General Asylum: REVIEW: Audionet USA ART CD Player/Recorder by jsnstranger

Model:	ART
Category:	CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price:	$4200
Description:	CD Player
Manufacturer URL:	Audionet USA
Model Picture:	View

Review by jsnstranger ( A ) on April 28, 2004 at 18:25:31
IP Address: 65.96.175.207

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for the ART

Absolutely impressive cd player! I have been looking for the perfect cd player for about the last two years. The Audionet ART is not perfect but very close. First, what I don't like: It's not balanced and the remote doesn't feel as sturdy as I would like to see it in a player for $4k. It could be a tad more forward in the soundstage. But what it does extremely well: It's fun to listen to cds again! It sounds remarkably analog, with a very wide soundstage and a very realistic tone. The construction is german, it's built like a tank though it looks like it was designed by the folks at Bang and Olufsen - the visuals are superb! I would be hard pressed to name one other player under ten grand that sounds that musical! The nearest competition comes from Audionet: My next purchase will be the audionet dvd player (tongue in cheek called VIP) which I heard at the Audionet showroom in Cambridge. Sad to say, even the cds sounds a tad better on that one, but it also costs considerably more.

Product Weakness: no SACD?
Product Strengths: wide soundstage and realistic tone

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Pass 250
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audionet PRE-G2
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	none
Speakers:	Wilson Benesche Discovery
Cables/Interconnects:	Nordorst SPM
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz, Rock, Classical
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	no SACD?
Product Strengths:	wide soundstage and realistic tone