AV Lounge

High Fidelity Audio

CD-35 II HF

Ayon Audio · CD

CD-35 II HF

A strictly limited masterpiece achieving master-tape fluidity via cost-no-object engineering.

The CD-35 HF represents a monumental, cost-no-object collaboration between Ayon Audio founder Gerhard Hirt and the editors of HighFidelity.pl magazine, conceived to push digital disc playback into uncharted territory. Hand-assembled in Austria as a strictly numbered statement component, this machine is aimed squarely at discerning collectors whose references are high-end analog turntables and open-reel master tapes. Every structural layout from the base platform was re-examined under a forensic lens, replacing standard audiophile elements with exotic materials that are rarely viable in commercial series production. Positioned as the uncontested crown jewel of the entire CD line, the HF version builds upon the dual-mono 6H30 and 5687 zero-feedback triode output architecture. The digital processing core relies on a fully balanced array of premium Japanese AKM converters fed by a proprietary StreamUnlimited PCM-to-DSD upsampling module. To preserve the extreme temporal accuracy of this computational engine, the power supply is uprated with advanced AC filtration, specialized choke-coupled regulation, and a rare Soviet-stock GZ30 vacuum tube rectifier bridge. Sonically, the CD-35 HF delivers a level of scale, muscular physical authority, and unforced organic realism that entirely detaches the performance from the physical medium. It produces a startlingly lifelike, dimensional atmosphere where acoustic instruments possess real foundational weight and a deep, continuous texturing. The music emerges from an ink-black background of absolute tranquility, resolving micro-dynamic details and complex spatial queues with an inspiring, relaxed clarity that eliminates long-term listening fatigue.

Key Features

01

Exotic V-Cap TFTF and Mundorf Capacitors

Features eight ultra-premium V-Cap TFTF fluoropolymer coupling capacitors alongside Mundorf Supreme Silver-Gold-Oil components to achieve unparalleled transparency and top-end extension.

02

Tantalum Resistor Upgrades

The analog tube output stage is populated with twenty 2-watt tantalum resistors selected to a precise one-percent tolerance threshold to prevent thermal noise and distortion.

03

Soviet-Stock GZ30 Tube Rectification

Employs an authentic vintage Soviet-stock GZ30 full-wave rectifier tube within a massive choke-regulated power supply to deliver incredibly stable voltage to the gain blocks.

04

Custom Franc Audio Ceramic Feet

Equipped with specialized ceramic isolation feet designed by Franc Audio to drain mechanical vibrations away from the high-precision top-loading transport mechanism.

05

StreamUnlimited PCM-to-DSD Hardware DSP

Utilizes a custom mathematical algorithm that converts incoming standard Red Book PCM signals into uncompressed native DSD128 or DSD256 arrays prior to conversion.

The High Fidelity Edition Blueprint

Chapter 01

The High Fidelity Edition Blueprint

The development of the CD-35 HF was never intended for mass market commercialization, which is reflected in its strict production ceiling. Each unit features a personalized rear-panel plate signed directly by Gerhard Hirt, confirming its position within the fifty-piece global run. Visually, the player distinguishes itself from the standard model through the strategic deployment of deep black ventilation grilles, control buttons, and disc vault elements, underscoring its engineering exclusivity.
Uncompromised Signal Path Selection

Chapter 02

Uncompromised Signal Path Selection

Inside the non-magnetic chassis, Ayon engineers stripped away every component that did not actively contribute to emotional communication. The circuit layout avoids solid-state buffers, cathode followers, and tone-degrading DC servos entirely. By routing the audio signal across heavy-duty gold-plated PCBs via the shortest possible physical tracks, the delicate low-level information passes untouched from the AKM differential DAC architecture directly to the premium WBT-210 NextGen RCA output terminals.
Listening Notes

Chapter 03

Listening Notes

Operating without a single decibel of global negative feedback, the CD-35 HF completely redefines the expectations of digital playback. It captures the raw bite and acoustic friction of a bow striking a cello string while maintaining an inherently liquid, velvet-like mid-band presentation. Listeners can use the robust milled aluminum remote control to instantly switch between discrete digital reconstruction filters, optimizing the transient response to match the acoustic signature of the listening room.

Specifications

Frequency response20 Hz – 50 kHz +/- 0.3 dB
ImpedanceOutput impedance ~ 300 Ohms for Single-Ended RCA, ~ 600 Ohms for Balanced XLR
Total harmonic distortion @ 1kHz< 0.001%
Signal-to-noise ratio> 119 dB
Dynamic range> 120 dB
Inputs / outputsDigital inputs: 1 x S/PDIF (RCA), 1 x AES/EBU, 1 x I2S, 1 x BNC, 1 x USB, 3 x BNC for DSD / Analog inputs: 2 x RCA, 1 x XLR / Analog outputs: 1 x RCA, 1 x XLR(75 ohms)
Dimensions (H × W × D)12 × 48 × 39 cm
Weight17 kg
Conversion rate768kHz / 32 bit & DSD 256
DAC configurationFully symmetrical / 2 x 4497EQ AKM-Japan
DSP module PCM→DSD
Tube complement6H30 & 5687
Output level @1 kHz / 0,775V -0dB Low 2.5V fixed or 0 – 2.5 V rms variable
Output level @1 kHz / 0,775V -0dB High5V fixed or 0 – 5V rms variable