Since I have better equipment, one of my friends bring me AA Prima MKII for critical listening, and at the end we both changed our players. There is no such musical, timbarly correct player with deep clear staging in its category.

Strenghts: I listen classical music most of the time, so dynamics, precise positioning and body volume of instruments are things that one player must deliver to my system. Impact of orchestra in crescendos are gorgeus. Player have deep accurate bass and high resolution through all spectrum. Not digital sound at all. This involving player will give you 90% of AA Capitole player. The only difference is that with Capitole you will hear better respond of every instrument with hall in which orchestra is playing.

Weakness: Player must be always switched on. If not, forget to listen what Prima can do for next 24 hours.

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Natural, colorful, excellent pace and timing, tight bass and sparkling highs, gorgeous midrange, never fatiguing but oodles of detail. Makes even poorly recorded CDs involving!!!!

I'm only awarding 4 stars since 5 stars is reserved for the ultimate - like the Audiomecca Mephisto, Meridian 808, or Audio Aero Capitale and others in the stratosphere of musical performance.

Flimsy plastic remote, noisy CD drawer, feels flimsy!

This is actually a 2007 Mk2 model with the latest look with the centered CD tray and controls in a cross pattern on either side of the drawer.

For $2500 retail this french player feels flimsy. The top rings like a bell. It's so light that pushing the buttons on the face can cause the player to slide. The SONY drawer mechanism is flimsy and so noisy going in an out. Build quality doesn't come close to my previous incredible SONY SCD-777ES. If the SONY is like a Mercedes then the Prima is like a Ford Escape in terms of build quality.

BUT, and this is a HUGE BUT, the Prima is amazingly beautiful and musical in it's playing of CDs. The Prima is like an amazing oil painting by Rembrandt compared to the SONY's color photograph. Something about the Prima just draws me right into the music. Where the SONY was detailed and analytical the Prima is realistic and musical. You may be dissapointed when you first take it out of the box, but give it a chance.

This is the first time my CD playback has come this close to the enjoyment I get from vinyl.

Customer Service

unknown

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SONY SCD-777ES
Simaudio Apollo
Classe CDP-1
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SONY SCD-333ES modified by Audiomod
SONY SCD-333ES modified by Dan Wright
Pioneer PD-65 transport to a CAL Alpha DAC

Airy,accurate,not typical digitalsound,real voice,not very expensive

Aero is this pricecategory one of the best,not typically digitalsound,airy,accurate,real,new Prima is close legendary Capitole mk 2.

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many top players