For us CD offers the best format for the most natural and detailed sound for digital music replay. Ayre Acoustics is still very much focused on CD too. We first heard this CX-8 player in v2.0 version last autumn. It was immediately obvious this was beguiling sound with a most natural presentation and tonally very correct. So much so that we decided to feature it at the UK Audio Show 2022 last October and was one of the reasons our sound there was deemed by many to be the best at that Show. The design and build of this revised CX-8 CD player is first rate, with a beautiful milled, solid aluminium fascia.
The Ayre sound is very holographic with a deep and wide image, that projects beyond the boundaries of the speakers. Never forward, the
CX-8 has a satisfyingly rich tone which is not common in other brands at this price point. Vocals are particularly well rendered with a real sense of the emotion of the performance. Piano, a difficult instrument to get right, has the correct weight to the timbres and the intricate harmonics portrayed naturally. This is an exceptionally musical CD player at this price point and it would hold up well against other CD players up to around £10,000. At £5500 the
CX-8 v2.0 offers true value for money; a player that can be listened for many hours without fatigue.
For those that require the ability to stream music there are optional digital inputs available for network streaming with the addition of two separate cards, either the Asynchronous USB module or the Ethernet Module.
Visit our demonstration room
4 Zephyr House Calleva Park | Aldermaston | Berkshire RG7 8JN
Demonstrations by appointment Monday – Saturday: 10:00am to 6:00pm.
Telephone or Zoom consultations are available and can be booked at mutually convenient times
