This is for the dynaco cdv-2. Bottom line, it does everything right! Jazz, rock, classical, you name it, it shines. Voices are smooth as butter! If you want to control the volume through the remote use a Marantz CD 67se or 65se or find a code for the Marantz.. Works perfect! Set the volume on the dynaco about halfway and then you have a reference point to use the remote with. Nothing else to say, spanks all the over-priced cd players just like the link below says. Makes the Levinson's sweat! If you want to enjoy the music instead of analyzing and thinking of ways to change it, this unit is for you. Mullard tubes makes this beauty sing! If you get the chance, grab one. Enjoy the music.

This is for the Dynaco CDV-2. I would like to thank everyone on this review site because that was the deciding factor! I have never heard of the player until 2 weeks ago when I saw an ad on craigslist and did some research. I had a Meridian 508.24 that has served me well for about 8 plus years and nothing has come close until this baby. I got it home and hooked it up and it just started churning out the music. My whole system is renewed. Sound that goes well beyond the speakers and there is detail that I never heard in my cds! I became involved in the music, fingers snapping and toes tapping. I plan on rolling some tubes to get a maximum sound out of the unit. I have my preamp for sale because it didn't come close to the player's ability to work with the volume control. This is just a great piece of equipment! It cost me $395. I sold my Meridian for $1150 and have my preamp for sale for $700 so this is a win-win situation! Better sound, more money! This usually does not happen in the on going audio quest. My system is pretty humble but sound-wise it produces and audio erection!
Adcom 555II
DyancoCDV-2
Kef 104/2

Smooth, relaxed and comfortable sound.

Slightly dark coloration and a somewhat veiled soundstage.

I've been using the Dynaco CDV-1 CD player with Audio Innovation and Cary amplifiers for approx. 7 years. Recently I decided to upgrade my CD player and tried Naim CDX, Audio Note ANCD3.1x and Cal Audio Labs CL-15 (both balanced and unbalanced versions). The auditioning experience was unbelievable: the CDV-1 clearly defeated the expensive Naim player which sounded harsh though more detailed and analytical (perhaps, NAIM requires other types of associated equipment). The CDV-1, like CAL CL-15 (unbalanced), proved an ideal player for long listening sessions: it is smooth, relaxed and easy on the ear.

Similar Products Used:

Audio Note AN CD3.1-x, CAL CL-15 (balanced and unbalanced)

Well built with good heavy circuts lots of heat venting beautiful Black Anadoised front plate works very well with the JAN phillips 6922 Tubes it has in it. This unit is made to last a lifetime. Very musical great sound field tight bass puts my Cal Audio Labs Aris 111 to shame!

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The first time I used the dynaco-CDV-1 tube cd player I could not leave I got so into the music I have had many cd players including a cal Audio Labs Aris 111 and they can''t compare to this one.The sound is unbelieveable and so life like I ended up staying up very late listening to it. It is very well made and very pleaseing to look at the bass is very tight and clean and the other ranges are very very musical this unit is a great bargan for the price I just can''t say enough about it it makes my B&K ex-442-sonota sing the sound field is about as good as I have ever heard from cd''s I have tried many other Cd players and paid much more only to be unhappy this one gets five stars from me. I Thank Mark Voigt for letting me know about this Unit and will soon be getting a Dynaco-pas-4 tube Preamp to help the B&K amp out a little more from Mark check him out at soundbug1@cox.net as he has some units left yet but once they are gone there will be no more.

Similar Products Used:

Cal audio Lab''s Aris Mark 111 and Marantz Cd-94, Cd players Ps audio Dac system used to test Audio Research SP-7 pre amp, B&K EX-442-amp REbuilt AR-90 speakers VPI-HW-19-jr Turntable

Well built with good heavy circuts lots of heat venting beautiful Black Anadoised front plate works very well with the JAN phillips 6922 Tubes it has in it. This unit is made to last a lifetime. Very musical great sound field tight bass puts my Cal Audio Labs Aris 111 to shame!

None

The first time I used the dynaco-CDV-1 tube cd player I could not leave I got so into the music I have had many cd players including a cal Audio Labs Aris 111 and they can''t compare to this one.The sound is unbelieveable and so life like I ended up staying up very late listening to it. It is very well made and very pleaseing to look at the bass is very tight and clean and the other ranges are very very musical this unit is a great bargan for the price I just can''t say enough about it it makes my B&K ex-442-sonota sing the sound field is about as good as I have ever heard from cd''s I have tried many other Cd players and paid much more only to be unhappy this one gets five stars from me. I Thank Mark Voigt for letting me know about this Unit and will soon be getting a Dynaco-pas-4 tube Preamp to help the B&K amp out a little more from Mark check him out at soundbug1@cox.net as he has some units left yet but once they are gone there will be no more.

Similar Products Used:

Cal audio Lab''s Aris Mark 111 and Marantz Cd-94, Cd players Ps audio Dac system used to test Audio Research SP-7 pre amp, B&K EX-442-amp REbuilt AR-90 speakers VPI-HW-19-jr Turntable

Very smooth, clean sound! Way cool looking!

