Onkyo C-722 CD-player

For today's test, we chose the Onkyo C-722. Although this CD player was designed to work with Onkyo's 720 Series Component System, it can be used on its own with any other Hi-Fi components. Therefore, the appearance of this player in our test is quite justified and understandable. So, the "baby" Onkyo, despite the rather modest dimensions of its case (the width of its front panel is only 275 mm), is the most real component CD player, and of a very, very high class. In addition to mini-dimensions, another characteristic feature of this player, which immediately catches the eye, is the silver color of its body. In strict accordance with the laws of dialectics about the spiral of development, silver Hi-Fi components, ousted from the market 15 years ago by a massive invasion of gloomy black boxes, are now back on horseback and are rapidly taking revenge for their past defeat. At least in the class of component micro- and mini-systems, Silver color blocks today clearly dominate over "brunettes". The Onkyo C-722 CD player is just one of them. Although there are not so many controls on the "muzzle" of the player, and they allow you to control only the most necessary functions, this does not mean at all that the C-722 cannot do anything else. Not at all! It's just that these functions are available from the remote control, which - alas! - Not included with CD player. The easiest way to fully realize its functionality is as part of the Onkyo system. In this case, all audio components of the system are controlled from one amplifier console via the wired RI bus. The cable for connecting the bus together with the interblock sound is included in the player's package. But in principle, the C-722 can do without it, since with his "solo career" remote control of its functions is also possible using the remote control (RC-289Q, which can be purchased separately). In this case, the Onkyo C-722 will have access to almost all the functions of programming the order of playing tracks from a CD, which are available on all modern CD players. On the rear panel of the player are RCA connectors for analog audio output, digital optical audio output, as well as input/output connectors for connecting system bus cables. In addition, there is a mains socket on the rear wall for connecting additional audio components with a power consumption of up to 100 watts. To be honest, we have never seen anything like this in CD players. In the electrical part of the player's circuitry, branded single-bit DACs FPCS (Fine Pulse Conversion System) are used, which provide a juicy and bright Onki sound to all its CD players. The circuit with 8-fold oversampling of the digital signal is used as a digital filter. The technical characteristics of the C-722 are like those of a "large" CD player, for which a device with twice the dimensions would not have to blush. However, with a modern element base, when the lion's share of the occupied internal volume of a CD player falls on the transport mechanism unit and on the mains power transformer, and the remaining 80% of the case volume is completely empty, making a small-sized "seat" is no longer any technically difficult problem for developers of modern audio equipment. When listening, it turned out that this "baby" has a very sonorous voice. When entering a given track, the optical head drive mechanism squeaked amusingly a little audibly, but found the desired track rather quickly. Onkyo C-722 sounds very even and accurate, building a good stereo panorama with excellent separation of individual instruments. While carefully listening to the test programs, we unanimously assessed the player's ability to "stage" a scene. And although there was a slight originality when playing ringing copper, the rustle of the plates simply fascinated one hundred percent. Perhaps the Onkyo is not so austere as to recommend it to the sophisticated audiophile, but if you want more music, this device will bring any music to life.