CARY AUDIO CD-500

Second-hand. In good conditions. Shows minor signs of wear as seen in the photos. Comes with remote control and manual, without original packaging.

The CD-500 can play CDs, including CD-R and CD-RW, and supports HDCD decoding. At its core, the digital-to-analog conversion is handled by Burr-Brown 1792u chips, operating at 24-bit and 192 kHz, delivering an exceptionally detailed sound reproduction. The audio circuit includes audiophile-grade Elna capacitors, enhancing musicality and providing more precise bass definition.

To ensure low jitter, the CD-500 utilizes three buffers, the first two being FIFO (First In, First Out). The final stage features dual Burr-Brown 1792u DAC chips, converting the digital signal to analog with jitter reduced to approximately 90 picoseconds. Additionally, it employs a ROM drive to buffer data, significantly improving error correction by a factor of 100.

Upsampling is achieved through a DSP circuit that expands 16-bit audio to 24-bit, allowing conversion to sampling rates of 96, 192, 384, 512, or 786 kHz for analog output. This is crucial because digital audio quality is primarily determined by bit depth and sampling rate. A 16-bit depth resolves each sample to an accuracy of about 1 in 60,000, whereas a 24-bit depth increases precision to approximately 1 in 1.5 million. Each additional bit of depth increases the dynamic range by about 6 dB: a 16-bit recording has a 96 dB dynamic range, while a 24-bit recording reaches 144 dB. While increasing bit depth does not add new data to the original signal, it allows for superior sound processing, reducing digital harshness and making the audio experience more natural and analog-like. A standard 44.1 kHz sampling rate provides a frequency response up to about 20 kHz, while a 96 kHz sampling rate extends it to 48 kHz.

On the back panel, the CD-500 offers a coaxial output, a Toslink output, a pair of unbalanced RCA outputs, and a pair of balanced XLR outputs. The front panel features a blue VFD display that shows track information. Instead of displaying "STEREO," it reads "L-R," which is an unusual choice for a two-channel player unless it dynamically changes for mono CDs. Another visual feature is the flashing disc icon, which lights up for up to 16 tracks.

From a construction standpoint, the CD-500 stands out for its premium build quality. The loading tray is sturdy and operates swiftly, the front panel is made of thick aluminum, and the top and sides are more robust than those found on most mass-market devices. On the rear, the RCA connectors for analog output are of high quality. The player comes with a standard power cable but no additional cables.

Technical specifications:

• Design: CD Player
• Supported Codecs: Redbook CD, CD-R, CD-RW, HDCD
• Upsampling: 96, 192, 384, 512, or 768 kHz
• DAC: Two Burr-Brown PCM1792u
• Frequency Response: 2 Hz – 22 kHz
• Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (THD+N): 0.003%
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (S/N): 127 dB
• Analog Outputs: Balanced XLR (6 Volts), Single-Ended RCA (3 Volts)
• Digital Outputs: Coaxial, Toslink
• Communication: RS-232
• Dimensions: 4.5" (H) x 17.1" (W) x 13" (D)
• Weight: 23 lbs (10.4 kg)