Digital Drive: REVIEW: Audio Research, Inc. CD3MKII CD Player/Recorder by MK Lai

Model:	CD3MKII
Category:	CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price:	$5500
Description:	CD Player
Manufacturer URL:	Audio Research, Inc.
Manufacturer URL:	Audio Research, Inc.

Review by MK Lai ( R ) on June 13, 2004 at 06:11:18
IP Address: 219.92.114.152

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for the CD3MKII

This product, Audio Research CD3 MKII supercede CD3. When receive it, you will be surprise as the packing box is so huge. It look alike as the CD3.

It is a very simple single box CD player complete with one "cheap" remote control which is made in Korea. Real panel is also simple, digital output are via BNC and XLR. Analogue, XLR and single ended.

Audio Research CD player doesn't care about all this, no elegant look but....they care about sound!

The sound, the most important part of the review, it needs to break in for months, estimate time is 300 hours. Besides,it needs time to warm up before it achieve tip top condition; when the internal turn warm or even hot! I never experience CD player can produce so much heat!

I strongly feel the music is come out from a compact disc player and never have the chance listen to such analogue machine. I don't feel like listen to digital gear, the midband is so warm and vivid.

When come to dynamic or rhythm test, it can cause you shaking yours leg easily, the level of dynamic or even the microdynamic, I can hear them clearly, most of the other CD player will have chalky microdynamic.

After run in the machine, I need to re-listen to all my CD that doesn't sound good previously. This is the first time that I can listen to digital gear for more than 5 hours!

I love this machine and strongly feel that if there is no existance of ARC Reference CD player, this will be the finest front end in my reference system. I'm confident that everybody will like this player once listen to it!!!

Product Weakness: Expensive! No other weakness
Product Strengths: Excellent micro and macrodynamic, vivid midband

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Rotel RB1090 Power amp, Klimo VIV+TPS phonostage
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Toms Evan Vibe + Pulse preamp
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	ARC CD3 MKII / Linn LP12/Graham Engineering 2.2/ Lyra Parnassus d.c.t
Speakers:	Dynaudio Contour 1.8
Cables/Interconnects:	All Audioquest
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	All
Room Size (LxWxH):	21' x 15' x 12'
Room Comments/Treatments:	N/A
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	N/A
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	N/A

Product Weakness:	Expensive! No other weakness
Product Strengths:	Excellent micro and macrodynamic, vivid midband