Fosi Audio Merak CD Player

Love my Merak CD Player

OK..I actually ordered the Merak CD Player via the Chinese Fosi site and not Australian Amazon, so that I could jump the queue, and get it a bit earlier. Fosi China GOOD! Australian freight forwarders BAD. Wow, looks like they were overworked and under-paid students...I was worried my Merak CD Player would never arrive - but it did weeks later and Fosi kindly gave me some credits for the lateness -GOOD Fosi customer service - love you guys! Anyway to the review. I checked with Fosi if the Merak CD Player optical out (using it as transport) was compatible with my Fosi Audio K5 Pro DAC, and of course it was. Then I ran theFosi Audio K5 Pro into my 40+ year old Bose 1800 amp, powering my Krix Equinox Mk3 bookshelf speakers and played my best jazz original cd pressings. Hours later, I switched out the optical connection, and used my new Fosi Audio 3.5 mm to Dual RCA cable between the Merak CD Player and the Bose 1800 amp instead. I could only discern a slight difference between the two different hook-ups. The K5 Pro uses a Cirrus Logic CS431xx with an OPTICAL INPUT Sampling Rate of up to 24bit/192 kHz where as the Merak CD Player's DAC is a Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC Optical Output on the Merak which should have a 16bit / 96kHz sampling rate...So who knows. I actually prefer the line out / line in to amp, and I love the simplicity, as well as sound. The Merak CD Player remote control has all the functionality needed, and in my overpopulated remote control collection, is my new favourite. I use a spare Samsung Mobile Phone USB-C 2 amp charger to power the Merak, and have no problems with this power solution. To power-up my system, I turn the power amp (Bose1800) on with input turned down, use the remote to power on the Merak, after loading a CD, and as it only takes 2 seconds to spin up and load the CD, use that time to turn up the AMP volume...to suit. Gapless playback, luscious sound and cheecky presence...Fosi LOVE is all around the sound. AndrewT

Full scale sound from an amazing compact CD player

I have had several weeks now to listen to and experience the FOSI Merak compact CD player. To date it has worked flawlessly. It offers gapless playback and even plays 80 minute long CDs reliably. I am playing it with its internal DAQ using the line-out and the well built FOSI miniature to RCA cable. It is easy to use, especially with the included remote that allows selection of speciic tracks, The sound is open with some air between the instruments and realistic and clear rendition of the different instruments, even on more complex musical tracks. The highs are non fatiguing and offer some shimmer and tingle like analogue. The lows are textured and well balanced with the mids and highs. The music dynamics are rendered with very good definition providing an involving listen. Overall, the FOSI Merak CD player is a pleasure to operate and to listen to. Thanks very much. Roman

Leuke audiofiele bijzondere cd speler

Het leuke aan de speler visueel is dat je de cd schijf ziet draaien door de doorzichtge klep in een mooie behuizing. Het audiofiele aspect is dat de speler via opt makkelijk te koppelen is aan een externe dac. Als je er een usb stick jn koppelt met bijvoorbeeld je favoriete playlist die je in random stand kan afspelen kan je eenvoudig wisselen naar beluisteren cd en playlist. Mij bevalt de herbeleving van het beluisteren van cd' s vanwege een veel bewuster muziek luisteren icm het visuele genot van dr cd speler wat je met creatieve opleukverlichting nog extra kan accentueren. Kortom voor mij top product.