No...it's not tape,but a nice find anyway.

[retrokeeper]

Was lookin' thru the thrift store the other day,seen what looked like the usual 5-disc tray load CD player,similiar look and color of most of the one's you usually see by the likes of RCA,Sony,etc.,upon a closer look it says it's by California Audio Labs.Never heard of them,or owned any of their gear,so a quick look on the net,reveals it was made in the late 90's and cost new....$995.00!! Holly crap,I've never owned a piece of the gear this expensive.I didn't get the remote for it,so I can't FF or Rewind,but I can buy one online for $41.The player cost me a measly $4,so I quess I did ok.It really sounds nice,and the reviews I read seemed to justify keeping it in the collection,and I'm sure lots of us have CD players along with our tape gear we like to listen to. Rob

[Web Police]

Good Job. *Hi5* I most likely would have passed it by thinking it was BPC. I'll have to look a little more closely when I visit thrift stores.

[Rat44]

Once in a while you do find something interesting at those places.
How does it compare to other mid-fi units?

[retrokeeper]

I forgot to mention what model this is,it's the CL-5,California Audio Labs made other models more expensive than this one,but for a cost almost $1000,I can't see buying one of these back in the days!! Rob

[Scorpion8]

Holy Snot, Batman! Great score.

[Marek]

CAL was not midfi, they were uber high end.

I heard a cal tube unit driving rowland electronics and IRS Betas (I think) and it sounded incredible.

How does it compare to other mid-fi units?

[braxus]

This makes me sad. How is it equipment that used to sell for a huge amount can't even get more then $4 is a thrift store today? Don't people realize something good when they see it?

Its a good deal you got there, but really don't people want anything worth while anymore?

[Marek]

Think Positive!

For a couple bucks plus a little luck normal (non mega rich) people can own high end.:)

This makes me sad. How is it equipment that used to sell for a huge amount can't even get more then $4 is a thrift store today? Don't people realize something good when they see it?

Its a good deal you got there, but really don't people want anything worth while anymore?

[gamve]

Think Positive!

For a couple bucks plus a little luck normal (non mega rich) people can own high end.:)

I made this comment in the Golden days of audio thread. As Marek has said. Mr joe average does not give a rats arse about sound reproduction anymore, besides for anything half way decent (read above Iplod standard) the costs can be astronomical (yeah people buy the new blah blah blah amplifier that costs as much as a really good second hand car only to find out the guy next door has a 30 year old amp he brought on ebay for $350.00 that makes his new one sound like shit). All I can say is do your research, listen to as much different gear as you can....Insist on an audition in the room you are going to use the gear in. Don't buy fuggin HI-FI magazines save you money for the gear and listen your bloody self. The magazines are funded by bloody advertisers, the reviewers say what they are told to say or they would not have a job.
If your careful you will end up with good sounding gear at a reasonable price. It might be old, but chances are the build and sound quality will match the modern equivalent gear that most of us could not possibly afford.
Considering the lack of interest generally in sound reproduction quality, nows the time to get it while its cheap...These are the golden years IMHO.
When it is all said and done the innovations in sound reproduction were all made a long time ago and market forces have ensured "thats all there is folks"

[Doug_Olitsky]

As mentioned CAL used to make great stuff. I bought a used ICON mk II Powerboss (HDCD) and like it a lot. New it retailed in the $2-3k range I think. Their tube cd players are nice as well

But if you look at it, not knowing what it is, you'd think it your avg. box store gear.

There are a bunch of mags you can find that have minimal advertising influence. audio critic, http://www.affordableaudio.org/, affordable... Even tho TONE has ads I like it, but if I gonna buy a mag I get one of the brit mags

[Rex Everything]

Excellent grab.

I need to find a high end cd player in this manner.

[Socal Sam]

Congrats!

Cal Audio Labs was based out of Escondido, which is just north of San Diego. Like many of the early CDP modifiers, they used Magnavox and Philips transports and added their own Burr Brown DAC's. The models with the Tube output stages are particularly good.

BTW, many Philips and Magavox remote controls will work with your unit. On your thrift rounds, you may spot one for cheap.

[retrokeeper]

Thanks for the remote tip SS,I was going to order a remote for this player online for $41,guess I'll look for the cheaper version,or heck,I may already have one in my box o' remotes. Rob