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California Audio Labs Icon Mk II; NOT POWERBOSS

Hi expert ears; I need some advice: Any thoughts or experience to share about Cal Labs Icon MkII CD player?? I've read RAVE reveiws about the modified version with the Power Boss HDCD tweak, but not too much about the unmodified Icon MKII. What I've read has been good. Will be using it with Integra Research amp; Audioquest hyperlitz speaker cables & interconnects. If you recommend it, what is a fair price to pay for one in ex. condition? Thanks. -Klipschking (really KEFking)
klipschking
narrod
1,064 posts
 
Good player but very long in the tooth and CAL Audio Labs has been out of business for years. I would not buy it.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,153 posts
 
I had one (std issue) from ~ 1992-2005. It sounded fine for its day, but I did not find it hard to replace after it crapped out for the second time after I had it shipped out and repaired by an "expert" ~ 2 years earlier. I'm not sure I'd trust the reliability of these units in general these days given the age, plus the company is out of business.

If I were to go for a new CD these days, I'd probably first consider a second hand Musical Fidelity in the under $1000 price range in that I believe MF offers very high quality at very reasonable price.
zargon's avatar
zargon
453 posts
 
I am still using a CAL Audio Labs ICON MkII (purchased in 1992) for my office system. It has worked faithfully all these years and has such a musical presentation that I have been very reluctant to replace it.
lake513
123 posts
 
I also own CAL a Alpha / Delta 12 years old and has worked great since day one . I gave up a Theata Jade / DSP 2 D/A for the CAL eq. I liked the sound better . iI will go to a Mac computer hard drive system when the CAL EQ. dies but till then I really like the CAL EQ. Marc
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