While we worked on the design of the special version, almost all the hard work was done by Gerhard and his engineers, and friends with whom he tests his new products with. My role was limited to pointing out the elements that I wanted to be improved and suggesting a few solutions, e.g. anti-vibration feet made by a Polish manufacturer. It was also known from the very beginning that only 50 units of this version of the player would be created, numbered and signed by the Ayon Audio owner. The end result was a device that changed not only my, but also other people’s view on what a digital source can sound like.

The new player was prepared by Gerhard on his own. However, it is based on the previous model, just like the basic CD-35 II version is based on the CD-35. The features that distinguish the new version, as pointed out by the owner of Ayon Audio, are the optimized Sanyo-Stream Unlimited CD mechanism, an improved servomechanism section, only with respect to CD playback, an integrated clamping system, an optimized low-pass filter, an altered PCM-DSD converter and new capacitor values for the tube output stage.

The HF EDITION version has been designed very similarly to the basic CD-35 II player that we have already written about. Those of you who are interested in the topic can familiarize themselves with that test. So as not to repeat myself, let me only give you the most basic information on the device below: The CD-35 II HF Edition is a top-loading Compact Disc player with an analog tube class A zero-feedback output stage and a dedicated tube power supply unit. Two tubes - double 6H30 + 5687 triodes – have been used in it. The former was manufactured by Electro-Harmonix, while the latter was made by General Electric and obtained from army supplies (JAN 5687WB). The PSU features two R-core transformers and the Soviet GZ30 rectifier tube for the analog section.

The CD-35 II HF Edition is not only a CD player, but also a versatile DAC. It offers a variety of digital inputs: apart from classic 75 Ω S/PDIF (RCA + BNC), 110 Ω AES/EBU and USB inputs, it also features an I2S (RJ45 socket -based) input for PCM signal and a professional 3 x BNC input for DSD signal not used in home devices. Digital-to-analog signal conversion is performed by two AKM 4497EQ DAC chips, one per channel, which accept PCM signal up to 768 kHz/32 bit and DSD signal up to DSD256. The “Signature” version of the device is equipped with a D/D converter which allows us to convert PCM to DSD (DSD128 or DSD256). Before the signal reaches the AKMs, we can use the “secret ingredient” of the Ayon Audio company, i.e. its own digital D/D converter. This is an optional feature that has to be additionally paid for, but the CD-35 II will be a little disadvantaged without it. It is already included in the Signature and HF versions. The choice is between DSD128 and DSD256. I always use the latter, as it is characterized by much less high-frequency noise (outside the bandwidth) within signal than classic DSD conversion. However, one can also upsample DSD signal, e.g. from the USB input; the 3xBNC inputs will not make use of it.