Denafrips Avatar CD transport

QuadDiffuser

VIP/Donor
Apr 2, 2017
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Santa arrived unexpectedly early last night, bringing me the Denafrips Avatar CD transport, a component with mythical - no unicorn status, due to its scarcity/rarity over the past six months. Since selling my Teac P70VU transport eight years ago after acquiring the Aurender W20 music server, I confess I hadn't played a CD "properly", and upon hearing the heavenly music played by this humble-looking (and priced) transport, my auditory senses have been reawakened by the reality that real-time CD playback through a well-designed transport, in this case sporting cutting edge technology from 2019/2020, beats any "full resolution" streamed digital source from TIDAL, as well as the same file ripped via DBpoweramp to ALAC/FLAC and stored on the Aurender's HD.

I'm currently using Stealth's Sextet AES/EBU cable (vintage 2001?) to connect the Avatar with my MSB Select II's matching input module. I have yet to connect the clock link, as I can't seem to find my twin BNC data cable, but the sonic performance is already quite extraordinary.

Denafrips is an increasingly popular and successful Chinese audio company whose products are making huge splashes across the global audiophile community, distinguished for their build, design, execution, and excellent cost/performance ratio. Accordingly, I believe that each one of Denafrip's flagship products deserves its own unique thread because there will be plenty to discuss in coming years, as these products evolve.
IMG_2692.JPG
 
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Golum

Well-Known Member
Jun 7, 2018
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Welcome to the fan group of Dena Avatar transport :). I've got mine back in June (guess it was in the initial batch) and I agree full that it's a totally phenomenal performer considering bang for the buck and I guess even beyond.
Enjoy it!
 

jespera

Well-Known Member
Jan 12, 2018
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London
Santa arrived unexpectedly early last night, bringing me the Denafrips Avatar CD transport, a component with mythical - no unicorn status, due to its scarcity/rarity over the past six months. Since selling my Teac P70VU transport eight years ago after acquiring the Aurender W20 music server, I confess I hadn't played a CD "properly", and upon hearing the heavenly music played by this humble-looking (and priced) transport, my auditory senses have been reawakened by the reality that real-time CD playback through a well-designed transport, in this case sporting cutting edge technology from 2019/2020, beats any "full resolution" streamed digital source from TIDAL, as well as the same file ripped via DBpoweramp to ALAC/FLAC and stored on the Aurender's HD.

I'm currently using Stealth's Sextet AES/EBU cable (vintage 2001?) to connect the Avatar with my MSB Select II's matching input module. I have yet to connect the clock link, as I can't seem to find my twin BNC data cable, but the sonic performance is already quite extraordinary.

Denafrips is an increasingly popular and successful Chinese audio company whose products are making huge splashes across the global audiophile community, distinguished for their build, design, execution, and excellent cost/performance ratio. Accordingly, I believe that each one of Denafrip's flagship products deserves its own unique thread because there will be plenty to discuss in coming years, as these products evolve.
View attachment 72694

One day, one day, through the technological revolution, of course, it may get just as good as some of the early phillips cd transports.

Worth a shot. Keep me posted.

Jesper
 
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ack

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
May 6, 2010
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Congrats, and great to see you using AES/EBU - down with this USB stuff
 
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Esotar

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Mar 27, 2016
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www.digituslabs.kr
Wow~!

Select II + Avatar??????

Very shocking~!!

I'm dealer of DENAFRIPS

Your thread is huge helpful to me

Thanks~!
 
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QuadDiffuser

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Apr 2, 2017
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View attachment 73006

Thoroughly enjoying mine, spinning CDs is hip again! :) Only nitpick I have is the display cannot be turned off.
Hello Raykkho, I've never seen the black version of the Avatar - it's beautiful ! I love the contrast between the white silk-screened letters and the dark substrate. I went with the brushed silver finish because of the risk of huge variances in the consistency and quality of black anodization so typical of audio components - typically, none of them match, even when they come off of side-by-side from the same assembly line (acid bath). Also, I concur with your comment about the display not being able to be turned off - it's such a "low hanging fruit", whose addition would surely elevate the Avatar's market and retail value by double-digits of the incremental cost of adding such a feature. I have half a dozen other suggestions (constructive criticisms) for Denafrips. Let's use this Forum thread to share our thoughts!
 
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spiritofmusic

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Jun 13, 2013
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E. England
Haha, guys returning to spinning CDs...some of us never went away.
 

Golum

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Jun 7, 2018
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Just looked at their website and the Avatar does NOT appear to have a digital input. Never understood why new CD players don't include a digital input so they could also function as a DAC from a music server. I understand they want to sell you a DAC too, but why not design new CD players that would appeal to both crowds? One less power cord, interconnect, and shelf would be a bonus feature!
Don’t really get your post as Avatar as such is pure CD transport without DAC and needs external DAC to do the job...
 

gds7368

VIP/Donor
Jan 9, 2015
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You're right ... if it's a transport then it doesn't have a built-in DAC. I thought it had a DAC as well ....
 
