Specifications

©DAGOGO 2010 – special reprint by permission. Page 6
“…perhaps one of the best sounding D/A chips,” in a paired symmetrical configuration and
switchable 24 bit/192kHz upsampling make for a solid design. Much of the magic of the CD-5’s
sound is found in the highly cultivated power treatment, including a “dual choke” filtered and
stabilized power supply with “bridge” tube rectification.
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Considering the power supply, I have seen firsthand the impact of good power supply for a
speaker. Recently, I acquired the Kingsound “The King” full-range ESL following its review.
This is an exquisitely fine panel speaker at an economical price. Part of the economy of the
speaker is the hapless 12V power supply – nothing more than a common wall wart, which I
jettisoned as quickly as possible. I replaced it with something more serious, the custom made
VAC (Valve Amplification Company) “Royal” Power Supply, made by Kevin Hayes
specifically for use with the King. These little boxes of energy gave the King a big leg up to
reach their fullest potential such that I would be loath to operate the speakers without them.
I enjoy well designed tube power supplies; VAC uses a tube power supply on the previously
mentioned Renaissance Signature MkII pre and it’s an element of its superiority. I would not
quickly trade away what the CD-5 does in terms of power management for the plethora of
inexpensive “separate power supplies”, in some of the more popular solid-state CD player’s.
Gerhard ventures, “We are using a special power supply… we think there is no other tube CD-
player at the moment which is using such a p.s.” He’s fairly tight-lipped about the details, but it’s
obvious to the ear that the highest quality is being applied to this aspect of the player’s
development.
Which brings us to a process called “bridge” tube rectification. Normally, only one tube is
needed and it works similar to a semiconductor design. The CD-5’s bridge rectification employs
four tubes to handle the process. The advantage according to Gerhard is that, “… we can handle
much more peak to peak current and we can increase dynamic headroom a lot.” The key is
delivery of high current, hence the selection of the more expensive and difficult to work with
6H30 rectifier.