Just installed my "new" beosystem 7000, just for fun/comparison also connected my beogram CDX, put a CD with Bach's partitas by Murray Perahia in, and guess what?

The CDX sounds best! More natural sound compared to the beogram cd7000, which sound more clinical/mettalic. Unbelievable. Just needed to share this experience...

Theres lots of CDX fans on here. In my opinion its easily the best sounding CD player B&O have made even though they didnt make all of it!

Bu to be fair on the cd70000, it has a better defined sound, more clear and perhaps therefore lacks a bit of warmth. Difficult subject, music!

CDX definitely has a very warmed sound. Maybe it was because it was one of the first...transition from LP to CD. LP's always give a warmer sound, so perhaps they were trying to keep that warmth?

Years ago my brother in law bought a CDX to go with his BS2200 system. Years after I had a Sony CD playing through my BM5000. He was told his CDX was "beyond repair"and so he gave it to me - if I could fix it it was mine! It took no more than a few touches of a soldering iron to repair some dry joints and it was in as "new" condition. I played it with a copy of the same CD and switched between the Sony and the CDX - chalk and cheese! In fact I couldn't keep it - I had to phone him and tell him how much better it was and he could have it back! That was when I bought a CD50 and scrapped the Sony - I never did compare the CD50 to the CDX but i believe they both sound "special" compared to the the newer players - having said that, I haven't compared the CD5500 to the CD50 either, Peter says the CD5500 is better and I have no reason to disbelieve him.

The CDX & the CD50 were both highly regarded at the time, even given that the press knew the "base" machines (Philips & Aiwa), and the B&O "style over substance" hype was current, even back then!

The CDX & CD50 are both quite similar sounding with the CDX being my personal favourite of the 2. It is probably due to the 14 bit oversampling which gives it a less obviously digital sound posessed by most other CD players. Pretty much like playing a perfect vinyl record which is a real boon to old fogies like myself who were raised on this media although it's interesting that even my offspring are in awe of these machines.

A classic case of less is more

Chris.

Beogram CDX is a wonderful sounding piece of kit, I have to say. Agree with Chris that the sound most likely has something to do with it only been 14 bit oversampling. Just about to recap one, when I get the time.

Craig

The CD7000 and others were Philips-based machines.

They sound fantastic with a non-oversampling mod.

It's all detailed here.

There is a lot you can do with the B&O Philips-based machines (those with the TDA1541 DAC) to make them incredible.

Chris - this is a download link only! If this not OK, feel free to delete it.

http://www.condoraudio.com/wp-content/uploads/Projects/Philips-CD650-CD-Player-Restoration-Repair.pdf

Menahem

The CDX was completely Philips made in Holland. Lovely CD player though I do think the warmth is probably distortion! Very nice though! The CD50 is a 16 bit machine and I don't think it is as warm as the CDX. It does sound quite similar though. The CD5500 is my favourite though - wonderful detail and I think it has better bass than the other two. Have got all three though not surpisingly, the CD50 is not working at present!

Peter,

Is that a diplomatic way of saying "Help me fix the CD50"?

Not really! Tim has fixed it recently but it is misbehaving again. I use the CD5500 and CDX in preference anyway so it will wait! But thank you for the offer!

I seem to remember my CDX having "Made in Austria" on the tag but I'm sure that makes no difference to the sound - I agree it is pleasantly warm.

I think they were made for B&O by Philips rather than being made by B&O using Philips parts. Maybe that accounts for the dry solder joints that are the Achilles heel of the CDX.

Joints aside, they are pretty durable but do give up eventually and even re-soldering doesn't do the trick. Shame there was no remote control on the early ones.

As my Beomaster 6500 has no sound through the outputs I have been using my white Beomaster 8000 and CDX/Beocord 9000 instead.

I like my Beogram CD6500 but can't tell if the CDX sounds better or how much but it sounds warm and very nice on the ears regardless of the music.

The achilles heel must be the left hinge. Any other B&O of the same age do need service too of same sort regardless if its Phillips inside or what ever it is. I had dry soldering in my Beogram 8002 and several other units.

My CDX was a rather hopeless unit when I got it. Left hinge broke and it could not read or whatever it was. Dillen could do the latter part but if it was not for medogsfat /chris the CDX vould have been scraped of.

I do not miss remote option that much but on the 6500 I love it.