Parasound CD-1


I know this is a recent release but has anyone heard this yet?
It sounds like a poor mans (comparatively speaking: $14,000 vs. $4,500) Laufer Memory player. It reads until it's correct and not a pS sooner, playing from a memory buffer. It's Linux based Intel chip is devoted to music only. And its VCXO clock can go <1pS though it measures at <6pS. Femto clocks come in at 0.140pS so that's not too shabby for a CDP.

I've always wished for someone to combine the best of a CDP with a PC and maybe Parasound has pulled it off. Hopefully others will follow and prices should come down in a couple of years.

All the best,
Nonoise
128x128nonoise

Showing 20 responses by calvinj

I know in these responses you guys sound skeptical but I've heard this player and it is the real deal it has absolutely no digital glare and it has a lot of analogue like qualities. It has a full bodied sound. Sound like vinyl. Best CD player I have ever heard.
Listened to parasound cd1 with vienna acoustics beethoven baby grand se. I got a glorious sound out of the combination. No digital glare. Deep soundstage. Great separation. Warmer fuller sound. A friend loaned me the parasound. I hated to give it back.
Well I have I had marantz and now parasound cd1 on loan from a friend. I have it today again and it is smooth but it's still has enough dynamics. It increased the soundstage. It's a little deeper and wider. It has separation without being analytical. I have vienna acoustics speakers Beethoven se. I have a classe cp800 ca 2200. I have one romance 2 ic from fusion audio. I have one nordost Tyr ic with fusion audio 2 romance power cords. Have a system with great density and enough dynamics. It has great balance. The parasound comes in and cleans the digital edge off the CDs. It only plays CDs. No dac etc. Is it a one trick pony? Yes. But it does it does the one trick really well on differently recorded CDs very well.
I got the ayon cd2s today with a classe cp800 and clarus crimson cables with focal speakers. The ayon is now the best player I have ever heard. The parasound cd1 is still great but this ayon does not have any weaknesses. It is smooth. Great vocals. No digital glare. Very analogue sounding but open. Not tubey but clear. I am amazed. I am very happy with this player and it is now the new best player I have ever heard. Home run for ayon audio.
I post real opinions. I love music. I posted about the ayon cd2s because it did everything the parasound cd1 did but only better. I have owned marantz bryston oppo and I have heard the luxman d06. The ayon just did it better than all the rest. It is amazing and probably my last player for a long time to come.
My last CD player was a bryston bcd 1. The luxman d06 which was clearly better. I heard the parasound afterwards it was better than the luxman fir me because of the analog lie sound but the luxman is still a great player. Then I heard the ayon cd2s. It blew me completely away. I am so happy I bought. It has been the best purchase since I bought my pioneer elite kuro plasma 5 years ago. Reference level performance for a CD player. Nice highs. Great midrange. Great tight bass. Smooth. Great separation. The music just comes together as a whole with ease and fluidity.
My last CD player was a bryston bcd 1. The luxman d06 which was clearly better. I heard the parasound afterwards it was better than the luxman fir me because of the analog lie sound but the luxman is still a great player. Then I heard the ayon cd2s. It blew me completely away. I am so happy I bought. It has been the best purchase since I bought my pioneer elite kuro plasma 5 years ago. Reference level performance for a CD player. Nice highs. Great midrange. Great tight bass. Smooth. Great separation. The music just comes together as a whole with ease and fluidity.
I have learned more about this. It is system matching and the parasound is good in some systems and the luxman is d06 is better for other. The ayon seems to be able to work with different systems and still perform at a high level
I was surprised with the quality. I like my ayon cd2s better but this parasound is really good.
I went back and forward on this one. First I thought the ayon cd 2s was better than the parasound. Then the ayon started sounding thin and bright and forward. I heard the parasound again and it sounded a lot better. The ayon went through some changes after I initially listened. The parasound does one thing. That's cd playback and does it well.
Thanks. I have narrowed my choices down to the cd1 and the Marantz sa7s1. They are used in my price range. I also may look into mods eventually when I educate myself more on what they can and can't do. I will be on the lookout for one of these two. They are in my range.
@audiolabryinth. I have played with the setting and they make subtle differences. I'm very happy with the player. I have 1000 CDs so it good to have a player that handles differently recorded CDs as well as they can be handled. This player is great at the price I got it. I won't disclose the price but to me it was well worth it.
New. Got a good deal. It's worth the price if you are a 90 to 95% cd guy. Cd playback on my Viennas through my classe gear is wide deep with no digital glare. It makes bright CDs more listenable and gets the most out of CDs that are already great.
New. Got a good deal. It's worth the price if you are a 90 to 95% cd guy. Cd playback on my Viennas through my classe gear is wide deep with no digital glare. It makes bright CDs more listenable and gets the most out of CDs that are already great. Also if you are ready to dive in on one let me know.
Cool. It is going fine so far. Love that it has a smooth sound. No digital
glare. This is a very analog sounding player. The highs are there without
being abrasive. The most notable improvements are in the soundstage it's
now wider and deeper. It also better at instrument placement. I have
owned the ayon cd2s. It was way too bright and thin. I own the oppo 95. It
is great but the sound stage is not as wide and deep. It also has a little
digital edge but is great for those who want to stay in a certain price point. I
owned the marantz 15 sb2 a few years ago. I think that's the model name.
Anyway. It was smooth but did not have the dynamics that I like. I
compared it to the luxman d06 the luxman is great but at $9000 price point
the parasound holds it own and beat it in a couple of areas. I also have
compared it to the sony 5400 es. The sony is great for the price but it is
kind of cold and they need a better power supply. Thinner soundstage is
not as wide. If CDs are dying then this is the player I'm listening to while
they are on life support. If you want to stay with CDs for the next 3 to 5
years this is your go to player!!!
Just on further review of my parasound cd1 I will discuss the the output stages. It gives the listener two choices. Discrete will give you a more lively or open sound. The op amp will give you a smoother relaxed sound. I played with the settings for a few hours tonight. I think it is great because it will allow you to adjust to recordings a little bit. It all starts in the recording studio before audiophiles spend a dime. The cd1 allows you a little leeway to adjust. This is system dependent but is great to have.