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raykkho

Member
Dec 28, 2020
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Hello Raykkho, I've never seen the black version of the Avatar - it's beautiful ! I love the contrast between the white silk-screened letters and the dark substrate. I went with the brushed silver finish because of the risk of huge variances in the consistency and quality of black anodization so typical of audio components - typically, none of them match, even when they come off of side-by-side from the same assembly line (acid bath). Also, I concur with your comment about the display not being able to be turned off - it's such a "low hanging fruit", whose addition would surely elevate the Avatar's market and retail value by double-digits of the incremental cost of adding such a feature. I have half a dozen other suggestions (constructive criticisms) for Denafrips. Let's use this Forum thread to share our thoughts!
Yes it is. I understand what you meant by consistency, I would not say it is a perfect job but fairly good to me. I prefer my equipment to get out of the way visually when I listen, hence my choice. Regardless this is one of the best audio investments in a very long time. I am wondering if anything can be done by the factory to disable the display on our current batch, there are plenty of unused buttons on the remote.
 
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richard_crl032

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Sep 10, 2019
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Singapore
Hi,

The Avatar really shines when paired with Terminator Plus dac to sync to single sealed oxco clock.

I have mine daisy chained synced with the Denafrip Hermes dcc to the TP which works flawlessly.

Indeed will be great if the display can be switched off ... oled does bad thing when switched on 24/7 as in my case.

Cheers.

Richard

PS: Silver Avatar for me for obvious reason

Screenshot_20210223-020812_Drive.jpg
 

Asbas

Well-Known Member
Mar 14, 2021
12
12
68
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Denmark
Hi
Im New here, and live in Denmark. I Would like to tell you about my experience with the Avatar cd transport. I got it September 2020 and lovede the sound of it. It is a really great transport but I had a problem. Some CD's i would not read, or it just stoped reading the disc for no reason. The cds could be read by other cd players and I was confused. But again, it sounded great when it could read the disc.
After a lot of writing with the importer i shipped it to him and now 5 weeks later i got my money return, so great service from the importer. He could not give me a New unit becaurse the manufacturer Would not send a New one.
I can only guess why, but what i think is that there is a failure in the buffer in the mk. 1 and mk. 2 version (mine was a mk. 2) There is now a mk. 3 version you can buy direct from Denafrips where i think they have corrected this error. Denafrips is only about the money as I see it. But again this is my opinion and not something i know for sure. But I think it is relevant to know.

I wrote this in another thread related about Denafrips too, becaurse i think it a usefull information. Just take it for my opinion. Nothing more and nothing less.

Regards
 

QuadDiffuser

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Apr 2, 2017
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Hong Kong
Dear Asbas, thank you for posting your experiences with the Avatar on this thread.
I wasn't aware that there were three different versions - mk1, mk2, and mk3 - can you perhaps share how one is able to tell them apart?
 

Asbas

Well-Known Member
Mar 14, 2021
12
12
68
45
Denmark
You are welcome QuadDiffusor. I belive that you CAN NOT tell them apart from the outside, but you can always ask the manufacturer. That is the best i can do.
 

QuadDiffuser

VIP/Donor
Apr 2, 2017
373
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Hong Kong
That totally makes sense! Mine arrived fresh in HK right before Christmas 2020, so fingers crossed it’s the latest mk3 model. I’m not aware of any user-downloadable firmware, but there may be some hints in the code should this be made available one day. One feature which would be really nice to have, is a toggle (via the remote) to turn the front panel display on/off.
 
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charles1dad

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Aug 22, 2021
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Michigan, USA.
Hello longing,
Three highly praised CD transports that are 'reasonably ' priced I'll list them as how they are ranked by people have heard them.
1Pro-Ject RS2 CD BOX Transport.
2 Jay's Audio Lab CD T2 MK 3
3 P.S.Audio Perfect Wave CD/SACD Transport.

According to quite a few the Pro-Ject RS2 Transport is superb sounding and improves further with an optional linear power supply. I currently use an older generation P.S. Audio Perfect Wave Transport which has served me beautifully for 8 years. I will very likely purchase the Pro-Ject unit.l
Best of luck,
Charles
 
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richard_crl032

Well-Known Member
Sep 10, 2019
107
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Singapore
Hi Charles,

Not sure if Denafrip Avatar that is cheaper than Jay is still available ... I had both.

The Avatar allows you to have SINGLE higher quality clock when synced to suitable Denafrip dac or ddc like in my case the Denafrip Terminator Plus with its high quality oxco clock.

I sold my Jay at a bargain but had enuff to get the Avatar. Just take note that both uses oled display that dies if you left them 24/7 .. within months.

Cheers.

Richard
 
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Addicted to hifi

VIP/Donor
Sep 8, 2020
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Santa arrived unexpectedly early last night, bringing me the Denafrips Avatar CD transport, a component with mythical - no unicorn status, due to its scarcity/rarity over the past six months. Since selling my Teac P70VU transport eight years ago after acquiring the Aurender W20 music server, I confess I hadn't played a CD "properly", and upon hearing the heavenly music played by this humble-looking (and priced) transport, my auditory senses have been reawakened by the reality that real-time CD playback through a well-designed transport, in this case sporting cutting edge technology from 2019/2020, beats any "full resolution" streamed digital source from TIDAL, as well as the same file ripped via DBpoweramp to ALAC/FLAC and stored on the Aurender's HD.

I'm currently using Stealth's Sextet AES/EBU cable (vintage 2001?) to connect the Avatar with my MSB Select II's matching input module. I have yet to connect the clock link, as I can't seem to find my twin BNC data cable, but the sonic performance is already quite extraordinary.

Denafrips is an increasingly popular and successful Chinese audio company whose products are making huge splashes across the global audiophile community, distinguished for their build, design, execution, and excellent cost/performance ratio. Accordingly, I believe that each one of Denafrip's flagship products deserves its own unique thread because there will be plenty to discuss in coming years, as these products evolve.
View attachment 72694
Very nice transport.
 
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