Resolution Audio CD-55..Past Threads...

To: Robert_sj from above. All audio components, esp. solid state, need burn-in time to some degree, and the CD-55 is no exception. Out of the box you can expect it (and most solid-state components) to sound thin, have little front-to-back depth and for the tonal balance to be mid-range heavy. The Sheffield/XLO Burn-in CD programed to tracks 6,7 and 8 and set on repeat...then run for 24 to 48 hours will get the burn-in process going...then run various music for a few more days..and you will be mostly there. If you only have the player for a couple of days..and if it was just out of the box, you will not really hear the player's capability (but this would be true for most solid-state products). I listen to a fair amount of live music and various types of music....however, in the end result, voices, strings, brass and woodwinds are what I use to decide if a sound is right by me. The human voice is a superb test for all audio gear. The Resolution (after burn-in) gets Diana Krall, Sarah Vaugh, Ella, Billie....etc. right. I believe the power supply and audio sections (as well as accuracy of the laser reading) are of prime importance. Many players sport name-brand/model# dacs but lack enough quality in the power supply/audio section/cd-drive-laser/and shielding to have much chance to sound real.

Doug harassing anyone? He is too much a gentleman for that nonsense.

You know what sounds amazing? The resolution audio quantum dac ($3200) with a reference line preeminence 1 series 2 passive preamp ($1500). Much better setup. My passive control is waaaaay better than the stuff they throw in the CD-55's.

I've actually found the past threads and this one quite interesting. I truly hope these threads will continue regardless of the piece. I still feel a need to wait to upgrade, as I really want a great universal player/transport. I intentionally avoid demoing any new players or transports for fear that I'll prematurely fall in love too soon. Jeez, the last time that happened I ended up in a marriage that lasted only 2 months, by my choice. ;) I have noticed one thing, resolution audio manufactures more than just the cd55. How do I get information on their other products?

Copy of email from Resolution Audio (Jeff Kalt):

I regret to say that the cd55 is not currently in production, although there should be a few 'slightly' used players available at sites like www.audiogon.com

We at Resolution Audio have been going through some changes, and we decided to spend the last couple of months determining our future direction. As you can imagine, the last couple of years have not been good for a high-end audio company with a focus on digital products. The uncertainty of DVD-Audio and SACD has created a difficult environment for a company like ours. While these high-capacity formats offer tremendous potential, we have seen the Japanese giants make one questionable move after another. From our perspective, the result has been complete confusion within the high-end. Outside of our little niche, awareness of DVD-A and SACD is virtually non-existent, even among the most tech-savvy here in Silicon Valley.

While I personally have little confidence that either format will ultimately succeed in the broader market, we would love to support any format that offers such a great opportunity to advance the art of audio reproduction. Indeed, Resolution Audio was at the forefront of the DVD revolution with the DVD-Video based 96/24 format. Unfortunately, the format war between Sony/Philips and (primarily) Matsushita has made it nearly impossible for a small company like ours. Even three years after the "debut" of DVD-Audio and SACD, there is still not a compelling product definition for a high-end player. The greatest barrier, aside from limited software, is that no platform exists that will play all 4 formats, namely DVD-A, SACD, DVD-V, and of course CD. In addition, these formats are different enough that today's DVD-A player could never be upgraded to SACD, and vice-versa. We now need compatibility guides to know which 12cm discs will work in which machines. Consider that a 100 year-old telephone can still be plugged into today's network!

The upshot is that the CD market is still very robust. Three years ago we projected that DVD-A and/or SACD would make high-end CD players all but obsolete. Perhaps because DVD-A and SACD have been such a disappointment, we are seeing stronger interest in our CD products than ever before. We have therefore decided to redesign our flagship CD55 cd player, with a new launch set for September. While we are always looking for a DVD/SACD solution, we expect to release additional CD-based products by the end of the year. In addition, we will begin actively marketing our products and seeking to increase distribution through various channels. Also look for changes to our web site in the next couple of months.

Thank you again for your continued support, and I will keep you appraised of our progress.

Best regards,

Jeff Kalt
Resolution Audio
resaudio@ix.netcom.com