Just brought a Bluenote Koala CD Player

[Captain]

After a long search since November I have finally put my money into a new CD player, the Italian built Bluenote Koala. Costing £1500 I feel I have got a real bargain in regards to bang for bucks. It arrived on Thursday and have put on some hours burn in. I also have a Benchmark DAC-1 and the Koala is a considerable step up in sonic performance. I brought the tube out put version, this give's the player a TT sound which is really up their with the best. The sound stage is massive with incrediale detail and a 3D positioning of instruments and vocals, bass is very big and very well controlled. The treble is o so sweet with the whole presentation of the sound being very musical with great rhythm, fast, snappy and very spacious. It also seems very good with what every music you throw at it, and with a real lack of digital edge makes it a real joy to listen to. On top of the sound quality it is a really nice looking player with its blue Perspex front. Will wright more later giving a fuller review.

 

[kentamcolin]

Nice! I'd love to hear more. Nice tuner as well!

 

[Loftprojection]

Interesting and relatively unknown player, congrats. When you can and if you don't mind, post more info on this: "Benchmark DAC-1 and the Koala is a considerable step up in sonic performance". What's your setup for comparison?

Have fun listening!

 

[Captain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loftprojection Interesting and relatively unknown player, congrats. When you can and if you don't mind, post more info on this: "Benchmark DAC-1 and the Koala is a considerable step up in sonic performance". What's your setup for comparison? Have fun listening!

The Koala has a clarity and openness that the Benchmark just does not have in the mid and higher/lower frequencies, making the sound a lot more real and consequently a lot more musical. The sound stage is a lot bigger and deeper on the Koala, with separation of instruments and vocals being a lot better. It also has a lot more detail, but not in the analytical way of the Benchmark. Also the Benchmark comes no were near in regards to bass, the Koalas being bigger and a lot more controlled. As said the tubes in the Koala have really taken out the digital edge so it is very comparable to a TT. I am using a Consonance M100s tube amp with TJ 300B Mesh plates and Tung Sol 6SN7 Oval plates the speakers are DIY.

 

[Loftprojection]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain The Koala has a clarity and openness that the Benchmark just does not have in the mid and higher/lower frequencies, making the sound a lot more real and consequently a lot more musical. The sound stage is a lot bigger and deeper on the Koala, with separation of instruments and vocals being a lot better. It also has a lot more detail, but not in the analytical way of the Benchmark. Also the Benchmark comes no were near in regards to bass, the Koalas being bigger and a lot more controlled. As said the tubes in the Koala have really taken out the digital edge so it is very comparable to a TT. I am using a Consonance M100s tube amp with TJ 300B Mesh plates and Tung Sol 6SN7 Oval plates the speakers are DIY.

Hey thanks, totaly different piece of equipement but your description sounds exactly like what I feel about my integrated amp, its a Audio Aero Prima MKII and it's a hybrid solid state tube amp. I think the combination of tube with solid state in CDP and amps is really a winner combination. I'm happy for you, I'm sure you'll have lots of happy listening session with this nice unit.

Ho, and I just checked you DIY speakers, WOW, pretty impressive. I'm curently building myself the GR-Research AV3 but yours are really something...

 

[stryker]

Awesome. I wondered how that player sounded when I saw it on a website a few months ago. Seems you can't go wrong with a well-designed tube output. I believe it about the soundstage. That's one thing about tubes that solid state just can't touch. I also wondered what that "Zero-Clock" technology is all about. If it's that much better than the Benchmark, you've really got your hands on a great source.