Audiophile Quality Arcam CD72 Equipped with a 24-bit Burr-Brown multi-level Delta-Sigma DAC on board

For those in the know This Needs No introduction

As it simply out performed CD players 4 times the price
This was very expensive new



The Arcam CD72 earned its legendary status by delivering true audiophile sound quality at a price point regular music lovers could actually afford.

During the golden era of the "budget audiophile" movement in the early 2000s, it routinely went head-to-head with players twice its price. What makes it a true legend in the hi-fi community includes:

The "Giant Killer" Reputation: It dominated hi-fi magazine group tests for years, often beating out premium Japanese and European competitors with its organic, lifelike presentation.

The Upgrade Philosophy: Arcam engineered the chassis to be completely modular. A buyer could purchase the CD72 and later take it back to a dealer to physically swap the motherboard out for the flagship CD92 Ring DAC board.

Built Like a Tank: While many modern players rely on cheap plastic disc trays, the CD72 used a heavy, acoustically dampened chassis that kept vibrations out of the laser mechanism.


Key Specifications & Hardware

Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC): Equipped with a 24-bit Burr-Brown multi-level Delta-Sigma DAC.

Transport Mechanism: Uses a proven Sony CD text mechanism capable of seamlessly playing standard CDs and CD-Rs.

Audio Metrics: Features a frequency response spanning 5 Hz to 20 kHz with a wide dynamic range of 106 dB.

Jitter Control: Designed with an optimized master clock system to ensure extremely low jitter.

Power Supply: Built with a large, well-screened power transformer supporting six separately regulated power supplies.

Chassis Damping: Rigid construction incorporating a slab of Sontech sound-deadening material to control microphonic acoustic vibration.

Connectivity & Outputs

The rear panel provides straightforward routing options, allowing the CD72 to act either as a standalone player or purely as a digital transport hooked up to a more modern external DAC: [1]

Analog: One pair of standard Stereo L/R RCA outputs.

Digital: One Optical TOSLINK and one Coaxial digital output.

Power: Features a removable IEC power cord.

Sound Signature & Upgrades

Audiophile reviews from platforms like SoundStage! Network and Audiogon consistently describe the CD72 as having an analogue-like, non-fatiguing character. It is particularly praised for its rendering of acoustic music, vocals, and jazz due to its smooth pace and open sense of space.

Historically, Arcam provided an internal upgrade path, allowing owners to officially upgrade the internal boards of a CD72 to the higher-end CD92 specification to gain access to the famous dCS Ring DAC and HDCD decoding capabilities.