With their CD players and transports, Audio Note aim to break free from the 'digital mould' that we are all so accustomed to and open a new window on your CD collection… They continue to extract greater and greater degrees of information and quality from Red Book CD, which they still consider to be the best, currently available digital music format.

CD Zero CD Player - AN Level Zero

Level Zero Red Book CD Player. Audio Note UK’s most cost effective Red Book CD playback system for the discerning music lover. For those looking for the best possible sound quality in a single, small but perfectly formed package, there is no better choice than the CD Zero. 

It’s been specifically engineered for sonic performance rather than technical specification and fulfils all Audio Note (UK) Entry Level criteria.

​Housed inside its deceptively solid casework are simplified and integrated versions of the Zero level dedicated Transport and DAC (CDT Zero/II and DAC0.1x).

The in-house custom modified Philips front loading CD mechanism is designed purely to read true Red Book CD, which in Audio Note UK’s opinion is still the best possible digital music format. The Philips TDA1543 DAC is implemented in a non-oversampling digital filterless circuit, and the analogue output stage is equipped with the quite exceptional 6111WA miniature dual triode.

CD 1.1x CD Player

The CD1.1x is the latest incarnation of Audio Note UK’s long running and ever popular Level One Integrated Red Book CD player.

It has been specifically engineered for sonic performance rather than technical specification, and fulfils all Audio Note (UK) Level 1 criteria.

The in-house custom modified Philips front loading CD mechanism is designed purely to read true Red Book CD, which in Audio Note UK’s opinion is still the best possible Digital music format currently available.

The Philips TDA1543 DAC is implemented in a non-oversampling digital filterless circuit, and the analogue output stage is equipped with the quite exceptional 6111WA miniature dual triode and our own Audio Note (UK) Tin Foil output capacitors.

The CDT-One/II is equipped with both single ended / RCA 75 Ohm SPDif and balanced / XLR 110 Ohm AES / EBU, transformer coupled, digital outputs.

CD 2.1x/II CD Player

Level Two Red Book CD player. The original CDT 2 was an instant success on its launch, and its direct descendent, the current CDT-e/II, builds and improves upon the original model's performance. The CD 2.1x/II is essentially a component upgraded version of the CD 1.1x, equipped with better parts such as our own custom produced Audio Note (UK) tantalum resistors, Cerafine capacitors and Audio Note (UK) copper foil capacitors, making for a more open, detailed and lively performance in comparison with its more affordable stable mate.

It has been specifically engineered for sonic performance rather than technical specification, and fulfils all Audio Note (UK) Level 2 criteria.

The CD 2.1x/II uses an in-house modified Philips L1210 dedicated Red Book CD mechanism and a simple yet revealing DAC based around the Philips 1543 16 bit multi-bit digital to analogue converter chip. The analogue output stage is equipped with the quite exceptional 6111WA miniature triode and our own in house designed and manufactured Audio Note (UK) copper foil capacitors. This player, like its bigger brothers, features no oversampling and no digital filtering, making for a highly effective sonic combination all housed in a small and robust chassis.

CD 3.1x/II CD Player

Level Three Red Book CD Player. Welcome to the latest version of Audio Note UK’s long running and highly regarded Level Three integrated machine. If you're looking for the best possible sound quality from Red Book CD in a small, perfectly formed “half width” chassis, look no further. The original CD3 was an instant classic, and is still loved and used by many discerning audiophiles around the world. This current version brings the design right up to date, and dramatically improves on the previous incarnations in every possible area.

It has been specifically engineered for sonic performance rather than technical specification, and fulfils all Audio Note (UK) Level 3 criteria.

The CD3.1x/II is the first model of integrated CD player in our range to feature the highly regarded Analogue Devices AD1865 digital to analogue converter chip, the same device that we use in our more costly stand alone DACs. This 18bit device has consistently outperformed every competing chip we have tested regardless of specification or price.

The transport is our now classic in house modified Philips CD mechanism, designed purely to read true Red Book CD, which in Audio Note UK’s opinion is still the best possible Digital music format currently available.

The analogue output stage features two ECC88 dual triode valves and our own custom designed and manufactured Audio Note (UK) copper foil capacitors. Our own Tantalum resistors are also used in critical areas, offering a quite remarkable level of performance.

CD 4.1x CD Player

Level Four Red Book CD Player. The CD4.1x is a completely new machine which elevates the one-box CD player to hitherto unknown levels of performance. Never before has it been possible to achieve such quite astonishingly superior levels of digital replay from a single chassis, integrated design.

It has been specifically engineered for sonic performance rather than technical specification, and fulfils all Audio Note (UK) Level 4 criteria.

Its shares many of the elements found in two of our most highly regarded Digital playback devices, the CDT Two/II and the DAC2.1x. However, the component quality contained within its solid and purposeful chassis exceeds that of either machine. Audio Note UK’s own Tantalum resistors are used, as are a selection of the legendary Black Gate signal Capacitors.​

The Digital section features the highly regarded Analog Devices AD1865 digital to analogue converter chip, the same device that we use in our highest level stand alone DACs. This 18bit device has consistently outperformed every competing chip we have tested regardless of specification or price.
The analogue output stage is based around two ECC88 dual triode valves, and the output capacitors are our own Audio Note (UK) copper foil variety.

Special attention has been paid to the power supplies in the CD4.1x; even the display has its own dedicated supply, which reduces internal noise to an exceptionally low level. Also - and surprisingly for a one box machine - the power supply is a valve rectified design, using a single 6X5.

CD 5.1x CD Player

Level Three Red Book CD Player. The CD5.1x is a completely new machine which elevates the one-box CD player to hitherto unknown levels of performance. Never before has it been possible to achieve such quite astonishingly superior levels of digital replay from a single chassis, integrated design.

The CD5.1x features the top-loading Philips CD Pro 2LF CD mechanism, which we custom modify and improve in-house, bringing the performance of this already excellent mechanism up to a standard that is truly in a class of its own.The power supply is a valve rectified and regulated design, using a 6X5 and ECL82.

The analogue output stage uses a combination of 1 x 5814a and 1 x 5687WB valves, feeding a pair of our world-renowned output transformers, using SHiB cores with copper primaries and secondaries. A mix of our own 0.5 Watt and 1 Watt non- magnetic Tantalum resistors are used in all critical areas, as are our own custom Audio Note (UK) foil / Mylar and electrolytic capacitors. The CD5.1x uses our own in-house designed and manufactured digital transformers; silver wound for the Transport side and copper wound for the DAC side.