Play Kanye West's latest CD, Graduation, and you'll find the CDP-102 a charming listen. Like other Classé kit we've heard, this CD player puts a great deal of emphasis on refinement, so don't expect it to grab your attention on a short listen. Such qualities rarely impress during a quick a demo, but they're exactly the traits that keep a piece of kit satisfying over months and years.
The CDP-102 also adds strong dynamics and decent timing into the mix. Classé equipment tends to have a rich tonal balance, where the bass and mids are more fleshed out than most rivals manage.
This player is
no exception. If properly judged, such a presentation makes poorly
produced discs – normally bright and forward – sound more palatable,
while adding authority to better recordings, with no loss of life or
sparkle. Shostakovich's String Quartet No8 is a dark, stirring and wonderful piece of music, and the Classé conveys every sliver of emotion with ease.
DVD-Audio, but only in stereo
The
sound is even more impressive with DVD-Audio. We tried a range of discs
from the early eighties hip-hop of Grandmaster Flash to Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, and the CDP-102 responds with improved transparency and insight.
Despite limiting the results to stereo, a machine like this reminds us what a shame it was that high-resolution audio formats such as DVD-Audio and SACD never took off in any kind of mass-market way.
The CDP-102 might be Classé's entry-level machine, but it's no poor relation to anything.
Specifications
Single-box, two-channel, slot-loading CD/DVD player with remote and touchscreen control
Single-ended and balanced analog outputs
Three digital outputs (AES3 on XLR and S/PDIF on RCA and TosLink)
DC trigger inputs
Bi-directional RS-232 and IR repeater ports
Two video outputs (composite and S-video)
Formats supported: CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, MP3, WMA, AAC, Video-CD, S-VCD, DVD+R, DVDRW, DVD+RW, DTS CD
Maximum output voltage: 4V balanced, 2V unbalanced
Frequency response: 8Hz–20kHz Balanced, ±0dB/0.1dB, 8Hz–20kHz single-ended, ±0dB/0.7dB
THD+noise: 0.001% ref 1kHz, 0.001% ref 10Hz – 20kHz
Signal/noise: 110dBfs 22Hz – 22kHz A Weighted
Channel separation: >124dB @ 1kHz, 112dB 16Hz – 20kHz
Clock jitter: <200ps.
Power consumption: 55W
Dimensions: 17.5″ (445mm) W by 4.75″ (121mm) H by 16.5″ (419mm) D
Weight: 27 lbs (12.3kg).