$1000 Standard
$1500 Mod Level 1
$1900 Mod Level 2
$2100 Mod Level 3
Moon Audio is proud to
offer the Original CD-2008MK-II HDCD/CD Player in both stock form and 2
modified versions that where designed by Kevin Carter at K&K Audio.
Kevin is the US Lundahl Transformer distributor as well as a consultant
to such companies as Art Audio, where his Vinyl Reference Phono Pre has
achieved Stereophile Class A status. He also sells DIY Audio Kits and
Tube equipment related parts.
When Kevin and I first reviewed the Original CD-2008MK-II, we were
completely blown away by the price performance of this unit. True
balanced outputs for $900; that's very unusual! The player is built like
a tank. You’ll never find a chassis like this at the under $1000 price
level. The player uses a high quality Philips transport mechanism, has
an oversize shielded power supply, and features a state-of-the-art
professional audio DAC, the Texas Instruments / Burr-Brown PCM1792. The
sound quality of the stock unit would be at home in the $1500+ category.
Thus we decided this would be an excellent platform to show what can be
done to improve the sound quality by focusing on a simple, but high
quality analog output stage.
We developed two modified versions. The essence of the mod is the
substitution of Lundahl transformers for much of the active output stage
circuitry. Ever wonder why the old recordings from the 50s and 60s sound
so good? Well, one of the reasons for this is the presence of
transformers in the signal chain between the microphone and the
recorder. While it is popular "market-speak" to talk about the excessive
phase shift and limited bandwidth of transformers, the ears tell a
different story. Lundahl transformers are world famous in the pro audio
business for their quality. They are used in high-end microphones,
microphone preamps, and mixers. They convey the full harmonic structure
of music to the listener.
For more information on the mods see below.
Original Electronics was founded on September 1999 by two graduates of
top Chinese schools: Tsinghua University and Beijing University, who are
audiophiles and technical savvy. As chief designers, their philosophy is
to bring people the playback of music creation with their Original
expression. In March 1999, Original introduced its first Chinese
domestically designed and manufactured 24bits HDCD/CD player. Every CD
player from Original has its unique external art and internal circuit
design. Their CD players are among the best Chinese made high-end CD
players with respect to quality and price, which will compete with CD
players in a much higher price range.
Stereo Times
Stock Version Review
Stock Version
CD-2008MK-II HDCD/CD Player: $1000
Modified PHILIPS VAM12 laser pick up and CD7-II digital servo system for
accurate laser pick up and fast track access.
Burr-Brown’s PCM-1792(24Bit/192KHz) for D/A conversion.
Burr-Brown’s PCM-1732(24Bit/96KHz) for D/A conversion as HDCD decoder.
Two Burr-Brown’s OPA604 and four OPA2134.
Two kinds of linear digital filters, which can be selected by using
remote control, provide three different kind of sound effects.
Two sets of special designed heavy duty toriod power transformers with
sealed metal enclosures provide the power for digital and analog circuit
separately.
Separated power circuit for clock input makes the clock circuit more
stable and improves the linear distortion caused by the error of clock
source.
Six voltage regulator circuits for very stable and clean power through
out different circuit blocks.
Well designed D/A circuit for ultra low noise level.
Original unique GOS digital processing technology.
Heavy duty aluminum alloy case, adjustable feet and remote control.
One set of balanced XLR output, One set of single ended RCA output
One digital coax output, One optical S/PDIF output, One power socket
Output level: < 1.99V
Frequency response: 5Hz~20kHz
Distortion and noise: 0.002%(-60dB)
S/N ratio: 102dB
Dynamic range: 110dB 102dB(HDCD)
Digital output characteristics: S/PDIF standard
Power supplier: 220/120VAC±5%, 50/60Hz
Dimensions (W,H,D): 430 X 110 X 320(MM), 16.9X4.3X12.6(IN)
Weight: 10.5kg, 23.1lb
3
years parts and labor warrantee, except transport, which is 1 year
Modified Versions:
6Moons Level 2 Review
CD-2008MK-II HDCD/CD Player Level 1: $1500
CD-2008MK-II HDCD/CD Player Level 2: $1900
Modified Version Review: Coming soon!
The stock circuit uses (for non-HDCD encoded CDs) conventional
differential op-amp current-to-voltage converters after the PCM1792 DAC
and further anti-alias filtering after that followed by capacitive
coupling to the RCA output jacks. It further added op-amps to invert the
signal to create balanced output.
We have removed all of the op-amps and used very high quality Lundahl
transformers to do the current-to-voltage conversion and set output
level (2vRMS at 0dB digital full scale). The use of transformers also
provides both unbalanced (RCA) and balanced (XLR) outputs with no
additional circuitry. The signal path is much shorter and cleaner.
For the HDCD DAC output we upgraded the op amps in the filter circuit,
which had to remain due to the much poorer aliasing performance of this
DAC without filtering, and removed the output coupling caps and op amp
balancing converter and replaced it with very high quality Lundahl
transformers, again for a shorter, cleaner circuit path.
In the Level 1 version we use 2 Lundahl LL1591 (HDCD) & 2 Lundahl
LL1630 mu-metal core transformers in the circuit path. Price for this version
is either $550 as an upgrade to an existing unit or $1500 for a new
Unit.
In the Level 2 version we use 2 Lundahl LL1684 (HDCD) & 2 Lundahl LL1674
cobalt amorphous core transformers in the circuit path. Price for this
version is either $950 as an upgrade to an existing unit or $1900 for a
new Unit. In addition all power supply capacitors around the DACs are
replaced by the highest quality Black Gate caps available. 18 capacitors
are changed out.
How do they sound? CD sound has been reviled for years by analog
aficionados, due to the usually substandard nature of CD reproduction.
Well, now you can begin to hear the music captured on CDs closer to the
way it sounded when it was performed. Super clean, but not sterile; very
natural and relaxed; these are hte phrases that come to mind when
listening.
The difference between the mods? The cobalt amorphous core transformers
in the Level 2 mod simply add more detail and sparkle to the sound.
There is more air/depth, as well, giving a greater sense of the
performance space.
CD-2008MK-II HDCD/CD Player Level 3: $2100
This is the last inch you can squeeze out.
We add 4 Black Diamond Racing Cones. Your choice MK3 or MK4.
We Replace all RCA's with Cardas GRFA Rhodium/Silver Plated jacks
We replace IEC with ACME Silver Plated Cryod IEC and
