What CD Player can top this

the cal icon is not soft at all. i owned one and sold it.

what is it that you hope to gain by replacing the cal ?

i think the older cals are much superior--the aria and tempest, e.g. .

i also consider the audionote cd2 superior. it is my reference player. this player is mid 90's in vintage.

Try one of the original Sony Playstations with RCA audio outputs. It puts to shame most stand-alone CD players. Ebay price: $15 + shipping. It sounds silly, but I have compared the sound of this with some nice Wadia, Naim, and SACD players, and it is as good or better than most.

You don't have much to lose...

Try one out.

I second the Audio Aero Prima - excellent player and the best value at that price IMO. Try to get one of the newer ones with Sony transport so that part availability won't be an issue. The Prima captures the texture of instruments and voices better than any other player I heard so far (which includes Rega Planet, Linn Genki, Unison CD, and others).

Bob,

With Jaybo...Keep the CAL. It beats up on my Audio Aero Prima MkIII. Had to sell that thing. Many 24/192 players just have no soul.

Leahy: You're an absolute riot! So what's it like going through life deaf?