[bizkid]

http://www.operaudio.com.cn/new/deta...model=CD120-10

Looks have improved over the old CD120, which got favourable reviews as it seems.

This new player features a tube output section, but its unclear if it also features the jfet based output section of the old CD120.
The old CD120 was/is TDA1543 NOS based. I couldnt find anything about the new one.


Does anyone have more information about this player?

 

[13D3Mullard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizkid /img/forum/go_quote.gif http://www.operaudio.com.cn/new/deta...model=CD120-10 Looks have improved over the old CD120, which got favourable reviews as it seems. This new player features a tube output section, but its unclear if it also features the jfet based output section of the old CD120. The old CD120 was/is TDA1543 NOS based. I couldnt find anything about the new one. Does anyone have more information about this player?

I am trying to find this out. However, I believe there are two structures :

The 120-Linear and the Consonance Ref 2,2 seem to have have Non-Oversampling, with No digital filter, without any op-amp and with passive I/V conversion and a 16-bit TDA1543 DAC with JFETs for an op-amp-less analog reconstruction filter with a 2.35V output.

However, the CD 120 has
DAC resolution : 24bit 192KHz multilevel sigma-delta with synchronous upsampling

So this is an Upsampling machine and not NOS. However, I don't know whether it is filterless or with JFets, but I have the impression that it is a more conventional machine.


I have no proof, but I suspect that 120-10 is more like the basic 120. It is probably Upsampling. This to me is a real pity. I think the NOS 16 bit DAC made the ref 2,2.

If I find out any more information, I will keep you posted. I was hoping this would be a cheap ref 2,2. I now have my doubts.
Regards
Anthony

 

[13D3Mullard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizkid /img/forum/go_quote.gif http://www.operaudio.com.cn/new/deta...model=CD120-10 Looks have improved over the old CD120, which got favourable reviews as it seems. This new player features a tube output section, but its unclear if it also features the jfet based output section of the old CD120. The old CD120 was/is TDA1543 NOS based. I couldnt find anything about the new one. Does anyone have more information about this player?

Looking on the Consonance Opera site, I see that even for the ref 2,2 there are two types of machine. The one called Linear is TDA1543 NOS based with JFets. The one that is called 2,2, or 2,2 MkII is Upsampling DAC with 24bit 192KHz resolution & multilevel sigma-delta with synchronous upsampling

The 120 Linear is the same as the ref 2,2, Linear; the 120 is like the Ref 2,2.

My guess is that, as the 120-10 does not have the mention Linear, it must be like the Ref 2,2 Mk II. Upsampling etc

I fear that the NOS 16 bit is the most musical, so I would either go for the Ref 2,2 Linear or the 120 linear. However, I may be wrong.

Has anyone compared any of these machines?

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

I've heard the old 120. It had the same traits as my old NOS DAC, i.e. very natural sounding, unforced.

I've also heard their Droplet, which seems to have similar oversampling and also contains a valve output stage. Comparing that to a NOS, the Droplet has all the naturalness of the NOS, but also adds in additional detail and "air", which is the only drawback that I found to NOS based units.

Personally I really rated the Droplet and was very close to buying one. One of the loveliest sounds I've ever heard from CD.

Again, it's the old adage, GO LISTEN!

 

[13D3Mullard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Sukebe /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've heard the old 120. It had the same traits as my old NOS DAC, i.e. very natural sounding, unforced. I've also heard their Droplet, which seems to have similar oversampling and also contains a valve output stage. Comparing that to a NOS, the Droplet has all the naturalness of the NOS, but also adds in additional detail and "air", which is the only drawback that I found to NOS based units. Personally I really rated the Droplet and was very close to buying one. One of the loveliest sounds I've ever heard from CD. Again, it's the old adage, GO LISTEN!

I wrote to Opera Consonance. They confirm they have two types of machine both for the ref 2,2 and for the 120. The ones which are called Linear are 16bit TDA1543 with No digital filter, and J-FET/ Transisters making the analog filter without any op-amp.
http://www.stereotimes.com/CD010707.shtml
http://www.opera-consonance.com/prod...cd22linear.htm
(TNT claims these are not true NOS, they would be 16 x 2)

The others are just called Ref 2,2 or 2,2 MkII and CD 120 (without the mention Linear) have a DAC with 24bit 192KHz resolution,, and multilevel sigma-delta with synchronous upsampling.
http://www.opera-consonance.com/products/refcd22.htm
review http://www.sixmoons.com/audioreviews...ference22.html

They have not yet told me whether the 120-10 is NOS or not.

There is a very clear description of the sound of the Consonance 120 Linear at http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/opera_cd120_e.html

Unfortunately, many hifi shops declare that they are selling the Ref 2,2 Linear when in fact they are selling the ref 2,2 or the Ref 2,2 Mk II.
(two internationally reputed companies have just done that. i think they are unaware that there are two versions of these machines)

The Droplet 5 seems to be upsampling (I don't think there is a NOS version of this) DAC resolution: 24bit 192KHz multilevel sigma-delta with synchronous upsampling, but it also has two 6h30 output valves where the Ref 2,2 has only one.

It is therefore difficult to say whether the improvement you heard over the 120 Linear NOS was due to the upsampling, or the presence of valves, or the better antiresonant structure of the Droplet.

I think this is the only company that makes both type of machine.

Interestingly, 6Moons compares the Ref 2,2 Linear NOS and the Droplet.
The particular critic Srayan Ebaen, actually preferrerd the ref 2,2 Linear NOS, considering it was more SET like.
http://www.sixmoons.com/audioreviews...ference_2.html

What a pity there is no test of the two Ref 2,2 players.

I agree that it is best to hear a player AND in one's own listening context, but, as we can't listen to every player, such tests, and comments on web pages, help to cut down the number of players that we need to listen to.