Opera Audio Consonance Reference CD-2.2 CD player. $2570
In a remarkably short time Chinese hi-fi has progressed from cheap and nasty (although these are still available from the Warehouse and the many backyard importers advertising online via TradeMe, Ebay etc.) to OEM production for well known mainstream audio companies, to wholly producing established brands like Quad, Wharfedale and Cambridge Audio. Now we are starting to see indigenous brands like Aurum, Cayin, Shanling, ShengYa, Spark, Opera Audio et al being exported.
Opera Audio (no relation to the similarly named Opera Loudspeakers of Italy) was setup six years ago specialising in tube audio amplifiers. Now they have a large product line of tube and solid state amplifiers, digital playback equipment and even analogue turntables.
The Consonance Reference CD 2.2 is a Red Book CD player using a Crystal 24 bit/192kHz upsampling DAC with a Sovtek 6H30 tube buffered output stage.
Heavy wood
The Consonance weighs in at a solid 16kg, topped with real wood trim. The wood, embossed with the Opera Audio logo, looks and feels gorgeous, a substantial brushed aluminium front panel and chrome knobs imparts a classy, minimalist look. The smooth and silent centre mounted transport sits above a simple blue display. This is flanked by the two polished chrome knobs that operate like giant toggle switches; power and tray access on the left, transport functions on the right. These operate with a simple functionality. The usual IEC power plug, a set of RCA single ended outputs, a pair of XLR balanced outputs and a master output level control fills out the rear panel.
Basic functions plus remote volume control are duplicated on a neat metal cased remote, spoilt by the fitment of rattley little plastic buttons that are rather unpleasant to the touch. With this player there is no direct track access or any fancy programmable play modes.
Fulsome
Starting with the single-ended RCA’s the music that issued forth was as idiosyncratic as the cosmetics. Smooth, warm, very relaxed (perhaps too much so) and welcoming but decidedly soft, both tonally and dynamically. Treble was easy on the ears but not very extended or detailed. The bass was impressively fulsome, albeit modest in definition and articulation. Dynamics were muted with little snap and impact. The wide soundstage, with realistic height and reasonable depth was populated by performers and instruments with little dimensionality.
Multi-layered tracks like Madonna’s Ray of Light or Santa Esmeralda’s Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (the epic 10 minute version from the Kill Bill Vol.1 soundtrack) sounded flat, lifeless and a tad confused. Big orchestral pieces like Herrmann’s On Dangerous Ground (from Citizen Kane - The Classic Film Scores of Bernard Herrmann) and John Williams’ great score for Star Wars Episode 1 just didn’t captivate, as these large scaled pieces should.
Despite these flaws, the Consonance remained pleasant listen to in a soft dreamy way, but ultimately unsatisfying as it was clear the music was incomplete.
Switching to the balanced outputs brought a much needed shot of life. Now the Consonance sounded more like a $3000 CD player.
The previously Prozac sound gained in lucidity. Strings and percussion now had a bit of bite, the bass gave up some of it’s bounty for tautness, instruments were less woolly and the overall aural picture had a bit more clarity and focus. These seemingly small changes all added up to a much more convincing presentation.
However the basic lack of dimensionality and modest resolution, remained, though in a less distracting manner. Throughout the listening sessions the Consonace showed an affinity for simply recorded music, often faltering when asked to unravel the complex, multi-layered mixes of more demanding recordings. Music was painted in broad strokes, missing some of the finer detail of other CD players.
The Consonance was surprisingly close in sonics to it’s compatriot the Shanling CD-T100 (heard last year). Both share similar circuit topology and sonic presentation, with the Shanling having more detail and the Consonance having better depth. Both tend towards a somewhat two-dimensional presentation and stumbled with demanding recordings.
These players get to the core of the music but neither was quite as complete or satisfying as the Unico hybrid CDP reviewed a few months ago or of other CD players at the $3000 mark.
The Consonance proved to be much more of a looker than a performer. In its favour is good build quality, style and sharp pricing. Music is reproduced with a smooth, easy nature.
This CD player’s foibles are of an omission rather than additive, making it more acceptable, especially in less revealing systems. So it’s a cautious take a look rather than outright recommendation for the Consonance.
http://www.audioenz.co.nz/2004/opera-audio_consonance-cd.shtml
