeah, well Suck it up; ButterCup!!!'

This is the LAST CD PLAYER you will ever need especially when CDs are projected to be withdrawn from the market by 2025. Play CDs until you can't stand them anymore then buy a good, used DAC. Then confine your player & CD Collection to the back of your closet with your Cassette Tape Collection and your 8TRACK Collection:

My ANCIENT LEGACY SYSTEM (until I will the Lottery or Something):

SYSTEMDEK IIx [Taken out of storage, first purchased JUN1986 I have receipts)
LINN BASIK + (modified)
DENON DL160
Michel GyroMat/Gyro Clamp
Acurus ACD 11
NAK DR3 Tape Deck
Yamaha T1000 Tuner
iPhone 4S (used as Music Server) /Fiio E17 ALPIN Headphone AMP/DAC
Bellari VP129 Phone with Mullard 12AUX7 valve
Acurus RL 11 Line Stage Preamp
Acurus A150 Amp
NHT 1.3A satellite Speakers BIAMPED into an ENERGY EPS 150 Sub
STAX Lamda Jr/SR34 phones.
StandDesign Rack & Speaker Stands
Panamax 5300 Line Conditioner/Surge Protector

Price and performance

None based on price paid

I have enjoyed the ACD-11 for many years without significant problems. Only concern is that the transport does not read a CD every now and then. ( 1 time per year) Keep the unit on all the time for best listening. The inboard D/A is quite alright but I upgraded to the Aragon D2A2 and was amazed at the improvement. Use a high quality power cord and ac filter device for best results. Would buy any Acurus or Aragon product new or used based on my very satisfactory experience with the six units of theirs that I own.

Similar Products Used:

Many many many

Build Quality, Appearance, Transport, & Sound.

Display could have been better.

I have always been a fan of Acurus/Aragon equipment for their build quality, looks, and most of all sound quality. Over the last two years I have moved back from a combined home theater/music system to a separate music only system. It was easy to decide what audio compnents I wanted for amp and preamp (Aragon), but choosing a CD player was more dificult as I really wanted the convienance of a 5 disc changer. My first attempt was with a Harman Kardon 8550 unit. It wasn't bad for the price I paid, but quickly proved to be the weak link in the system. The next attempt was with an Adcom GCD 600 unit. When it worked, it was a great sounding unit. Unfortunately it was in the shop more than it was in my home. I finally decided on a single disc unit and as Aragon didn't make a CD player, I purchased the Acurus. I am sure that there are better units availabe, but at its price point you'd be hard pressed to find a better overall performer. The transport is rock-solid and will play many discs that skip on others. The sound quality is also very good - I have it connected directly to my preamp and also to my Aragon D2A2 DAC. When I A/B the two, there is little difference in the sound quality. Obviously Acurus spent a little money on the audio section of the player and not just the transport. The unit looks very nice and once you get used to the control placement, functions well also. My only complaint about the unit is the display - It's nice that you can turn it off from the remote, but if you're more than a couple of feet away from the unit you can't ready the display anyway. Overall, a great sounding, well built unit that should last you for years. It can perform as a stand alone unit or as a transport equally well. It's a shame that the whole Acurus line appears to be lost with the acquistion of Mondial Designs by Klipsch.

Similar Products Used:

Harmon Kardon, Yamaha, Adcom, Sony, Nakamichi, etc.

Huge disappointment. How could previously nice line-ups of Acurus mutate out such an excessive bright (in high) and weak bass player! Tried various interconnects in vain. Does make a good transport w/ appropiate DAC. Must get rid of it as quick as I can.

natural sound, warm midband

low-level resolution and bass

This cd player has received both good and average reviews from British and American magazines, not to mention, on this very webpage as well. The disparity between the good and the average/bad reviews is almost at a 50-50 margin. I tried this player using an Arcam Delta 290 integrated and a pair of Epos ES14's on dedicated Epos stands and I am more than satisfied with its sound. The transparency is not quite up with the Adcom 750 player but it sounds very musical and natural. The low frequencies are not as controlled, deep, nor tight as the Adcom. What you get is a more inviting sound that draws you into the music rather than present it right on your lap. Personally, I like this kind of presentation albeit not the most transparent and detailed, but hey, it's musical!...thumbs up for me.

