General Asylum: REVIEW: California Audio Labs DX-2 CD Player/Recorder by Mr. Gridlock

Okay, so I've had my new DX-2 for a week, and I've been itching to review the whole time, but I've forced myself to wait, to continue listening, allow for burn-in (whatever that means), and the like. Well, I can't stands no more!

I think this is a great CD player. Period. I happen to have bought it factory sealed for $375 (plus shipping on eBay), but after listening to it all week, full price ($650) is well worth it.

My previous CDP was a mass-market Sony, and the DX-2 improves everything. That's probably a gimme, but I've been auditioning CD players for months and while the DX-2 doesn't spank everything I've heard, it does a great job with everything I listen to (everything except for country).

The DX-2 performed well (over 80 discs) with all genres. Rock (Cream, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix); Jazz, both instrumental and vocals (Ornette Coleman, Cassandra Wilson, Pataricia Barber, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gilespie); Heavy Metal (Ozzy, Pantera); Classical (Firebird Suite, Peter and the Wolf, Beethoven's 9th), etc.

The remote is nice. It not only has a power button, but a display button (on/off). The layout is intuitive, and the I like that it has buttons for "11" and "12," not just 10+ (which it has as well).

The front panel buttons are well organize. The Open button is well to the left of the drawer, and Play is next to that. Pushing Play while the drawer is open, closes the drawer and starts play (same on the remote).

My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is the display. It's too bright and has no contrast (not even in broad daylight). First of all, the light totally blots out the numbers in the display due to zero contrast. I can read my pre-amps nice greeen numbers (against a black background) from across the room. It's not grating at all. That just makes me wish the DX-2 had an equally nice display. That being said, I don't really make use of the display all that much. And, ultimately, it's moot for me, because on the remote is the display defeat, so that ends that. It's minor, but it's there.

How's it sound? Bass, resolution, soundstage are all great. Doesn't sound warm or bright. Transparent? Possibly, although my ear isn't that refined. I did audition the Rega Planet and that was warm and did tend to roll off some highs. Not the DX-2. Compared against the Rotel RCD-971, it might be an even match. The Rotel probably would have been my purchase had I not scored on the DX-2.

I do believe the DX-2 is being (has been) discontinued by CAL. They still have the unit up on the Sensory Science (CAL's parent company) web site.

Everything's relative, so all I can say is, "I love it!"

REVIEW: California Audio Labs DX-2 CD Player/Recorder Review by Mr. Gridlock at Audio Asylum