TWO (R)EVOLUTIONARY CD PLAYERS (CREEK EVO & REGA APOLLO) We are entering the golden age of CD replay. For the past 25 years, digital has slowly evolved. Think back to the first one box players, the discovery of jitter, the first two box players, the DAC-upgrade craze, increasing oversampling, 16 to 18 to 20 to 22 to 24 bit sampling, transport damping, etc. There HAVE been monumental improvements as the engineers first identified the problems in the system and then searched for ways to fix them. Today we find ourselves with a wealth of knowledge and most of the expensive advancements have trickled down to the cheapest players. Is there still a chasm between the cheapest and most expensive players? Yes, but not to the degree there was 10 or even 5 years ago. We are entering the golden age of CD playback and the beneficiaries are the two-channel fans who want something affordable. The wait was worth it. I would like to highlight two players that are worthy of the title “giant-killer”. They are the Creek Evo and the Rega Apollo. Both retail for around $1200 ($1150 & $1295 respectively) and both offer state of the art technology. At the price there are simply no competitors. The sound of each player is based on the fundamentals: superb tonal balance, imaging, rhythm, pace AND musicality. Where they differ is in functional, aesthetic and ultimately personal preference as to the sound. The Creek is built like a battleship and feels worth every penny. The gorgeous brushed aluminum face plate is slim and understated while the blue LCD (dimmable) provides a very modern focus to the front panel. Around back the high quality jacks continue the feeling of quality and really pay dividends with the sound. Operation of the tray and buttons is smooth and as well-damped as you might see on a $5000 machine. Ergonomics are near perfect. Soundwise, the Evo excites from the first notes. There are no errors of omission or commission here, just a completely neutral and transparent recreation of the full spectrum of sound. Looking at each component of the tonal range it is first surprising at the bass authority on offer (unheard of at this price even 5 years ago), the midrange is characteristically open and evocative and the treble is as extended as anything under $3000 while remaining smooth and admirably grain free. To put the level of grain into perspective, the Evo achieves an SACD-like ease while remaining crisp and detailed. Only in comparision to the megabucks players from Ayre or Linn could one say that grain could be significantly reduced. This is an exceptional all-round player which rewards well recorded material and goes a great distance to marrying the effortless of vinyl with the insight of CD. The Rega Apollo sets out with a slightly different philosophy. First of all, it is a top loader which will please many LP fanatics. It IS fun to put the disc in. This also has the added benefit of reducing the complexity of the drive mechanism because there is no drawer. The player is less substantial than the Creek but follows Rega’s philosophy of spending the least on “packaging” and the most on the internals. The distinctive design more than makes up for the perceived lack of weight. This is a player for the individual both in looks AND sound. As with the Creek, technology is first rate and the Rega uses a specially designed transport module to optimize the laser and motor to most effectively read each disc. The results are impressive. On first listen you are taken by the smoothness of the player as a whole. While perhaps a little rolled off in the very highest frequencies compared to the Creek, this allows an almost visceral entry way into the music. The Apollo leaves no part of the sound STANDING OUT and like many a good turntable simply plays the music. In absolute terms, you are treated to a similar rock-solid bass as to the Creek (although again perhaps a touch warmer) and the midrange is in every way the Creek’s equal. Choosing between the two players is perhaps the most enjoyable job an audiophile could currently have. Both of these players are absolutely stunning and superb at playing all kinds of music. The choice is ultimately going to come down to personal preference. For those who truly want to be emotionally immersed in the music and are satisfied with accepting that all the detail is there supporting it, the Rega is the player to have. This is the kind of classic player that you can have for 20 years and every time you push play it brings a smile to your face. For those who want the emotion of the music and want to KNOW the details that are making that possible, the Creek is the winner. This is the kind of player that never stops unearthing detail in recordings you thought were simplistic or even badly done. The textures it can bring out in a Coltrane solo or a complex set of choir voices is up there with the very best. Close your eyes and this is the kind of player that gives you all the information to imagine the space and texture of a live event or complex studio setup. Five years ago imagining either of these players costing less than $5000 would have been impossible. Will we continue to see this kind of improvement in the next 5 years? Doubtful. Engineers have exploited most of the tricks to squeeze more information from the limited bits off a CD and economies of scale and cheap Chinese manufacture are already upon us. It took 20 years to get CD right but now is the best time ever for the value-conscious audiophile to buy. Creek Evo Website Rega Apollo Website