I purchased a Resolution Audio Opus 21 about a month ago. I did so based only on the good reviews and knowing I could send it back for a 5% charge if I did not like it. Right out of the box it sounded great.
The few negative issues identified in the early reviews (noisy transport, lack of direct track access via the remote) have been addressed. The transport on my Opus 21 is whisper quiet. This cd player brings out an incredible amount of a recording's detail.
The only negative I have encountered is that the Opus 21 sounds does not sound as good as my previous cd player (Pioneer PD-65/Perp Tech P-1A/P-3A) on poorly recorded CDs. Due to the Opus 21's incredible resolving power, it readily offers up the deficiencies of poorly recorded digital music. I encountered this is on less than 5% of the CDs I have listened to. These were all pop CDs from the 1980s. On reasonably well recorded CDs there was no comparison between the Opus 21 and my previous CD player. The Opus 21 is way better. Orchestral, choral works, all the way to acoustic guitar sounded incredibly good.
I was able to compare the Opus 21 versus a Linn CD-12, sort of. The comparison was not an apple to apple comparison, but nonetheless, I found it useful. The top 2 channel digital system at a local hi-end dealer included:
2 - BEL 1001 Mk 5 monoblock ampliers
VTL 7.5 preamp
Vandersteen 5A
Linn CD-12 cd player
Richard Gray power conditioners
BEL interconnects/cable
(and I think a better room)
My system included:
2 - BEL 1001 Mk 5 monoblock ampliers
Sonic Frontiers Line 2SE preamp with Siemen 6922 tubes
Genesis 350 SE speakers
Audio Magic Stealth power conditioner
BEL interconnects/cable
Opus 21 cd player
I spent a couple of hours one Friday afternoon listening to selected tracks on a number of CDs on the hi-end dealers system. These inclued: Keith Jarrett (Koln concert), Robbie Robertson (Storyville), Aimee Mann (Lost in Space), Berlioz (Symphony Fantastique), Mark Knopfler (The Ragpickers Dream), Lyle Lovett (Joshua Judges Ruth), Leonard Cohen (The Future), Jennifer Warnes (Famous Blue Raincoat), Vivaldi (Four Seasons). The high end dealers system sounded terrific.
Later that evening I listened to the same tracks on my system. My system sounded terrific. I had a feeling that if I switched cd players both systems would have sounded terrific. I believe the difference in price between these two players is approximately $16,500.