Soundstage and imaging

Can occasionally hear the CD spinning

Let me first say, any review of electronic equipment should be taken with a certain amount of skepticism. Components that sound outstanding in my system may not in yours. Having said that, I'm including a list of associated equipment at the end of this review. Reviews are helpful in narrowing a large list of choices.

I probably should have waited to write this review since I've only had the unit two weeks. But the improvement over my previous digital front-end is too marvelous to remain silent. The Roksan Caspian replaced an MSB Link DAC/McCormack CD Drive transport combination. While the MSB is one the best values in DACs it was no competition for the Roksan in my system. Having listened to the MSB for over a year I must disagree with the reviewer who felt the Roksan sounded like the MSB with a cheap Harmon changer. One thing that always bothered me was its lack of depth. The Roksan worked wonders in this area. But, not alone. I upgraded the power cord to a Marigo Audio Labs Resolution. It still isn't the ultimate in depth; but then I doubt I could afford it even if it existed. Instruments (especially strings and piano) sound more natural than with the MSB. Occasionally the extreme highs e.g. the triangle, sound, not bright, but a little forward. Classical music is my primary focus but I also listen to pop, rock, some jazz, world music, and new age. It is difficult to build a system capable of playing all of these genres with equal aplomb at any price let alone one that is affordable. I believe the Roksan a good component in this regard. Over the past two weeks it has played everything I threw at it with control and musicality. At no time did I feel that I made a wrong choice. In fact, I kept listening to the music rather than the sound. Entire CDs would finish when I had intended to critically listen to only one track.

Any criticisms? Well, yes. I am annoyed with the cheap looking display. You would think that a $1700 CD Player would have a better looking display. Every once in a while I can hear the CD spinning. I also wish it had HDCD decoding. Am I nitpicking? Probably.

Associate Equipment:

Roksan Caspian CD Player
Sony S300 DVD Player
Technics SHAC300 Dolby Digital Processor
Rotel RSP980 A/V Preamp
B&K Components AV6000II Power Amp
Paradigm Reference Studio 60 Loudspeakers
Hsu Research VTF-2 Active Subwoofer
Signet SLC50 Center Channel
Atlantic Research Surrounds
Custom bi-wire speaker cable
Kimber 4PR speaker cable
Stealth Silver interconnects
Custom interconnects
AudioQuest Topaz interconnects
Stealth HAC power cord
AudioQuest power cord
Marigo Audio Labs Resolution power cord
Sonic Horizon Hurricane Power Strip
Michael Green Designs Five-Shelf Justarack
various homebrew tweaks

It is always difficult to give numeric ratings. I give it a four value rating because competition is fierce in the $1200 - $2000 price range e.g. Musical Fidelity X-Ray. Overall rating, again I give it a four. With the Marigo Audio Labs Resolution and a Sonic Horizons Hurricane power strip helping out its overall rating, in my system, is a five.

Similar Products Used:

Sony DVD Player, MSB Link/McCormack Transport Combo, Sony multi-disc

Heavy, retro styling, looks well built

Harsh sound, tracking problems

Harsh sound. Very unmusical. There are certainly far better players out there that will better the Roksan Caspian. Quality contol is suspect as 2 units were found faulty. Buyers beware. The 2 years warranty as stated in the brochure doesn't apply to all markets. Roksan itself will honour it but the hassle and cost of shipping something this heavy is costly.

Similar Products Used:

Copland 289, Rotel 855

Natural (ie. not digital) sound, clarity and vibrance suited to classical, acoustics styles just as well as rock. Superb with modern music styles, forgiving on bad redoring. Build quality.Looks.

No HDCD, 24bit resolution, lack of certain useful features (e.g. random play) but bear in mind this is being fairly picky

This is an 'entry level into the hi-end' CD player from a repsected British maker of hi-end vinyl turntables. As expected, great care and attention has been paid to build quality and solidity, this is a quality product weighing in at roughly 25pounds!

This is due to the separate porwer supplies to the dac and drive mechanism and the 5 separate ciruit boards to minimise interference from each other.

The sound is more akin to a top flight turntable than to digital with Roksans special green dye in the laser claimed to smooth glare and harshness from the sound. I acn see what Roksan mean after hearing other respected players from Meridian and Cyrus amongst others.

Roksan continually update the inner working of the Caspian CD player although to date no 24bit or HDCD/SACD/DVD-A compatibility is availible, THIS PLAYER JUST GETS ON WITH THE JOB OF PLAYING GREAT SOUNDING FATIGUE FREE MUSIC, RELIABLY, DAY IN/DAY OUT.

Not a flash 'lookatme' kinda player, more of a quiet wolf in stylish rather than fashionable clothes - the Caspian is a great investment and will provide years of hassle free, musical enjoyment - DEFINITLEY PUT IT DOWN ON YOUR LIST TO AUDITION IF YOU ARE IN THE MARKET FOR A HIGH QUALITY DIGITAL FRONT END FOR YOUR SYSTEM - Considering its price (i think $1400 in the U.S.?) it mixes well in the illustrious company of my Shainians ($2000) and Musical Fidelity Nuvista ($4500) amp - THAT ITSELF IS A TESTAMENT TO THIS PLAYERS QUALITY.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz, Sony,CD players,Kenwood & Sony Minidisk Player/Recorders

I have just gone through the process of upgrading my CD front end. This turned out to be a very long process. I first took home a Naim CD3, the sound was very upfront and harsh. You could not listen to this player for too longer period. Next, i took home a Primare D20 CD player, the complete opposite to the NAIM CD3. This player was very uninspiring to say the least. After thinking all CD players were lousy up stepped the Roksan Capsian. What can i say, this is the best CD player i have ever heard. The control, detail and general soundstage of this player is exceptional. I can hardly believe the difference. This has to be a veritable bargain at £895.

