I'm using the CAL CL10 in a system comprised of Vandy 2CEs and a Classe integrated amp with MIT cabling. I A/Bd the CAL with CAL's Alpha and Delta separates as well as a Meridian 506. The CL10 easily bested these other players in that the music sounded more natural, more three dimensional through it. It was easy to hear the individual components of the music, without everything sounding blended together. The CL10 has a rich, full sound that sounds more like the real thing than the other players I auditioned.

One correction I would like to make about my previous review is that the CL-10 cannot be upgraded to balanced outputs (analog). I was confused with the CL-15 from CAL. Sorry!
Either way, it's a great machine. I recommend it to anyone with the green!

I auditioned this unit about a week ago. It was run through a Conrad preamp, a 200 watt/channel Rotel amp., and a pair of Vandersteen 3A's, running through MIT cables. I used a Stephen Stills "Manassas" HDCD CD to audition the CL-10. I wasn't very impressed with the rock performance at first, though I noticed better top-end definition and clarity. However, when the music switched over to acoustical guitar performances, the performance of this player amazed me! I was presented with an imense soundstage, with deep depth and precision placement. The "air" around the performance was much clearer, with less haze than my current Aiwa portable CD player. Damn all portables to hell! I am eventually getting a Rotel CD player so please, no comments about this. Back to the CAL, I heard every pluck of the strings and heard the twangs ring throughout the music hall. Talk about realism! This player had great vocal naturalness and showed no troubles with dynamics or transients. The music was delivered on time. And you've got to love the PMD-100 chip (HDCD) and the carousel. Talk about an unusual package with balanced outputs (optional), too. This player has great features, performance, and is easy to operate. Only complaint is the weak remote housing. It needs an industrial strength alternative like Mark Levinson's to go with the all-metal housing of the player. The sound was all-natural and easy to listen to, with no fatigue. A definite 5 star (speaker) performer!

Associated Equipment: Krell, Martin Logan, MIT Terminator (bi-Wire).
CAL has hold of a great niche here: a 5-Disc high-end CD player w/ HDCD from Pacific Microsonics (which truly is a step forward in CD technology). The fact that it can compete with Krell and Levinson CD players costing many times more is also a significant plus.

If you want to upgrade from NAD, Rotel, Adcom, etc., you will find quite a difference in performance. It has a very smooth, warm sound, and is particularly effective in reproducing bass. HDCD is way cool - I hope more recording artists start using it.

I wish it had balanced outputs, and I think it could be ergonomically a little easier to use - you have to use the remote to change tracks, for instance, which is a problem if your remote slides under the couch. But these are small gripes.

The CAL-10 allows you the listening convenience of a 5-disc changer along with the audiophile-caliber sound of high-end, and it does it for $2K. What more could you really ask for?

I upgraded my Adcom GCD-700 to the CL-10 about one month ago. This player is a big step up from the Adcom, and I got it for a steal. Very dynamic player with exellent soundstage. Built like a tank also. I originally had it hooked up with a $100/meter pr. Straightwire Encore II interconnect and found the sound a little dull. I tried several brands in this price range with no real improvement. Then I auditioned a Straightwire "Serenade" interconnect ($350/meter pr.) and the sound was dramatically improved. In other words, "in my system" you need a really good interconnect to get the most from this player.
Equipment: Krell KAV 300i Integrated Amp CAL CL-10 Vandersteen 2Ce Signature speakers Bi-Wired

So far, the unit is just about as linear as conceivable that this quantization can deliver. To date, I haven't heard its equal. If it gets any better I may just have to wear diapers. Although, I may just purchase the CAL DAC to upgrade processors & get a tube out. I've tried many single-CD players in my home & elsewhere but haven't had the bass nor the highs as I've experienced in this unit. The voicing below 7kHz is almost tangible. Above 14kHz the voice is simple & harmonic (smooth, round, acharacteristic). It almost approximates the very best qualities of a TT w/o the distracting artifacts. Nothing sounded artificial/attenuated as most sweet CDPs usually do. Plus, I haven't heard a sonic image with depth before. The image varied from a yard in front to the face of the Maggie speaker panel. I didn't even know this was possible! I originally thought I had erroniously over-tweaked my speakers, but the depth wasn't frequency dependent. Also, this CDP is designed to align the platter before closing thereby precluding the normal jamming assopciated with front-loading carousel drawers. I'd love to hear the tubed 96/24 DAC.
Product Weakness: quantization still deletes the voice from the top octave.
Product Strengths: extended sweet uniform frequency & transient response



Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: NAD AV716
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): None
Speakers: tweaked Magnepan 2.7 & LR1
Cables/Interconnects: Monster's M950I & biwired 12 ga
Music Used (Genre/Selections): eclectic
Room Size (LxWxH): 20' x 15' x 10'
Room Comments/Treatments: eggcrated rear walls
Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 weeks

This is the best CD-changer out there, hands down. I traded in my Marantz CC65-SE and the highly touted MSB Link DAC the instant I heard this player. This is probably the last great CD-changer that will ever be made prior to DVD audio. If you can't wait that long (3-4 years before the standards are settled and there is sufficient SW avail.), run out and get one of these.As to the last post, yes it makes a slight "whirring" sound as it spins to change discs, but I personally have never seen a changer whose mechanism inspired much confidence. The CL-10 is no better or worse in this regard.

Outstanding sound and design. Only complaint is the carousel produces a vibrating or rumbling sound when changing discs -- anyone else experience this or know if it is normal. One star deduction for this.

I've now lived with my CL-10 for almost 3 months. Now I have enough hours logged with it to give a reasonable assessment. First, the associated equipment:
B&W CDM-1's on Sound Anchor stands
Velodyne FSR-15 subwoofer
Paradigm X-30 Subwoofer Control Unit (3rd order active crossover)
Adcom GFA-5500 Power Amp
Adcom GFP-555II Pre-amp
Monster m1000i i/c's CL-10 to pre and pre to X-30
MIT 330+ i/c's from X-30 to sub and to GFA-5500
2 Sola 1KW Line Voltage Regulators on the ac power

Listening preferences are Acoustic and Electric Jazz, Acoustic and Electric Rock, Symphony, Chamber, Choral, Organ and some Neo Country + other odds and ends.

Immediate impressions are:

Very strong precise, tight bass.

Very smooth detailed neutral and natural midrange, especially female vocal.

Zero tizziness or harshness on the treble which sounds laid back or rolled off but I'm convinced it's not because through the liquidity of the sound emerges all the high end detail information but it is so unfatiguing and pleasant to listen to it belies how good it really is.

Mechanicals / Electricals / Remote / Ergonomics

Flawless. One improvement I would request is a remote function button to turn off the display light for daytime use, as backlighting is not needed during daytime operation.

That's it, It's worth every penny they ask for it. Excellent value, price performance ratio is tough to beat and you load up 5 discs and get 6 hours of uninterrupted high end quality sound.

When I was deciding on a CD player, I a/b'd it with the Krell KPS-20i which is 4.5 times more expensive and didn't hear enough difference(if any) on the M/L SL3/Krell KAV-300i system to even warrant a second thought.

I actually would rate this unit 4.5 but they don't allow for that so 4 it is.

So, I bought the CL-10...and never looked back.

Sound, build quality, HDCD, 5 disc changer, shipping packaging

At that price? Tough to name real issues,but I can nitpick I guess.
1.It seems susceptible to microprocessor scrambling due to static discharges if you get a big lightning storm in the area
2. No track FF on the unit itself, you have to use the remote.

What a great disc player! I had the Yamaha for years and have always enjoyed putting in 5 discs and not worrying for the next several hours. Also, its great for those late night listening sessions with friends when you want to jump from disc to disc without having a period of silence between tracks.

But the CL-10 is an enormous step up from the Yamaha. Soundquality, soundstage, detail, etc. Its built really well and seems super solid. Changing mechanism is smoother and quieter.

The HDCD chip is fantastic and those discs are just awesome to listen to.

I had tested the Naim products, and I have to say that for the money (the CDX is something like $4000) there was no way that could justify the difference. I just think the CL-10 sounded every bit as good.

It's a shame this has apparently been discontinued. If you can find one, snap it up.

Associated equipment:

Vandersteen 2ce
Krell KAV 300i

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha 845i, Rega Planet, Naim CD3.5, Naim CDX, Old Sony