Those looking for the ultimate CD players with audiophile-grade components will be impressed by the compact Onkyo C-7030 CD player. Enhanced by the exclusive VLSC for smoother sounding audio signal and less interference, you will marvel at the crystal-clear playback. The system is driven by a massive, custom-built transformer that provides a clean and stable power supply. A 1/16" (1.6 mm)-thick flat chassis base helps reduce unwanted vibrations, while the sleek aluminum front panel provides an elegant finish. You can listen to your favorite tracks in superior fidelity all the time.
In conventional digital-to-analog conversion methods, it’s impossible to completely remove noise. This noise taints the analog signal and ultimately degrades the sound emitted from your speakers. With Onkyo’s VLSC, though, data is continuously sampled between two discrete points—via a signal comparison generator—and the difference is joined with analog vectors in real time to produce a smooth output waveform. The VLSC digital-to-analog conversion method results in an accurate, virtually pulse noise-free audio signal that faithfully reproduces the acoustic detail and subtle nuances of all your audio sources, and breathes life into digital media
The C-7030 boasts a precise clocking mechanism that controls and coordinates the timing of all digital signal processes— rather like how a conductor directs and coordinates the individual instruments of an orchestra. The C-7030 uses a state-of-the-art crystal oscillator that achieves a frequency deviation of ±10 ppm—much lower than with a conventional oscillator.
A high-quality digital-to-analog converter works to optimize audio performance on the C-7030. This DAC performs advanced 24-bit signal processing and supports sampling rates of up to 192 kHz, while displaying high resistance to clock jitter. With this DAC on board, the C-7030 delivers a pristine conversion of digital signals into analog audio output.
When it comes to parts and construction, it’s not in Onkyo’s DNA to cut any corners. The C-7030 is no exception. Build quality starts from the ground up with a highly rigid, 1/16? (1.6 mm)-thick, fully flat chassis that provides excellent protection against shelf-borne vibrations.
Pros: Sounds great, looks good, works well, and priced exceptionally.
Cons: Some people might find it larger than expected, considering it's a single tray player.
Overall Review: I bought the C-7030 elsewhere, but Newegg seems to have better pricing which is why I thought I'd write a review. I'd consider myself a budget audiophile, and in my pursuit of increased enjoyment from my music I recently ventured back into cd's. I hadn't used any since iPods became popular, but every self respecting audio magazine used them for all of their tests. After some research, I concluded that there is no better cd player for the price and (importantly) the availability. Seems that a lot of sub-$500 players have quality issues that require service or replacement units, so the fact that the C-7030 is made by such a huge company is very good. Anyway, I've had it for several weeks now and I have been playing every cd I own. Music I'd heard a million times in MP3 format sounded vastly better and even my wife (who is not as devoted to audio quality) noticed a difference. I don't have much else to compare it to, as my last cd player was a 20 year old Sony 5 disk player, but I absolutely love everything about the C-7030. Can't imagine a better way to introduce yourself to cd quality music.