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Ayon Audio CD-3 Review

Doug Schroeder reveals what the German BMW, Italian Ferrari and the an Austrian CD player have in common

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Ayon Audio CD3 top close upThe CD-3 in Relation to the Super-review System

A few words about the Super-review and the equipment involved. The CD-3 was paired with some extremely fine gear, which meant any flaw in its complexion would be easily heard. After all, I can hear some pretty subtle things with 1,000wpc amps and true, full-range actively crossed speakers. A compromised player is going to show signs of roughness around the edges in such circumstances, which is why the CD-3 is all the more impressive.

Again, I mean no disrespect to these players, but the Ayon makes other players sound flat. I found it nearly impossible to listen to them long term after the CD-3 experience. Even running the digital output from the Azur 840C to the Monarchy DAC failed to evoke my emotions as thoroughly as the Ayon.
I asked Gerhard about tube rolling, and he was forthright: it’s not likely to improve the performance. He stated, “We designed our output stage ‘on the limit’ which means we matched and selected the 6H30 perfectly to the output stage.” He further admits, “…with

tube rolling you can change a bit of the sound characteristic, but you can’t really improve the original matched tubes.” In my experience with other critically selected tubes in components, I have found that to be true. I tried rolling new tubes into the Pathos Classic One amps and found that while distinctively different, they were not an absolute improvement; I ended up removing them. I certainly had no impetus to swap out tubes in this instance. I knew that doing so would just as likely mess up the sound as improve it. What that means is there was no glaring error, no gaping hole in the CD-3’s performance.

The best part of the CD-3 is that it makes music sound so effortless! Vinyl is rich to the ear because the ease with which it sounds like music is made. Even when artists are breaking their collective necks playing, the analogue experience makes it sound like it’s easy. Digital players typically can’t do that, but the Ayon comes close. It relaxes you the same way that a massage shower head can do something a normal one can’t – it’s got extra capabilities. Just as all those pulsing little drops of water sooth the skin, so also the more perfectly presented digits caress the ears.

The CD-3 is a superb match for the Helix speakers, the Rowland amp and the Wire World Cables. The CD-3 brings to the Helix the exactitude necessary to feed a world-class speaker with stunning resolution and absolutely faithful signal. It energizes the Rowland class D amplification. In fact, the Rowland MC-606 was not as satisfactory to my ear without the CD-3. The Wire World cabling is awfully difficult to understate as to its importance in capturing the nuances of the CD-3. Together, these components are an approximately $70K rig, and in purely aesthetic terms they are worth it. That’s coming from a man who spent the better part of 15 years cobbling together very modest systems. I have a very hard time justifying the expenditure of that kind of money for a two-channel rig. But you may not have as much difficulty defending such an expenditure, and if you go this route, you will have an entire system of exceptional sound for the price of some super-speakers alone.

In addition, the CD-3 was part of another terrific sounding, far more economical rig, which was the best all SS system I have yet to assemble. No, it was not the Super-review system, although it is a reference sound at its price point. It was the smaller set of the Legacy Focus HD speakers, the same Wire World Silver Eclipse 5 Squared suite (a more economical choice would be the Wire World Equinox 5 Squared cables), the new Cambridge Audio Azur 840W amps, and the Rowland Capri preamp. I will have much to say about this particular assemblage of gear in the Cambridge review.

By now in my reviews you should notice that I’m giving hints at excellent entire systems, as opposed to merely components. I try to call attention to outstanding matches of components, not merely the isolated review piece. If you understand my descriptors of the review piece, and you gravitate toward the sound I’m describing, then you will likely have a much better chance than average of enjoying the accompanying components.

The much anticipated CD-2 has arrived just this week. It has gently bumped aside the CD-3 while it runs in and I get familiarized with it. At CES 2009, a listener in the Ayon Audio room asked Charlie Harrison bluntly, “Which is better?” Charlie hesitated and indicated that they’re both outstanding, though distinct. He suggested some may prefer the one to the other.

I’ll be looking into that. I usually have a very strong preference for my source equipment, at least for “top source” position. I aim to address the similarities and differences between them in the CD-2 review. For now, know this, Gerhard is doing superb work, and the CD-3 is a winner.

2 Responses to Ayon Audio CD-3 Review


  1. gino says:

    hello, i am french, i live in paris, i have a “Ayon Audio CD-3”

    this machine is stopping working, the cd does not turn anymore, the mechanism has been changed, but it is the same, and there is no service after sale, I like this machine, can you tell me how to get the electrical schematics.
    thank you, gino

  2. Hello Gino,
    The CD-3 was released over 9 years ago. Service is available globally. We apologize that your technician was unable to complete the service in France.

    Perhaps it is best to contact Ayon Audio in Austria. Ayon Audio in Austria will be able to recommend a service center to you in France, or better yet Ayon Audio in Austria can service the unit for you.

    Headquarters
    Ayon Audio
    Hart 18
    A-8101 Gratkorn
    Austria-Europe
    Ph: +43 3124 24954
    Fx: +43 3124 24955
    Email: ayon@ayonaudio.com

    Thank you,
    Charlie Harrison
    Ayon Audio USA
    1-800-676-1085 Ext 2

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