FOSI AUDIO MERAK CD PLAYER REVIEW

>>I am brazilian and I speak portuguese, so forgive my english, I’ll use translation tools to help<<

INTRO:

I’ve seen music move from vinyl to cassette, then to CD, and finally to streaming… (yes, I think I’m getting old). I have plenty of stories to tell that came about thanks to CDs.

In a world where things are becoming increasingly digital and virtual, the Fosi Audio Merak CD player is the tool that can bring back the days when music – in a certain way – was more physical.

Price: $139.99 USD
Colors: Silver

FOSI REVIEWS: IM4, DS3.

FOSI LINKS:

https://amzn.to/3SR0Mnz (US)

https://amzn.to/4A6Yxx2 (DE)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4CguI53 (PC)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_msVksYj (APP)

SPECIFICATIONS:

– Chipset: Silan SC6137D
– DAC chip: Cirrus Logic CS43131
– OP-AMP: Texas Instruments TPA6120 (x2)
– Max Sampling Rate:

• CD: PCM 16bit / 96kHz
• USB (USB flash drives): PCM 16bit / 96kHz

– Headphone Impedance: 16–300Ω
– Input: USB-A (USB flash drives), CD
– Output: 3.5mm Headphones Jack, LINE, OPT, 12V Trigger
– CD Formats: CDDA, CD-R / CD-RW (partially readable). Original CDs preferably
– CD-R Formats: FLAC / WAV / WMA / AAC / MP3
– SACD Playback: Only SACDs with a CD layer are supported
– Formats for USB Drive Playback: MP3 / WAV / FLAC / AAC / APE / WMA
– IR Remote Control: Maximum operating distance of up to 7 meters
– Input Voltage: DC 5V / 2A
– Firmware Upgrade: Via a USB-A port using a USB flash drive
> 3.5mm Output Performance (CD)
– Rated Output Power: L+R ≥ 210mW + 210mW (32Ω / THD+N < 1%)
– SNR: 121 dB (A-weighted)
– THD+N: 0.002% (A-weighted)
– Dynamic Range: 121 dB
– Noise Floor: ≤ 3µV (A-weighted)
> LINE Output Performance (CD)
– Output Level: ≥ 2Vrms
– SNR: 124 dB (A-weighted)
– THD+N: 0.0009% (A-weighted)
– Dynamic Range: 124 dB
– Noise Floor: ≤ 3µV (A-weighted)
– Merak Weight: 440.5g
– Merak Size: 15cm [L] x 15cm [W] x 3cm [D]
– Cable Size (edge to edge): 152cm
– Total Weight (packaging, player, etc): 892.5g
– Packaging Size: 30.3cm [L] x 21.5cm [W] x 7.8cm [D]

FOSI support page: https://support.fosiaudio.com/products/merak

UNBOXING:

PHYSICAL ASPECTS:

Construction:

• Excellent build quality.
• Made of metal (material not specified by the manufacturer).
• I couldn’t tell if the transparent section is glass or plastic.
• Compact, lightweight, and transportable.
• Aesthetically very pleasing (subjective).
• Manually operated lid.
• Slider-style volume control (vol – / vol +).
• OLED display showing playback information.
• Adjustable display brightness via remote control (3 levels).
• Remote control (requires 2 AAA batteries, not included).
• The remote could have been rechargeable via USB (IMO).
• The remote works at a range of about 7 meters.
• USB-A to USB-C power cable.
• The cable has a PVC coating and tends to retain creases.
• It could have been a Paracord cable (in my opinion).

Features:

• Volume control: increase or decrease volume.
• CD Ripping: extracts audio from the CD and converts it to a WAV file.
• ESP Anti-shock: buffers 60 seconds of the track to prevent interruptions caused by vibrations.
• 4 Playback modes: play once; repeat one; repeat all; random.
• Gapless: eliminates empty time between tracks.
• Lid-Open Auto Stop: playback stops if you open the player’s lid.

Characteristics:

• It didn’t present abnormal heating.
• Audio extraction takes the same amount of time as CD playback.
• E.g., if a CD is 60 minutes long, the ripping process will take 60 minutes.
• To save the ripped files, the USB flas drive must be formatted in FAT32.
• Files are saved in WAV format with a constant bitrate of 1411 kbps.
• It can play files from a USB drive, but it doesn’t read folder structures.
• It supports USB flash drives up to 128 GB for playback.
• It supports USB flash drives up to 32 GB for ripping.
• Volume scale: 32 steps.
• Supports SACD (only those produced on CD media).
• 12V Trigger output: power supplied directly from another amplifier.
• The in line and optical outputs always operate at maximum volume.

Content:

• Fosi Audio Merak CD Player.
• User Manual.
• Remote control.
• USB-A-USB-C cable.

SOUND ASPECTS:

• Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chip, widely used in portable DAC/amps.
• 2 Texas Instruments TPA6120 op-amps.
• Excellent audio quality.
• Clean, transparent, and high-definition sound signature.
• Warm, full, and immersive sound.
• No background noise (or none that is audible).
• No coloration or distortion.
• The Merak can drive most IEMs on the market.
• It will also suffice for headphones that aren’t too demanding.
• No signs of clipping at maximum volume.
• For me, volume level 16 (out of 32) is sufficient.
• It would be great if it had Bluetooth and/or a balanced output.
• Excellent device for stacking with other amps or receivers.

PROS AND CONS:

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