Walrus is primarily a Vinyl Playing Equipment outfit, so we don't tend to do much with Digital. Every now and then, though, we become aware of something exceptional that we think will fit into our philosophy. That philosophy encompasses sound quality of course, something that is notoriously difficult to get from digital sources, and product flexibility and longevity. Come on, stop waffling and get to the point, I hear you say.

Our gripe with a lot of current digital sources is their inflexibility in the rapidly changing digital audio scene. Let's forget for the moment about SACD or DVD audio, because both these formats have an uncertain future, having never really got off the ground (not enough music available for them) and now Blu-ray, the next generation format, is already knocking on the door.

What we reckon is important is that a machine purchased now gets the utmost out of often large CD collections, allows the user to connect other current digital sources such as Digital Radio, DAT, MD, and other portable audio sources, so as to make the most of your expensive purchase, and leaves the door open to connect future higher resolution sources as well.

In addition, it would be nice to be able to extract a digital output so that even when future formats like Blu-ray become available, you can still play your CDs on an optimised platform through a future DAC. And, to top it off, if you could connect analogue sources through the same machine to make use of the excellent tube output stage, and eliminate a preamp altogether, you would have a very special unit capable of forming the heart now, and into the future, of a digital and analogue system with just the addition of a power amplifier.

Not Future-Proof you understand, nothing is in reality, unlike what the computer industry would have you believe when they try to sell you their latest machines, but an extended lifespan for your investment which will still be bringing satisfaction in several years time when a lot of the other current top end CD players will already be on the scrapheap.

We believe the French made Audio Aero Capitole CD player fits these criteria with ease, below in silver and black finishes.

This is foremost a superb CD player, one of the very best, with a naturalness and three dimensionality that most players only hint at. Internal processing is at 24 bit / 192k standard, way above 16 bit / 44.1k CD standard, and it allows you to connect external digital sources through every conceivable type of connector right up to 24 bit / 96k standard, catering for present and near future digital sources of every variety, with individual switching and routeing to the digital output socket for each one!

In addition, if you purchase the analogue input version of the player, as shown above, you get 3 analogue inputs (2 single ended phono, and 1 XLR balanced) for use of the player as a basic but good sounding preamp. To round off, you are offered both single ended phono and balanced XLR outputs. This effectively makes the Capitole a complete analogue and digital control centre, and a superb sounding one at that, ready to be at the heart of a no compromise top end system, something we've wished for for a long time.

CD transport uses a Philips CD-PRO2 mechanism on an aluminium block with custom suspension (above), selected by A.A. for it's <<excellent playback performance, long lifetime, low play noise, and long product life cycle>>. The proprietary <<STARS>> DSP block, with a 32 bit processor at its heart, resamples and requantises all digital inputs to 24 bits / 192k performing <<signal enhancement techniques>> along the way, before D/A conversion by a <<high performance (Analogue Devices) 24bit / 192k DAC>>. All info enclosed <<thus>> are manufacturer quotes, in case you hadn't guessed.

The analogue stage, below, uses sub-miniature tubes (6021W), and a precision stepped analogue volume control, available from the front panel and the supplied remote control, preferable, the manufacturer states, to the digital domain control of level that a lot of other manufacturers employ, and necessary, of course, to control the analogue inputs.

All in all, one heck of a product. This would all count for nought if the sound quality didn't match up, but this is one of the best sounding units on the market too!

Incidentally, as an additional check on any product we consider stocking, we, like many end-consumers also do nowadays, trawl through the web to see what potential and actual owners think of it, and to get an idea from the horses mouth, as it were, of any likely problems which only tend to show after a period of ownership. The glowing testimonials from owners only reinforced our belief that this is a superb product we can wholeheartedly recommend!

Important note: As of late March 05, the Audio Aero Capitole has changed somewhat in styling whilst staying broadly similar internally, except for the addition of a USB connection to facilitate firmware upgrades. The Capitole CD now comes fitted as standard with analogue inputs; the version without the inputs is no longer available.

Capitole CD Player ... GBP 5500.00