Audio Analouge Maestro CD Player Reviewed

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HTR Product Rating

Performance: 3 Stars
Value: 3 Stars
Overall: 3 Stars

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No conceit here: Audio Analogue calls the Maestro a 'Digital Audio Processor'

because they feel that it's more than a mere CD player. This machine falls under the 'no-compromise' heading, and lifting the lid shows you why; you'll think you were peering into a power amp. Occupying the front third of the unit, to the left of the transport, are two massive toroidal transformers, one each for the analogue and digital sections, with nine regulators '(to) guarantee a perfect supply to every part of the Digital Audio Processor's complex circuits.'

These toroids plus metalwork you'd expect of, say, PS Audio mains filters, contribute to a confidence-inspiring weight of 44lbs. The chassis is made from 3mm-thick sheet steel, for isolation from both mechanical and electromagnetic interference, and the aluminium fascia is 20mm thick. The very instant you lift this chunky 445x360x135mm (WDH) monster out of the carton, you know you're playing with something VERY serious. Actually, not instant - you'll struggle with it.

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Despite jam-packed innards, the Maestro is a clutter-free zone, with the remote handling all of the minor functions. The fascia contains only a display and tray flanked by vertical rows of four buttons for the basic transport commands, plus standby and 'mode'. The display, in addition to track and time data, indicates if the Maestro is being used with as a one-box CD player, with an external digital source selected via the aforementioned mode button, or if its transport is feeding an external DAC.

Maestro's 'loop' circuit allows the signal from the CD transport to be digitally processed before being sent to the D/A converter, so digital equalizers, delay units or proprietary devices used for digital correction of the loudspeakers can be inserted into the Maestro. The transport and control board have been optimised with the use of an extremely rigid support structure to improve the mechanical performance, while adding shielding from RF.

Minimalism marks the back panel, too: main on/off button, IEC mains socket, a choice of unbalanced (gold plated RCA) or balanced (XLR) analogue outputs and a coaxial digital input and digital output - no TOSlink, no AT&T. I used the Maestro in balanced mode into the McIntosh C2200 pre-amp and in single-ended mode into the Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista 300, with Sonus Faber Cremona Auditors.

Read more about the Maestro on Page 2.

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