Similar Products Used:

Rega Planet
Adcom GCD 750

Warmth

Finicky player, rolled-off highs, poorly designed remote

Picked this unit up used recently -- read the reviews here and was concerned but figured I had nothing to lose at the price I got the player for, since it has a coaxial digital out to use as a transport. It is a very solidly built player and makes an excellent transport, but mine is a bit finicky and sometimes won't read a disc initially (if I open and close the drawer, or once the unit is on for a while, the problem ceases, but I may send it to Acurus to have it checked out anyway). Anyone else have the same problems? As an aside, this unit received a Hifi Choice Best Buy recommendation and was well-reviewed by that magazine.

As a stand-alone player, it is very warm sounding and excels in the midrange. However, vocals are a bit laid-back and highs are rolled off (I like them a bit "crisper") to my ear. The player is definitely not as dynamic as I would like. I've read the complaints about lower bass extension and have to say that my unit suffered the same problem initially as well, but after I moved my speakers a few extra inches AWAY from the wall (go figure) and also switched to a different power cord (Tara Labs Prism), the lower range opened up dramatically. So if you have the weak bass problem, definitely try a different power cord and see if it helps. I used my Adcom GCD 700 in a different system so can't make a comparison. Compared to my Mod Squad Prism II, the Prism sounds better all-around and does not suffer the aforementioned problems the Acurus does, and also threw a deeper soundstage to boot.

I do like the "high-end" look and build quality of the unit; the remote is not laid out very logically, but is not bad. If you like a warm, analog-sounding, laid-back presentation, then the Acurus ACD 11 is the player for you. Me personally, I'm adding a DAC.

Similar Products Used:

Adcom GCD 700, Mod Squad Prism II, Cambridge Audio CD4SE/CD6

Beautiful sound, warm highs, solid build, incredibly nice drawer and transport, simple yet elegant

Doesn't light up like Times Square the way my dad's McIntosh does

Received this for Christmas and couldn't be happier! The sound through my B&W 801 speakers has taken on a smooth and warm sound that I attribute to the new (used) Acurus. Everything from Diana Krall to Creed sounds better! The image in front of me is now wider and yet better defined. It's expensive, but well worth it! Bravo!

Similar Products Used:

McIntosh, Krell, Rega Planet

Clarity, Open Treble, Smooth Sound, Very Musical

At the price I paid- none!

This is indeed a marvellous find and a gem! I have read all
the reviews and must say I disagree completely with those
who think that the DAC on this unit is mediocre- in fact it
is anything but. A 1 bit, 32x Oversampling is no shame at all if you can actually listen and hear the details that this player reveals. People are always obsessed with higher bits which means absolutely nothing if it doesn't match your
system. This machine can compete even favourably with most 24 bit DACs provided you do the following: upgrade the powercord to Gutwire, Wireworld, XLO, Tara Labs; place on a good set of cones (Black Diamond Racing, BBC); use high quality interconnects with more balanced bottom end sound (MIT, VDH); use with less bright systems; reposition speakers. The Acurus player is built like a tank and can serve as top notch CD transport. I have played this machine
days on end and have received no problems with reading the
discs like some reviewers have experienced. There are no finicky problems or harsh sound at all. On my Rotel integrated amp and vintage 1970s Fairfax speakers the sound is thick, full and very detailed- no need to upgrade to a new DAC unless I change speakers. There is absolutely no lack of bass nor do drums sound hollow. Most reviewers should pay closer attention to room placement, speaker positioning, and room tune before identifying problems that
have simple solutions. The acoustic environment of the listening room has the GREATEST EFFECT on the sound. Even a
half millon dollar system will sound bad in an acoustically
challenged listening room.

The bottom line- If you can pick up this player at a good price- there is nothing to lose!

Similar Products Used:

Rega Planet, Rega Planet 2000, Marantz OSE 6000, Rotel 971

I love the build quality and very smooth and detailed sound. The 'night' feature is very cool also.

It's expensive.

If you are looking for a single disc CD player that will offer the most musicality for the money ($1000 or less) look no further, this is the unit for you! This unit is extremely musical with no harshness. I connected the Acurus to my Bryston 12B Pre-amp, Bryston 3B Amp, Magneplanar MG-IIIa speakers and the sound quality surpasses all units mentioned above. This is truly a great unit! The construction quality is top with simple yet professional looking faceplate. The included remote is also very good. I love the curved controls and have learned how the logic works, so can operate it in the dark! Until I have $2700 for the Linn I will continue to enjoy what I believe is the best CD player available under $1000.

Similar Products Used:

Too many to list! Naim 3.5, Rotel, Marantz, Teac, Arcam AC3, Rega Planet, Linn Mimik II, etc.