EAR ACUTE CLASSIC CDP, Cust. Trade, Tube Output, Warranty!

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EAR Acute Classic CD Player/DAC, Customer trade, approx. 6 mos.old, 9/10 condition. Three month dealer warranty.

Retail $6,800, sell for $4,400

Testimonials (on current Classic and previous EAR Acute MK3 models)

“The EAR Classic CDP seems a bargain compared to the ca $10,000 players I’ve been reviewing of late – and one that I can keenly recommend.”
- Art Dudley, Stereophile, March, 2017

EAR Acute Classic - HiFi Choice Recommended

'The EAR Acute Classic excels at taking modest digital files and turning them into refined music'
 - Chris Ward, Hi Fi Choice, September, 2016 (read the review)

EAR Acute CD MK3 Player - The Absolute Sound Editor's Choice Award Winner!

"[The Acute] was smooth in a way that does not suppress information or add euphony. It is blessedly neutral in its character and its reproduction of the human voice is quite simply excellent... What struck me then was the airy sweetness and extension of its high-frequency performance, entirely atypical for almost all digital players, and enchanting... Truth is, I like the unstressed quality of the top octaves here..."
- Harry Pearson, HP's Workshop, The Absolute Sound

"The EAR Acute MK3 CD Player bested two $15k players and everything else I've heard. No it's not affordable to those that don't save, but if you can save and want a terrific CD player, this is it. This is the best CD player I've heard yet. Had the Acute been around, I probably would have purchased a less expensive analog set up and simply committed myself to Redbook CDs. Oh, it doesn't play any of the "superior" formats-I'm devastated. Tube rolling allows you to get the sound you want, though I loved the stock tubes. No review forthcoming, though perhaps a purchase."
- Larry Cox, Positive Feedback Online

"The highs are extraordinary for digital-extended, accurate, delicate, and oh so musical. The high band is unsurpassed by any tubed digital source I've heard, and may be superior to the best solid-state digital sources, at any price... The mids are more realistic, warmer, and fleshier than the best solid-state digital reproduction, at any price. The EAR Acute MK3 CD Player has a superbly detailed, nuanced midband. The best solid-state is just as smooth and detailed, but less texturally accurate, and less involving. The Acute is intimate and colorful, while top solid-state is more snappy, yet more detached and bland. The Acute is swaggering and powerful... I bought the review sample, and it is now my CD player reference".
- Robert H. Levi, Positive Feedback Online (read the review)

Overview

EAR Acute Classic CD Player and DAC

Back for an encore
The Acute CD player is reborn. When designing the new EAR Acute Classic, Audio Designer Tim de Paravicini took inspiration from the original EAR Acute. Building on its virtues, his all-new design was built from the ground up to provide an improved listening experience. An elegant design and EAR's extensive knowledge, amassed over a thirty-year history, has culminated in the Acute Classic.






The new classic

With sleek modern styling and more than a nod to classic quality, the EAR Acute Classic is built to last. Its details are lavished by a hand-polished mirror chrome finish, forming the basis of a timeless design. Its aesthetic is married to leading digital and analogue technology, creating a visual and audible feast for the senses.
The display and power light both emit a luxurious warm hue, providing subtle cues to the glowing valves within. The large volume knob is also a statement of the product's analogue nature, emphasising the simplicity of interaction. This is honoured by the Acute's interface, which makes it even more intuitive to experience your digital media.





Digital music reimagined
The Acute Classic's abilities are not limited to CDs thanks to its built-in DAC. Unphased by even the most demanding formats, the Acute has the ability to run 192KHz 24bit sources. Connectivity is covered by the gold standards of digital inputs. Supporting USB, Optical and Coaxial S/PDIF makes it adept for dealing with your future digital audio needs. DACs have become a necessity for the playback of high-quality digital music. While your source of digital music may be forever changing, you can rest assured your Acute will still be capable of processing your future digital content. It's the one investment in digital worth having.

Features

The defining duo
The use of two ECC88 valves help form the basis of the sound signature for which EAR has become renowned. It is a configuration that shone in the Acute 3 and now finds itself in the Acute Classic. The layout has been enhanced by borrowing the winning formula of the high-performance EAR Dac 4. Tim de Paravicini further refined the design to match the increasing capabilities of digital audio but with adherence to analogue purity that epitomises high-end audio.





The merit of mass

The acute classic features two dedicated output transformers, whose construction give an exceptional signal to noise ratio. Their bespoke design was conceived specifically for audio. They are built by hand in Cambridgeshire to EAR's exacting standards. The circuitry was then developed in tandem to ensure they work harmoniously with the valves. This gives rise to the composed sound that has become synonymous with EAR products.





The perfect mix

Vinyl quality sound, digital convenience
The digital circuitry at its heart has been designed to optimise high-resolution digital media. Each step has been carefully considered from receiving digital information, to its conversion to analogue. The digital processing uses a bespoke circuit and signal transformers to boost the low levels created by the Wolfson WM8741 DAC, whilst minimising noise and distortion. The unique design enables crisp audio without the harshness typically experienced with digital sources.

Specifications

• Tubes: Two PCC88 (6DJ8) or ECC88 (7DJ8)


• Audio Formats supported: CD 44.1 kHz, 16 bit PCM
  SPDIF upto 192 KHz, 24 bit PCM
  Toslink upto 96 KHz, 24 bit PCM
  USB 2.0 (PC/MAC) 44.1K - 192 KHz,
  16 - 24 bit PCM


• Connectivity:
  One USB Input (PC and MAC)
  One SPDIF Input (RCA)
  One SPDIF Input (Toslink)
  One Stereo Line Output 5V (RCA)
  One Stereo Balanced Output 5V (XLR)
  One Headphone Output (1/4") 16-100 Ω


• Performance:
  Total Harmonic Distortion 0.5% @ 5 Volts 20Hz - 20Khz
  Signal to Noise 95db 40KHz Bandwidth


• Dimensions & Weight:
  Weight: 8.00kg (17.7lb)
  Width: 435mm (17.2")
  Depth: 285mm (11.2")
  Height: 65mm (2.7")


• Power Consumption: 30 watts, 240 volt / 110 Volt / 100 Volt )depending on model

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California sales subject to sales tax.

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WANT a Faster Response? Email us directly at [email protected] rather than thru the Audiogon system. Thanks in advance!