New Resolution Audio Opus 21

Thanks for the post Bigshutterbug, please keep us updated! :)

Chris

I have had the player for over a week now, and it seems to be done breaking in so far from what I can tell. As I stated when it first arrived, it does have a lower noise floor and a blacker background than the CD-55. It also is a little bit
smoother on the top end than the CD-55 was, and is not quite as bright up there. The detail is a bit better as well, maybe from the lower noise floor, maybe just more detail.
I am also noticing a little more body than the CD-55 had as well. It is easy to notice that they are cut from the same mold so to speak, and the differences are subtle but there.
I have had some trouble with the unit tracking discs, but it has not been major. It has stopped playing 5 times now, not a skip or jump, but it has just randomly frozen on random spots on random discs as if on pause. The display just shows the track and minutes/seconds where it stopped, then when I pushed play again, it starts back over on track one just fine...maybe just a small quirk that will go away after time I hope. The drive makes a slight "whirring" noise when spinning as do most computer disc drives, and it can be heard in a quiet room from about 8 foot away, but you don't notice it if the music is playing at fairly low levels. Not a big deal... I hope this helps, and I will check in again in in another week or so as time goes on.

My experience has been very similar to the others. I have a Cary 306/200 which I had compared the Opus 21 with and found the Opus 21 to be superior in detail and smoothness.
To me the Opus just sounds much more musical than other players I have heard. Listening to Norah Jones, for example, on both the Cary and Opus 21 was quite amazing in pointing out the differences. The Opus 21 sounds clearer while the Cary sounded a tad brighter.

I really like the Opus 21 and think it's a steal for the asking price.