Sylvester The Cat

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $670.00 from ebay

Summary:
The Consonance 2.2 Reference is the latest addition to my system and has replaced the Naim CD 5i I used for the last 4 years.

Compared to the English player, the Consonance gives a much more satisfying sonic picture, with greater detail, much better focus and imaging and a wonderful sense of 'reality' when listening to instruments like piano, cello or winds.

The sonic accuracy of this player is absolutely breathtaking, while the valve output is a better choice for poor recordings as it tends to be a bit forgiving, while the balanced output is kind of ruthless, you can hear every little detail - and a badly recorded CD stands out like a 'sore thump' !

The bass region is quite adequate and very well controlled but the best part of this player is the mid range, where the human voice lies mostly, listening to male or female singers is quite an experience, the sheer power of the voice comes through and it can be a good challenge for your amplifier and speakers!

Give this player good powerful amplification and competent speakers and, it will reward you with hours of glorious sound.

This is not a player for wimps or 'background music' type of presentation. You put a disc in it and from the very first notes, it demands your attention to the point the listener finds it very hard to switch off.

Simply magic!

As mentioned before, I was content with the Naim player for sometime, mostly because of the big sound it gave.

It was when I heard the Consonance player that I realised how much detail was missing with the Naim presentation that tended to make all CDs sound good by 'rounding' things up!

Finally, this is a very simple player in terms of facilities, there's no programming or fancy count down displays or even direct entry of track on the remote but, for the price, one cannot ask more.

I my view, if this player was made in Europe or the US it would cost 3 times the price and challenge players well over the US $ 4,500 mark!

And for your information the player is used with:

PS Audio PCA 2 preamplifier
PS Audio HCA 2 power amplifier
KEF Reference 3 / two speakers

Connected with :

XLR Audioquest Ruby balanced cable
RCA V d H Thunderline cable.

Strengths:
Realism, detail, powerful presentation, accuracy and great depth in the sound stage.

Unusual looks, a good break from the traditional black or silver rectangular box, this player has some 'curves' and a lovely timber top that makes it stand out from your usual components.

Extremely well made, at 16 kg. makes other players feel like toys.

Lovely and small but substantial remote, made from solid metal with a nice feeling to it.

Weaknesses:
No direct track entry from the front or the remote.

Not programmable ( other than repeat track or disc).

Sonically absolutely no weakness at all.

Similar Products Used:
Rotel RCD 970 BX
Marantz CD 80
Meridian 508
Pioneer DV 717 transport with various DACs
Naim CD 5i

rockadanny

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.78 of 5, 9.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from audiogon user

Summary:
When I got this home I was disappointed. I had it connected via the RCA outputs. I lost alot of imaging and clarity, and gained unwanted boomy bass. But wait! Once I connected via balanced output, it was heavenly. It turns out that listening to jazz, acoustic, and lighter rock benefit most when listend to via the balanced outputs. Rock music sounded great via the RCA outputs, with the gain on the player turned down just a little. This is fantastic! I have two players in one! RCA outputs use the tube in the output stage, which provides better base and bloom for rock-and-roll. While the balanced outputs don't, maintaining the crisp, clear sound desired for gentler (?) music. Awesome! Since my amp allows me to keep both sets of wires connected, I just select the proper input channel with my remote, and voila. Easily selectable (on the fly) based on the music style. Prior to this player I was definitely in the market for a subwoofer. But now, I can at least listen to most of my rock music without one. I have a feeling I still might need one for heavier rock/metal (Motorhead, B.R.M.C., Rev. Horton Heat, Twistin' Tarantulas, etc.) But maybe not? More evaluation is needed first.

Strengths:
Balanced (non-tube) and RCA (tube) output. Dreamy vocals, crisp jazz. I like the look of the wood slats.

Weaknesses:
None.

Similar Products Used:
Nothing that comes close.

Rick

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.25 of 5, 8.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1800.00 from Audiolon

Summary:
I used to think CD players were all about the same. But as my system got better and better one day I realized that my CD player was the weak link. I had never heard of Opera Audio - Consonance, until I ran into a blurb on the net referring to a Chinese made CD player that performed far above its price point - the Consonance 2.2, tube output, CD player. I have a degree in Music from Berklee (in Boston) - I played for years - now I just listen mostly - I am very concerned about the musicality of my stereo components! I use all tube equipment - this CD player fit in with my philosophy - so after reading all I could find on the net I sent my money to Lon of Audiolon and he sent me a very beautiful Consonance 2.2. The unit is truly well built weighing in at 40 lbs or so. Solid Cherry slats on top offset the thick aluminum faceplate for a pleasing look. There is a slight "Oriental" slant to the piece which sets it apart from other equipment - reminiscent of a Zen Temple perhaps. The unit has round knobs in front which don't turn - rather tilt up/down and sideways to accomplish various on/off, open/close or play, pause, stop, next, functions - different, but intuitive after a learning peroid of about a week. I had the unit for about a month and it was breaking in quite nicely - when Lon asked me if I wanted the upgrades. At that point it was sounding quite spectacular, but (always wanting more) I sent it to him where he upgrqaded the tube, and a few critcal components. If it was sounding great as a stock unit , then it was superb after the upgrades - that is the only way I can describe it. Total cost with upgrades and shipping came to about $1800. My CD player is my primary source for my listening. I figure the output can never be any better than the input, so you better get a good CD player. This player is not just good, it is amazingly good. Regular ol' CD's that I have had for many years all of a sudden sound better, reveal more music, and captivate my listening attention as never before. I am putting this source through a Jadis Orchestra Reference KT90 tube amp (great amp by the way) out to a pair of Spendor S8 speakers that are about the most evenhanded, accurate speakers any body ever came up with. This system reveals the CD better than any system I have ever heard - even high priced New York or San Francisco Salons have nothing to beat what I've got.. You could swear the artist is across the room from you. I can hear bass strings and wood - or fingerprints sliding across guitar strings, vocalists breathing, wonderful-wondeful female vocals can bring tears to your eyes - really. Smooth highs, rich midrange, imaging, and big soundstage are all there. Dianna Krall, Patricia Barber, Eva Cassidy, Mary Black will all knock your socks off. This player puts out detail without being analytical. Never harsh , no digital glare, only smooth music. Regular CD's sound as good if not better than SACD or HD that I have heard on systems costing 10 times my system cost. Everything about the unit from its solid build to the all metal remote exude quality - but mostly its musical sound is what separates this from other players on the market. They mention upsampling and 24 bit DAC and lots of tech stuff - none of which I really understand - what I do understand is Music - this player puts it out PERIOD.. GO BUY ONE you won't be disappointed

Strengths:
High Resolution Smooth Detail No digital Glare Lush midrange Deep solid bass (sounds real) Superb Build Quality

Weaknesses:
Round knobs should be toggle swithes - but no big deal

Similar Products Used:
Cambridge 500 Yamaha Marantz