It's important to us that we judge all products, including CD players, on a strict pound-per-performance basis, making sure to emphasize value and tell our readers how good something is for the money. Accordingly, we compare all products we review against similarly-priced class leaders to help us settle on the most accurate rating. The other thing to consider is if you need an integrated CD player (one with a DAC built-in) or a CD transport (no DAC inside). Transports such as the Cambridge Audio CXC will need to use either a standalone DAC or the one in your stereo amplifier to handle the digital-to-analogue conversion before the sound reaches your speakers. The upshot of a CD transport? It puts all its concentration and skills on reading the CD disc. The downside is you'll need to make sure you buy or already have an appropriately skilled DAC to connect it to.

Whether I make them or not, there are always sounds to be heard and all of them are excellent.” ― John Cage as long as you are happy for us to do so) send you more relevant and interesting marketing communications. Buying a CD transport means that you are buying only half the CD player – the first half that spins the discs and reads the digital information. You then need to buy the other half of the machine via an outboard DAC. In most modern surround sound receivers, there is already a DAC included. If you've already got a good DAC, the Cambridge CXC transport is a no-brainer." 'What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision magazine'. 5-star review.

Product highlights:

The CXC can play only the discs recorded in the CD-DA format designed for music reproduction. Do not attempt to play a disc containing other data, such as a CD-ROM for PCs with MP3 or WMA files. Loading and unloading discs Once the disc tray has fully opened, carefully place a disc into the tray with the label side facing upwards. Once you have loaded a disc to the CXC, press the ‘Repeat’ button on the remote control once and press ‘Play’ to repeat the entire disc. ‘Repeat All’ will appear on the CXC display until the function is turned off. Software update: To provide software upgrades to your devices we use the unit ID and model number to select what software the device should be running. We also aggregate upgrade data to allow us to monitor the update to software updates.

The CXC is part of CX Series 2 range of Cambridge products that includes the CXA81 and CXA61 Integrated Amplifiers, and the CXN (V2) Network Player. They all share the same machined metal chassis with an aluminum faceplate finished in Lunar Grey. It’s worth noting that both CX Series integrated amplifiers also contain DACs, which makes a CD Transport make sense, especially in Series. The key features that make this product best in your eyes for your extreme taste in music are described as follows.

Practicalities

As well as the personal information you share with us about yourself and your Cambridge Audio product, we may collect and handle personal information directly from your Cambridge Audio connected products and Cambridge Audio apps (for example "Melomania App", "StreamMagic App"). A connected product is a Cambridge Audio product that is “smart”, internet enabled or operated through a Cambridge Audio app. This ensures that you get the demanded value for money. The empirical look proves that the material used in its construction is heavy-duty. But here’s the thing — I will never live without streaming, ever again. I am addicted. I am addicted to music discovery on a scale I never would have dreamed of when I spun my first record in the 1960s, or my first CD in the 1980s. Using Roon as my guide, specifically Roon Radio, I come across music that is new to me every single day, and twice on Sunday. OK, more than twice on most days.

Here’s the thing. When it comes time to listen to music, how we listen, through what medium, directly effects our experience. In terms of sound quality, the Cambridge CXC mostly proved the better sound quality source when compared to streaming. That’s just that. But I’m equally, yes equally, interested in the entire experience. So playing CDs does not render streaming obsolete, it provides another form of music enjoyment. And I like more enjoyment whenever I can get it. Please note that we may take reasonable steps to verify your identity and the authenticity of the request.You can keep it clean easily. There is a display on the front side where you can have information on everything being played or settings used.

Even if you are a newbie who doesn’t know much about CD players and the features they can provide you to make your music taste better and more qualitative, you should know about this one. By default, the unit switches itself off after half an hour of non-use. You can change this to a different period of time (one hour or two hours) or disable it. Again by default, the unit does not autoplay whenever you insert a disc, but you can change this as well. If all you're after is a CD player, then you might want to choose something more dedicated in this list that puts all its eggs in the audio basket. But if versatility is required and you want to stream your music services over wi-fi as well as spin records - and why not - then this Technics is worth your attention.Once you have loaded a disc to the CXC, press the ‘Random’ button on the remote control. ‘Random’ will appear on the display. Marantz are often looked down upon because they’re a Japanese manufacturer and because their products often include features that purists consider to be superfluous (tone controls etc). Some think badly of Cambridge gear, purely because A) their products, in the UK at least are distributed by partner company Richer Sounds, and B) because their claim to fame used to be the manufacture of exceptional budget equipment. Many believe that such companies are not capable of producing credible high-end equipment, and sadly are more than happy to share that view with others despite them having no direct experience with the products or brand in question. customise and improve the way that you shop with us in future (for example, by showing you products and offers that we think you might like); Streaming features UPnP, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, internet radio, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Roon Ready