Another option is the preamp section. In the CD-35 II, signal is amplified in a balanced circuit, so beside two analog RCA inputs we also have an XLR input. Volume control is performed by an integrated resistor ladder from the PGA series. It is managed either using buttons on the upper panel, or an aluminum remote control that also gives us access to upsampling and lets us choose one of two digital filters – I use filter No. 1. The information is displayed on the front of the device, next to the track number, time and volume level.

The differences between the basic version of the tested player and the one prepared on the occasion of the 200th issue of “High Fidelity” are mainly hidden inside. They are also visible on the outside, but we will only notice them if we know the basic version. The most obvious change is the new feet, the Ceramic Disc Classic from the Polish company Franc Audio Accessories, with a finish specially designed for Ayon Audio. Our attention will also be caught by black (not silver) anodized grilles covering the cooling openings, buttons and the handle of the disc closing the CD chamber. There is no indication on the front of the device whether it is the Mk-II version or the HF edition. This information is located on the back of the unit. We are informed about the special version by a sticker with the signature of Gerhard Hirt, the owner of Ayon Audio. The sticker also contains the information about which device it is, as there will only be 35 of them on the market.

More changes can be found inside. They were made in the power supply and output sections, as the transport and the digital section are the same in both versions. The changes are:

• 20 x 2-Watt tantalum resistors in the signal path,
• 4 x VCap TFTF capacitors, 4 x Mundorf Supreme SGO capacitors and 4 x “special” (as Gerhard calls them) capacitors bypassing the larger electrolytic capacitors,
• WBT nextGen output analog connectors,
• the tube output has been “optimized” to match new components,
• all of the most important components have been manually selected and are characterized by tolerance below 1%,
• additional, manual adjustment of the low-pass filter,
• ultra-precisely selected tubes, measured in the player’s supports.

The listening session

The player was listened to in the High Fidelity reference system. It was compared to two SACD players – our editorial staff’s reference player, i.e. the Ayon Audio CD-35 HF EDITION and the simultaneously tested Esoteri K-01XD player. The tested player was placed on the upper shelf of the Finite Elemente Master Reference Pagode Edition (Mk I) rack, without an additional anti-vibration platform. When it played by itself, power was supplied by the Siltech Triple Crown cable, while signal was sent through the RCA Siltech Triple Crown interconnect. For direct comparisons, power was supplied to both players – the tested and the reference one – by the Acoustic Revive Absolute Power cable, while signal was sent via the Acoustic Revive Absolute RCA-1.0 interconnects.