Poorly laid-out remote control.

First, I should point out that Mr. Sassoon (below) works for Panor; when you call the number he lists, you'll get him! So maybe his review isn't entirely objective. That said, the CDV-PRO really is an excellent CD player, especially for $479! (The regular CDV-2, which Panor is selling off for $379 thru eBay listings, is supposed to be good too, but it lacks HDCD capability, and Mr. Sassoon at Panor told me the PRO uses better components.) I got the PRO the first week of 2001, at which time I unplugged my Rotel RCD950, and hooked up the Dynaco. Noticeably better! Very smooth, solid bass, just a great sound all around. Consider upgrading the tubes for an even richer sound. My only complaint: sucky remote. Lotsa little black buttons on a black background! "Play" button buried in the middle of the field. Not convenient! Why don't the people who design remotes put the Play, Pause and Stop buttons all together at the top or bottom of the control, and color-code them like a traffic light (green, yellow red)? But if you ever get a chance to pick up a Dynaco CDV-PRO player for under $500, grab it. I don't think there's a better sounding player at any price, until you get into SACD, which is hideously expensive at this time!

Similar Products Used:

Rotel RCD950

warm analogue sound, neutral, excellent price

sound a bit dark,

Panor Corp / Dynaco is doing a close out sale of their CDV-2 vacuum tube cd player for $349. The price was so good that I ordered one as a backup to my California Audio labs Tempest II which has six tubes and is ten years old.
The Dynaco CDV-2 is the model below the CDV-Pro which has HDCD. That model is now discountinued. Apparently Dynaco is getting out of the tube CD player line as the tubes are expensive and the demand was less than expected.
I find that tube CD players seem more analogue in sound than transistor models. My transitor model is a Sony CDP-777es.
About the Dynaco, it has two tubes for the analogue output, these being military grade 6922 tubes in ceramic sockets.
The transport part is a Phillips CDM12.1 which is smoother and more solid than the Phillips transport in my old California labs Tempest II. There is both fixed and variable outputs for the headphone and output for the amp or preamp. The headphone output is strong enough to drive my Senneheiser 580 .
OK what about the sound? The sound is very similar to the california labs tempest which I had rated as a five star. The differences are as follows:
Bass: tremendous and tight bass better than than the tempest.
Mid-range: very good but not as good as the tempest. The top end of the mid range can sound slightly pinched. However, the player is brand new and this may change as the tubes age a bit.
Top end: slightly darker than the tempest but not by much.
Soundstage: very good 3D soundstage . More neutral than the tempest. The tempest has a slightly recessed mid-range which adds additional artificial depth to the soundstage. The Dynaco is more neutral and natural. The tempest has a bit of a cinimascope soundstage which is impressive but artificial. The dynaco is more liked to be more honest.
Overall the Dynaco is a very musical CD player that you can listen to hour after hour. It may give up some fine detail in the process but sound a lot closer to a good turntable.
I was surprised at the construction quality. It has sturdy RCA jacks, they look like tiffanys. It also has digital output.
For $349. this has to be the cheapest tube cd player in the market. Highly recommended.

Similar Products Used:

California audio labs Tempest II

build,volume control

6dj8 tubes (stock)

This review is on a dynaco cdv2,it is a well built unit with digital output and volume control.probably the weakest point is the stock 6dj8 tubes, it was purchased direct from panor corporation makers of dynaco products.overall the unit performed decent sound ,excellent mids and highs average bass.it is well worth the selling price and is a much better buy than a ah toeb or similar priced tube CD players.whilre it would still rank behind the rega planet or the micromega stage 3 I would rank it above the micromega stage 6.i feel the unit would make a excellent buy for someone in the under $500 range and a good buy in the $1000 range.
Overall a very good CD player for the price.

Similar Products Used:

rega planet,micromega stage 6,and micromega stage 3

Smooth and clear sound, nice bass and mid range, good trable...overall sound was great. You doesn't need preamp,Price

Low quality remote.

This is the best tube cd player in the price range that i can afford .However, I doesn't sure that what is my model because in front of my cd player is CDV-1pro but at the back and on the remote it said CDV-1...If anyone know what is my model, please e-mail to me at thanavit@yahoo.com.
In my country 's hifi show, I notice that my cd player is better than micromega duo except details but not much.
By the way , I have compared it with various model of famous tube dac from cailifornia audio lab. These will use delta as a transport. dynaco blow away sigma2. I can't notice the different between alpha and dynaco. But, the sc-20 is better only in the treble.
Highly reccommend !!!!

Similar Products Used:

Cal sc-20 ,Cal Alpha ,cal sigma 2(all with delta transport)
Note i didn't own these model

Excellent Sound, The best Tubed CD player out there for the price

The CDV-2 is a great unit and Dynaco(Panor Corporation) only has a few models left.
They are knocking them off at $349.00 a pop along with other big Dynaco Products.
look for them on Ebay.
or call them at 631-434-1200 extension 16 (for Dynaco Sales)