Associated Equipment;
California Audio Labs. Delta CD Transport
B&K Pro 10 Preamplifier
B&K EX 4420 Monoblock Power Amplifiers 200wpc@8ohms
B&W Matrix 803 Series II Speakers
Audioquest Midnight 2 Speaker Cable
Musiclink Balanced Cable Interconnect ( XLR )
Esoteric Artus Interconnect Cable
Highwire 701 Digital Cable

I have been using this system for four months now. Just upgraded to the transport/DAC combination from the CAL DX-2 Player. The upgrade proved justifiable as the improvement was superb, especially the CAL Alpha DAC. Before I bought this unit I made a comparison with Musical Fidelity's 24/96 DAC and CAL Sigma II DAC. For the same set-up the Alpha sounded bigger, meaning the sounstage was deeper and wider and has more air. I thought the 24/96 of Musical Fidelity would outclass the Alpha but I was very wrong. Maybe I thought that the Alpha really shows its best when combined with the Delta transport, also from CAL. The detail in sound and smoothness is simply amazing.

The ability to customize sound by changing vacuum tubes. An outstanding value.

None

I have owned the Alpha-Delta (18bit-version) combo for a little over six months. I cannot tell you how satisfied I am with the upgrade of sound quality. The CD player that it replaced was a NAD that was about 15 years old. I have gone for being an occasional music listener to one who would rather listen to music rather than watch television. What the Alpha-Delta combo did for my system is make my CD collection sound smooth, warm with excellent detailing and imaging. My soundstage is total silent and open. I can now listen to my system at much lower volume levels and be musically satisfied. I have the two components connected with a Transparent Balanced interconnect. After a few months of enjoyable listening, I upgraded the vacuum tubes. I auditioned quite a few until I made the decision to keep the NOS Mullards. They are total worth the $80 investment. With the stock tubes the Alpha sounded great, but the Mullards they gave my system even more warmth, detail, and a sound that allows me to listen for hours. With the upgraded Mullards, older CD’s or CD’s that are less than excellent in recording quality became much more listenable and enjoyable. Cal Audio has made me get back into being what I consider an Audiophile. I am now looking for my next upgrade.

Associated equipment:
Jeff Rowland Coherence One
Parasound 2200
Thiel 22’s
Straightwire Maestro interconnects
MIT Terminator speaker cables
Monster 2500 Power Conditioner
DIY power chords

Similar Products Used:

Auditioned Theta, Rega, Sony ES, NAD, Marantz

Extreme good value for the $. Comparing units $8k and up.
Out performs lower cost units by a large margin.

I bought my unit from The Sound Lab in Paltine,Il. I traded in an Cal Labs Icon unit towards the Alfa Dacs. Delta trans-
port unit. A great trade-in policy aloud me to afford this.
With this purchase I add a Cardas $80.00 rca cable. I was
extremely happy with this purchase. Two yers later I bought
a Bright Star Audio Big Rock 3 sandbox underneath. This add
ed transparency to the sound and tightened the base. This is a must upgrade for this player.
I had a opportunity to visit a Linn Store in Chicago 2
years ago and they had a Linn Sondek cd12. I was blown away
by the sound of this unit. I have heard Krells and Mark
Levinson cd and Wadia cd played in the $5-$12k range that
could not touch this Linn. This cd player sounds as good a analog. At $20k. This is way above my means. Now I wanted to upgrade again so surfing on-line I came across Synergistic
Research Designer's reference Digital (rca)cable for $500
. This cable new cost $1,000. Crazy me bought this and WHAT
A SHOCK. I problably got 80% of the performance of Linn cd12
!!!! at $3400+ Bright Star $130. I have never changed the
tubes and use power cords that came with the unit. By the
way I bought the new digital cable from Audio-Video Logic
on-line. To upgrade in the future maybe 24/96???? Not enough
dvd discs yet. Drilling holes through the top!!! Don't have
machine shop tools or space for them. Tube upgrade plus tube
soxs sounds more logical if I can figure out which screws
hold down the top. Perhaps next year. I want a new power amp
anyway.
Associated equipment:
Thorens 320-H2o Micro Benz (high output)Bright Star Big Rock
3 underneath.
Audio Research SP8-Tube soxs and vibro-pads on feet.
Theshold Status 300 amp-vibro pads.
Proac 3.5 speakers with Tekna Sonic Vibration absorbers on
the back of the speakers.
KLH 18 tune (problaby the last one ever made)
Monster 1000 speaker cable and interconnects between amp and
preamp and dacs and preamp.

Similar Products Used:

Cal Labs Icon

Versatile. Well built.

No balanced (XLR) outputs.

The previous reviewers hit on the high points already. Essentially, this is a one well built product. That it uses tubes and is upgradeable makes it extremely versatile. The use of tubes also help to enrichen the final sound. Excellent buy on the used market.

Related equipment:
McCormack DNA-1 amp (with SMc Audio Rev. B upgrade)
Sonic Frontiers Line 1 preamp
CAL Alpha DAC/Delta transport
Hales Design Group Revelation 3 speakers
NBS, BMI, Illuminati and Analysis Plus cables, cords and ICs

Similar Products Used:

CAL Sigma