Got CDs? Onkyo Introduces C-30 CD Player

Onkyo announced an all-new C-30 High-Performance CD Player, designed for music enthusiasts seeking a premium, solid playback solution for their CD collections. Anticipating a CD revival that many have promised will take place sooner or later - and taking into consideration the lack of any options for updated equipment, the audio manufacturer from Japan is adding a new component in its Icon Series hifi lineup. The new Onkyo C-30 Hi-Fi Grade CD Player promises to deliver performance and value in a refined design, retailing at just $349.
Since no great innovations are possible in CD transports or the laser pickup mechanism, the Onkyo engineers focused on improving the features in the data conversion stage and audio output. The new CD player features Onkyo's exclusive Vector Linear Shaping Circuit (VLSC), a proprietary technology that the company says removes pulse noise from the signal path using advanced algorithms. A search attempt to better understand what it does and why it is important reveals that Onkyo has been using VLSC for a while now, including in its original line of multi-CD changers (remember those?). In any case, Onkyo ensures, the result is a clean, distortion-free analog output from its premium 24-bit/192kHz DAC, revealing every nuance of the encoded 16-bit/44.1kHz material contained in the discs.

Onkyo also reports an impressive 107dB signal-to-noise ratio, complemented with a high-precision ±10PPM clock to ensure timing accuracy, elevating the listening experience. Finally, the C-30 comes with a vibration-resistant chassis, designed to reduce resonance and deliver cleaner playback. On the rear panel, the company did what it could and added good-quality connectors for the analog RCA, plus optical and coaxial digital outputs. Obviously, because very few people still have one of those beige PC towers with a CD-R drive, the Onkyo C-30 is also able to read CD-Rs, and CD-RWs, besides playing standards pre-recorded CDs. The data output of the C-30 also supports MP3 and WMA file playback, offering access to precious unreleased material, demos, and mix CDs that were never converted before.

Overall, the all-new Onkyo CD player will look good in any hifi component system, with a blast-finished aluminum front panel available in silver or black finishes. It will perfectly match other components in the brand's Icon Series, such as the Icon A-50 2-Channel Integrated Amplifier, Icon P-80 2-Channel Network Pre-Amplifier, and Icon M-80 2-Channel Power Amplifier.

The Icon A-50 is a Class AB integrated 2-channel stereo amplifier delivering 110W at 8 ohms (20Hz～20kHz THD 0.07%) and 180W at 4 ohms (1kHz THD 0.7%) that is a perfect complement to the new CD player, including RCA, optical, USB-A, and phono (MM/MC) inputs. It comes with DIRAC Limited room correction — with an optional paid Full Band upgrade — and retails for $1,599.

These fine examples of Japanese technical precision are offered by the Premium Audio Company, which is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gentex Corporation.
www.onkyo.com