Lovely open sound with bags of detail and air.

Drawer mechanism could be better.

The Caspian has a lovely open sound and no harshness whatsoever. I previously owned the Marantz CD17 Mk2 which was much more upfront and brash. The Caspian is an altogether warmer, cleaner sound. Build quality is excellent, apart from the drawer which seems a bit fragile. Recommended for those who like lots of vocal prescence.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz CD17 MK2.

Forward, open, transparent

A bit harsh

Sounds similar to the MSB Link DAC + cheap Harman changer. Good sound but overpriced. Used with the Caspian integrated and Acustik-Lab Melody Triple.

Similar Products Used:

many

Clear and transparent sound

Remote controll looks ugly ;-) (compared to the Roksan Kandy modell one)

Yes, I did it. I upgraded my Roksan Kandy CD to a Roksan Caspian. I was happy with the Kandy, but now I´m very happy with the Caspian. The sound is much more clear and transparent. It is brilliant. Also the manufacturing seems to be very good, a strong cover and a good mechanic. I use it with Spendor 2/3 speakers and an Oktave VA 50 tubeamp. Speakercables are from Tara. The upgrade was the money really worth. I tried a lot of other CD´s but no one compared with the Caspian (in my configuration) at the moment. I you like a really true sound, its the player of your choice.

PS: I agree with some here said that the display could be better. But it is only the display...

Cd players have come a long way since they were first introduced. You can now get detail and performance from Cd players in this price range whereas only a few yars ago you had to pay 5-10 times as much. This CD player is a great example of what technology can do over time. This player replaced a Esoteric player which only a few years ago was the king of players and only a select few could own. Now a number of us with a little less to spend can enjoy the best that a CD has to offer. Just in time for the format to change to 24/96.
Oh well, we can enjoy this Cd player. I descibe the soundstaging as layered. this is the best way to describe the layers of details and soundstaging. This soundstage is very deep and wide. The detail, yes the detail is quite unbelievable. You are there. It can handle very intense and agressive passages with ease. This CD doesn't break up when the going gets tough. It just plays what is there. Voices are sweet and timbres are excellent.
If you are looking to upgrade your front end- have a listen. This is an excellent product. Built like the proverbial and plays like it. After going through 6 other trnasports/ dacs, believe me you will be impressed! Own it and enjoy.

Styling,Build,Performance

Maybe a fraction too bright at times

I am lucky enough to own a Roksan Caspian CD player. After having an old Marantz CD63 for the past four years I felt it was time to upgrade my source component. The result was the Caspian. Having auditioned many players in the £400-£500 (British) pound range including the excellent Rotel RCD-971 I had the chance to get the Caspian for only £450 from an auction site (normally retails at £895). (NOTE: This was NOT second hand but brand new straight from the manufacturer!). I was able to audition a player at a local dealership and the sound quality was superb. The detail it grasped from each CD was impressive. The Caspian gave music a 'live' quality so often missing on CD's. It has a sound not unlike the Naim players but it is less 'in your face' and as such should appeal to a wider audience. The only critisism so far is that, on occasion if partnered with bright speakers and amps, it can sound a little too bright.

However, it was the Caspians ability to play every type of music to such a high level that earns it its five star rating here. Despite its fairly high price tag I would recomend the player at full price but only give it four stars for value but, at the price I paid I feel like I've won the lottery!

Just to rub it in I also got a Caspian amplifier at half price to replace my old Rotel pre/power but thats another story..suffice to say I've not stopped smiling.

Similar Products Used:

Naim CD3 Marantz CD17

Good bass and excellent intrument sound reproduction.

Very long to scan disk and a frying noise always present

This is a demo model that the audio shop has lend me. I was expecting a lot more from this CD player. I have found that the frying noise when silence in the music was very annoying. I have a Rotel line conditionner therefore with or without it did not change anything. I suspect a poor power supply or poor noise filtering. One time out of two I had to re-open the door because the disk would not start, it would spin forever.

This player has very good bass and produces a very tight bass/mid and very pleasing to the ear. The highs are excellent...the best yet comparing to the Rotel 971 I tried.
My next player to try will be the Myryad and possibly the Meridian. If the Rotel 991 had been available, I would have prefered it.

My old CD is a Pioneer PD-7100 dated 1986 and I was really expecting a BIG difference with the Rocksan.

My system:
Passion Amp 30 WPC - tubes
Reference 3A speakers
Rotel RLC-900 Line Conditionner
Pioneer PD-7100 CD player
Kimber Cable 4TC

Comments welcome on suggestion on other possibilities.

Thanks

Similar Products Used:

Rotel 991, Meridian, Myryad, Arcam