Opera Consonance CD-120 Linear CD player - a review

[mhconley]

Associated equipment: Parasound Halo P 3 preamplifier; Parasound Halo A 21 amplifier; Thorens TD-320 Mk II turntable; Shure VST-III cartridge; Paradigm Reference Studio 100 v.4; BetterCables.com Silver Serpent II 1m RCA (CD player), 1m XLR (preamp-amp) and 3m Premium III speaker cables.

Replaced: Sony Playstation SCPH-1001 (PS1).

After building my stereo system about 12 months ago around my trusty, 17 year old Thorens turntable I decided I wanted to add CD playback capabilities. During the research period I decided to spend $10 and see what was all the fuss about the original RCA output equipped PS1. I listened to a number of CD’s on the PS1 and was never taken by its sound. It seemed flat sounding with very little bass extension. It also seemed very digital. There was just something about the sound that became grating over time, listening to CD’s, even those of some of my favorite albums was just plain fatiguing.

Enter the Opera Consonance CD-120 Linear CD player. I purchased this CD player about 7 months ago after reading a number of glowing reviews. After receiving it I was immediately taken aback by its heft and apparent build quality. I opened the box to find a pair of white cotton gloves, supplied so that one will not deposit fingerprints on the beautiful brushed aluminum case. This is one well built CD player with a very heavy and solid, thick gauge aluminum case. The remote is oddly shaped but easy to use and hold and is itself cut out of a single block of solid aluminum, absolutely gorgeous. I hooked up the CD player using the direct inputs to my preamp with a pair of 1m BetterCables.com Silver Serpent III RCA interconnects – nice hefty cables with Eichmann bullet plugs. I turned on the CD player, amp and preamp and walked away. Opera recommends warming up the CD player for 10 minutes before listening.

I was very much looking forward to listening to this CD player. For those who don’t know the DAC in this player is a non-oversampling, filterless variety and the circuit paths are kept as short as possible. The designer claims this makes the CD player more analog sounding than your run of the mill oversampling players employing digital filters. The analog sound was something I was desperately seeking in a CD player.

The first CD I played was Afterglow by Sarah McLachlan. Within seconds I was awestruck by the sound emanating from my Paradigms. I could not believe the depth and tightness of the bass. I knew these speakers could produce prodigious amounts of bass into even the lowest octaves but this CD player pushed the floor lower than I had ever heard before. The midrange was sweet and musical, supremely matched to Sarah’s voice. The highs were crisp, believable and not in the least bit harsh or tiring. I was amazed a CD could sound so good.

I played CD after CD of my favorite music – The Indigo Girls self titled album sounded better than I had ever heard it sound on CD – almost equal to vinyl. Amy and Emily’s harmonies on this recording are luscious, layered, deep and very moving. The CD-120 Linear reproduced their sound faithfully and cleanly, the raspy tinge in their voices palpable in the louder passages and the nuances in the soft were spot on. There was just that last little bit missing, the indescribable ethereal quality that separates analog from digital.

This CD player allows you to choose between 44.1 and 88.2 kHz sampling frequencies. At 44.1 CD’s have impact, speed, immediacy and tremendous range; the 88.2 setting smoothes out the sound but takes away a touch of the impact and immediacy. I find I prefer the 44.1 kHz on most recordings.

After some time with the CD player I found myself buying remasters of some of my favorite albums, Boston’s self titled and Don’t Look Back, Supertramp’s Crime of the Century, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. I now find myself listening to CD’s about 50% of the time – when I am lazy and just want to hear music I’ll toss on a CD, when I have time to savor the music and ritual of playing vinyl I’ll choose LP’s. The CD-120 Linear is good enough that I have the luxury of that choice.

One last note – I find 3 Doors Down to be one of the most refreshing new rock bands to come along in quite some time. Their CD’s are expertly mixed and sound absolutely fantastic. Give them a listen if it’s your kind of music.

With the Opera Consonance CD-120 Linear I find I can crank up the volume and lose myself for hours, something I have never been able to say about any other CD player.

Martin

[matel]

Thanks for the review. This one has been on the radar for a while.
Does this player have a particular sound to it? Some players have more distinctness than others.
Also would you say this has a more physical and direct sound or a more airy refined sound?
Or does it get completly out of the way?
Been stubbing my toe on playback for too long.

[mhconley]

Originally Posted by matel

Thanks for the review. This one has been on the radar for a while. Does this player have a particular sound to it? Some players have more distinctness than others. Also would you say this has a more physical and direct sound or a more airy refined sound? Or does it get completly out of the way? Been stubbing my toe on playback for too long.

I would say on the 44.1 setting this player has a distinctly physical and direct sound - it tends to be very punchy but it does handle delicate passages very well, too. The 88.2 setting does make it more airy, I would say refined or maybe a little mellower. I don't feel it has a distinct sound and it does disappear allowing you to become more involved in the music. I've seen PRaT referred to in some reviews and I definitely think this player has it in spades.

Martin