Let's try this again. I am very impressed with this unit. I had a chance to compare it directly, in a home demo, the Cambridge Audio CD4SE. The DX-2 is definitely a warmer sounding player, with a wider, deeper soundstage and was much easier on the ears. The bass extension on DX-2 was also much better than the Cambridge player. I wish I had auditioned the CD6, however, I did not get the chance. With DH Labs BL-1 II interconnects this player provides all the detail I need. Other players I listened to, but did not directly compared to the DX-2 include: Marantz CD67se- annoying, not very smooth; Rotel 975 and 971- both sounded nice, but a little bright, Arcam Alpha 7- It came down to this unit and the DX-2. I got a better deal on the DX-2 and I have no regrets.

DX-2 has something warm that keeps you in touch with your music.Everything in this player is nice but it has problem with lack of details,but that is the problem with todays production,not with DX2. <

I recent auditioned a system one of my friends who owns a local HiFi store set up. The system included CAL-LAB's DX2 CD Player, Golden Tube's Si50 integrated amp and a pair of Dahlquist speakers cabled by Goertz and Cardas interconncts. The entire system costed around $2500.
The sound was simply jaw dropping. The setup had it all; The sound stage was wide and deep and intruments had pin point accuracy. It had to of been the most musically satifying system I've heard in a long long time even compared to systems costing 2.5 times as much.

CAL Lab's DX2 CD Player really impressed me with it's overall presentation. It had little fault in this system esp. for its price. Sure it's not the most attractive CD Player but it sounds damm good!!! When I read bad reviews about good components like this, I usually question the forte of proper system matching.

I have spent a considerable amount of time investigating and listening to CD players.The one aspect that bothered me about the DX-2 was that there was no reviews, no comments from anyone who had purchased this unit. The Rega Planet which was introduced at about the same time received extensive coverage and a great deal of exposure. Yet here is a supposedly "new" or least significant upgrade from the DX-1 and nothing from the media. I even called
Cal labs and asked why thsi product was so universally ignored and they had very little response. So I bought one on a thirty day trial and now I understand
why it was ignored. It is a very very average product that looks like it should sell in Sams for $179.00 The sound quality was bland, uninspired and totally lacking any performance attributes that I could see. I know that Cal makes some very good CD players and I don't understand whay they even bother with the DX-2.
If anyting, it seem to me that it is hurting their "quality" reputation.

warm,rich and pleasant sound, without sacrificing detail

none at this price level

A very solid, extremely pleasant to listen to player. Handles highs and lows very well. Exceptional build quality.
In its $500 price range, I consider this a real gem that competes strongly with players priced much higher.

Similar Products Used:

Sony X77ES, Marantz 67SE

Build quality, center-mounted ytansport, beefy power supply, steel chassis, remote, detachable AC linecord, good company.

Uneven quality control, less than excellent built-in DAC, over-priced when new.

Hi.

I got such a deal on one of these as a showroom demo from one of Harvey Electronics' many sales up on eBay--I think it came in at $249. Problem was, the first one would shut off completely--as in power down--whenever I'd connect interconnects to it that were attached to equipment with a non-floating (i.e., earth) ground. Back it went, and the next one has been fine--Harvey's was great about it.

I'd read that the DX-2 was smoother than most all-in-one players and a good match for single-ended amps such as my Audio Note OTO SE Phono. At first I agreed, since it was definitely easier to listen to than my CD67SE--more articulate and easier on the ears in general. However, the sonic image of the CD4SE I had been using just before it arrived came back to stick in my head about a week after listening to the CAL, and an A-B test resulted, showing the CAL to suffer from a slight fatiguing/annoying quality that I have to say affects most single players in this price range--the CD4SE aside--that I have heard.

The upstart of all this is that I then went and popped for a demo Cambridge Audio DACMagicII Mk2 from Audio Advisor for $149 and the combination of the two is truly magical (no pun expressly intended). What I liked about the CD4SE was back--solid bass, extended highs that ring true (especially on cymbals), and a pleasant midrange, but with an added soundstage and stereo image that is significant and impressive. BTW, the DACMagicII Mk2 is the equivalent of the back end of a Cambridge Audio CD-6, complete with dual symmetrical DACs, gold AES/EBU outputs in addition to the single-ended RCA's, dual selectable coaxial inputs and a digital output--all gold BNC's--as well as a selectable TOSlink input if you are into Sony carousels, Minidisks, or Home Theater.

So now, I view the DX-2 as a great transport for the money, a role I believe CAL probably had in mind for it in the first place, whether or not they ever fully marketed it as such. They do sell DACs, don't they?

I'd have to say not to get carried away with all-in-one players under $500 or claims of high-end performance at this price point--it ain't happening. True sonic quality requires careful engineering and painstakingly selected parts, which doesn't come cheap. I'm listening to this unit through either the OTO SE or an Accuphase E-202, driving either Spica TC-50's or Electro-Voice Marquis 12" 3-way horns with Alnico magnets, or through a pair of Tannoy D-50 Plusses. If it's there I can hear it--if it ain't, I can't.

Always remember, however, that the sound of a system is more than the sum of its parts, but all things being equal, quality and naturalness will prevail.

My value rating is for the unit as a transport, but the overall rating is for it as a player.

Be a Tissue and Organ Donor and Support Presumed Consent in the United States. People are dying that could easily be saved.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz CD67SE, Musical Fidelity E-60, Cambridge Audio CD4SE, Parasound C/DP-1500, etc.