Dynaco CDV-2.

Manufacturer: Dynaco Division of Panor Corp., 125 Cabot Court, Hauppauge, NY 11788; 516/434-1200

Price: $749 (Street price: $599)

Source: Reviewer purchase

Reviewer: Tom Lyle

In Issue 64, Steven G. Baird reviewed (after purchasing) the now-discontinued Dynaco CDV-1 CD player. I auditioned this player a few years ago at a local high-end audio store, and was not very impressed. I'm aware that hearing a component in a store is not the same as a long term home audition, but I frequent this store often and was rather familiar with the system in which it was included. I liked the idea of a vacuum tube output stage in theory, but my reaction to this player during this very short audition was that the player did not sound very transparent. Its veiled sound obscured too much detail.

The CDV-1 remained on the market for more than three years until it was replaced by the subject of this review, the CDV-2. Dynaco claims that the improvements over the CDV-1 are many. Most important of these is that the printed circuit layout and the Phillips transport both have been upgraded to newer versions. They have also changed the tube complement in the output stage from 6DJ8 to 6922 tubes (although I always thought these tubes to be interchangeable, Dynaco claims the 6922 is more stable). Plus, the front panel volume control has been replaced to a higher grade version to lessen mistracking.

Even though I haven't heard them all, I am quite familiar with many CD players within the CDV-2's price range. Of the many that I've heard, I consider the $749 Arcam Alpha 7 the best of the lot, and it is currently residing in my system. It is tough to beat because of its superiority in the frequency extremes and overall focused sound. It also possesses a relatively deep and light bass, naturally detailed mids, and extended, grain free treble. This was the only other CD player I actually compared to the Dynaco as part of my long term listening sessions. The older Dynaco, and the rest of the CD players in this price range I referred to in my listening notes were only because of my rather distinct memory of them. I couldn't compare the CDV-2 to other CD players in its price range that also have a tubed output stage because there are none (at least none that I know of).

Listening: So, into my system went the CDV-2, and after a short break-in period I started to put it through its paces. The first thing that struck me was that this player sounded different from my memories of the old CDV-1. Yes, I noticed there was still some softening of the transients and a general sweetening of the mids and treble -- but this was when compared to the Arcam. There was definitely not the kind of the blurring of the sound as I remember when listening to the CDV-1. There was also an increased amount of dynamic distance, placed between the reproduced sounds, that is, a separation of instruments due to their relative volumes. This led to an illusion of INCREASED detail when compared to the Arcam, although this was dependent largely on the type of musical material it was playing. Because its sound quality was dependent on the type of program material being played through it, my overall impression of this unit ended up being mixed.

I played one of the latest in the series of 4D Deutsche Grammaphon recordings by conductor Pierre Boulez, his version of Mahler's 5th Symphony. I was comparing it to Claudio Abbado's version of the same piece, also a 4D DG, as part of the "Double Double" music review that KWN and I were performing for Issue 65. The instruments and the groups of occupied a distinct place in the soundstage, and the overall sound of the orchestra was that more realistic sounding because of it. But this was only when the orchestra wasn't going full tilt -- it was then that this intricacy seemed to perplex the CD player. The sound wasn't as veiled as I remember on the older CDV-1, but it was still very apparent.

But on smaller works, the CDV-2's sound was more cohesive. It was so much more musical sounding than I was used to from CD players in its price class. I became keenly aware of this on a Catalyst CD of Rautavaara's String Quartet No. 4, on his Cantus Arcticus CD (favorably reviewed by KWN in a previous issue). The instruments were very natural sounding, and the overall sound very involving, in part because the air around each of the instruments seemed very discernible. Likewise, CDs of small jazz combos sounded very, very good.

So, if considering the CDV-2 for inclusion in one's system, the potential purchaser is going to have to bear in mind the "split personality" of the player. On one hand, the CDV-2 has an agreeable sound because of its excellent separation of instruments, but its smeared transients led to a less than transparent sound on more complex material. It is a unique sounding CD player in a field of very similar sounding contenders, and because it sounded so good when playing smaller works I was initially drawn to its sound.

However, its decreased transient response became troublesome on more complex, aggressive fare, so reproducing music such as large orchestral works or hard driving rock `n' roll was not this player's forte. This was compounded by the bass response, which seamed to have some midbass fatness to it. So when playing CDs such as Ultra, the latest by Depeche Mode, the synthesizer bass and kick drum seemed to dominate the mix. And as I mentioned with the Mahler, even on the classics the "sound" of this CD player was often somewhat disconcerting.

After I was finished evaluating the Dynaco CDV-2, I ended up switching back and forth between players depending upon the type of music I was listening -- the CDV-2 for some of the classics and jazz, and the Arcam Alpha 7 for everything else. This began to be a pain in the neck, so I simply stuck with the more versatile Arcam.

However, I hope the reader of this review can put things in perspective. It's not as if I'm talking about the difference between brands of speakers -- the difference between CD players in this price range are obviously much smaller. If one could find a reliable player from a manufacturer they can trust, with the features one wants, and buy it from a reputable dealer or mail order house he or she will most likely be satisfied. But the high end is filled with people who are concerned with the small increments in sound quality from components within the same price range, and want to find a component that is more than merely "good enough." That includes me. I feel the front end of one's system is very important, and I will expend much time and effort in searching out those small differences.

One more small criticism: Not about the Dynaco's sound, but its owner's manual. Only in the introduction does it mention the fact that there are tubes contained within this unit. I found myself thinking that it would be likely that the purchaser of this unit would have some questions, especially after owning the player for a while. When will the tubes need replacing? How would one know they need to be replaced? Can the owner of this CD player replace the tubes, or should the player be brought in to the dealer for replacement? If one can replace them oneself, how is it done? Is it OK to remove the cover without voiding the warranty? OK, so these aren't mind-boggling questions, and I think most will be able to figure it out for themselves, or simply phone Dynaco or the dealer. Still, Dynaco should mention something about the tubes other than their existence.

Conclusion: I think the Dynaco CDV-2 is a very good CD player, and an excellent buy if bought from a dealer that discounts from list price, as I have often seen it advertised. This player may not be for everyone, though. Some, like myself, may be initially attracted to its sound but might grow tired of its editorializing of the recorded material. Others will like its warm, seductive sound, especially those whose taste leans toward small jazz and classical ensembles, or lighter rock or folk. -- TL