Pro AV CD99 TUBE CD PLAYER

It’s quite common to find comfort in something familiar. This is after all human nature as we are drawn into things which have been tried, tested and have a reputation or somewhat. The same logic applies even in the world of Hi-Fi where tried and tested brands with an equally established popularity are usually the safe bets when it comes to performance and quality expectations. There are however rare instances where a new unknown element comes in and delivers a totally unexpected result. This is might be the case with the Pro AV CD 63 and CD 99 compact disc players.

Unbox the CD 63 and CD 99 from their packing cartons and suddenly you’re greeted with amazing high quality packaging which is usually associated with high end products from the hi-fi world. The units themselves are seriously weighty thanks in part to their all metal chassis which provides some serious isolation to the unit and the electronics inside.

The player is solidly built with large screws dotting the upper and lower panels. On the top right corner, we find (identically on both players) a little tinted window which reveals the 2 tubes used in the player design. The differences between the two players in terms of appearance are notable with the display which is the usual rectangle shaped display on the CD 63, whereas the CD 99 has a unique round display. Another key physical difference is the CD loading mechanise in which the CD 63 is a tray mechanism while the CD 99 is a top loading design.

On the rear the CD 63 has the usual complement of connectors with an RCA output with both an optical output and coaxial output. The CD 99 however has a little more to offer with a pair of XLR outputs to complement the RCA, as well as a USB type B input should you want to use the CD 99 as a DAC. This makes the CD 99 a little more flexible when it comes to inputs allowing for your digital media to be graced with the same sound quality as your CD collection as they go through the signal processing of the unit. Both players come complete with a remote which is also made completely of metal and allows for all the basic command and control functions needed to operate the units. A change of batteries however may be challenging as the back plate is held in place with six screws as opposed to a tool less lid.

On the inside both players come equipped with CS 4398 Digital to analogue converter chip which is paired to OPA 2604 Operational amplifier to provide a clean audio signal. The digital signal is handled by the Phillips SAA7824 Servo circuit before it goes to the DAC components. The converted signal is then passed through high quality vacuum tubes and this is where the two players are different. The CD 63 utilises 6N3 model tubes while the CD 99 uses the more premium 12 AX7 tubes. There are other electronic improvements also put in place for the CD 99 which justifies its more premium price and performance.

Overall the CD 63 and CD 99 compact disc players are a great first effort by a brand that usually prides itself in making YOU sound good. These are both respectably well-built and designed players that show a genuine focus on producing a high-quality audio output and definitely deserves a second look. The CD 63 and CD 99 retail for RM 2299 and RM 4299 respectively.

FEATURES 
Full commutation analog all vacuum tube stage. 
SONY 213Q laser pick-up, 4 kg metal mechanism with better stability. 
Philips SAA7842 servo chipset. 
Use CS4398 DAC. (CS4398 support 24 bits, sampling frequency conversion can be as high as 192 KHZ). 
Remote selectable up-sampling mode 44.1kHz, 88.2kHz or 176.4kHz. 
Burr Brown OPA2604 for filter circuit. 
Two pieces of Tung-Sol 12AX7 for analogue amplification; One 6Z4 tube as rectifier, One WY2 as voltage stabilizer. 
MIT capacitance coupling for bravery. 
Use WIMA class for the power input capacitance filter circuits LC, power supply, make music background more clearly. 
8 sets of isolated stabilized power-supplies for avoiding interferences. 
20s power on standby time delay for optimal protection. 
Excellent shielding,Detachable IEC power cord system,Fuse, replaceable at rear panel. 
Aluminum alloy front panel,Aluminum alloy Enclosure in 1.5 mm thickness for better stability, Adjustable feet in Aluminum alloy. 
Remote control unit. 
Center tray design best design with good balance of weighting 
Come with a USB port can be a DAC 


Pro Av CD99 Top Loading Tube HDCD CD Player 
SPECIFICATION 
System :SONY 213Q Laser Pick Up, PHILIPS SAA78241 Servo System 
Hi-End Power Supply,Heavy Duty Transformer 
Special designed: Burr - Brown Super 24Bit 192KHz D/A 
(Optimized For : 44.1kHz , 88.2kHz and 176.4.kHz ) 
Compatible Disc : CD, CD-R, CD-RW, HDCD 
Tube Output : CLASS A tubes 12AX7x2 , 6Z4x1, WY2x1 
Audio Output : XLR (Balance) , RCA Stereo Out & Digital Coaxial 
Digital Output : Toslink & Digital Coaxial 
SNR : > 110 dB (A weighted ) 
Freq Response : 20Hz~20KHz (+-5dB) 
Dynamic : > 110 dB (A weighted ) 
THD : < 0.05% 
Power consumption : 60W 
Dimensions: Length 430mm x Height 95mm x Depth 330mm 
Colour: Black 
Weight: 17 kg 
Gross weight: 19 kg 
Voltage: 110V - 240V AVAILABLE 
PACKAGE INCLUDED, CD Player, Remote Control, Standard 1.8m Power Cord, Original Box, English Instruction