Revox CD100 Gives Disc Playback a Smarter Home

The CD100 arrives at a time when plenty of listeners are still holding onto large disc collections, even if streaming now does most of the daily work. Revox’s approach is fairly practical: this is a CD player built to sit inside its current STUDIOMASTER and Multiuser 3.0 systems, rather than a standalone reference or nostalgia piece.

The new player is built around a high-quality CD drive and supports CD-DA and CD-R playback. Digital conversion is handled by a Burr-Brown PCM1796 DAC, with outputs including analogue audio, coaxial digital and optical digital connections. That gives the CD100 some flexibility, although its most complete functionality comes when partnered with Revox’s current STUDIOMASTER electronics.

When connected to the STUDIOMASTER M500 or M300, the CD100 uses two cables: a coaxial link for the digital audio signal and a separate data connection for control. Revox includes its Control Port CD Player Connection Cable in the package, allowing the player to connect via USB to the M500 or M300 and via RS232 to the CD100 itself.

Once connected, the system automatically configures itself, renaming the coaxial input as “CD Player”, updating the display icon and applying the required settings. From there, the CD100 can be controlled through the Revox app or compatible control units, with track selection, playback time and status shown in the app and on the front display of the M500 or M300.

The system also handles power behaviour automatically. Select the CD source and the CD100 turns on, reads the disc and presents its status. Switch to another source, and the player powers down. For users who still enjoy the physical ritual of CD playback but do not want another manually managed box in the system, that level of integration is likely the real appeal.

Revox says the CD100 can also be connected using optical or analogue inputs if the coaxial input is already occupied, although that requires manual changes in the configurator. The player is also backward compatible with the Revox Joy S119 and S120 MKII network receivers via the CD-Link interface.

In terms of a footprint on the shelf, the CD100 is very much part of Revox’s compact STUDIOMASTER family. It is only 200mm wide, so it should sit neatly with the M500 or M300 rather than demanding a full-width hi-fi shelf, but at 3.05kg it still has some substance to it. Revox has also used a solid aluminium cabinet and glass front panel, which helps it feel more like a serious source component than a lightweight accessory. Power consumption is quoted at 7.5 watts in use and 0.4 watts in standby.

What makes the CD100 interesting is that Revox is not treating CD playback as a museum piece. It is folding it into a current hi-fi system, with app control, automatic setup and source integration doing some of the work that older disc players left entirely to the listener.

The Revox STUDIOMASTER CD100 is priced at €1,895 and is available in black, white and silver finishes.

For more information visit Revox