PHILLIPS CD850 MkII

This CD player has been described as the last audiophile CD that phillips made before allowing Marantz to take over this area of the market.  I have made some modifications to this CD player and it still out performs many recent respected players in its current form (Not currently using the DAC shown either!). I should know I have had 4 CD players on loan from £800 to £1200 and none came even close. I will not name the 4 tested but they were all either "What HiFi" award winners or recommended by the shop. I have to say that for £1000 i would have expected much more. More on the mods in the modifications page.

One main advantage of this transport is that is uses a pivot swinging arm laser pickup. This is definitely not the norm now. Cheap plastic worm and grub is the order of the day.

One area skimpt on in the player (the first hi end Differential  Mode Bitstream) player was the rest of the transport. Earlier models user cast chassis but although this retains a superior laser pickup, the deck is sadly plastic! This has been addressed in the mods page take a look.