CD/SACD-проигрыватели и транспорты — Kalista DreamPlay XC

The DreamPlay XC is a top-loading CD and SACD player from Kalista, the luxury brand of the French maker Métronome Technologie, which is based near Toulouse and whose owner and designer is Jean-Marie Clauzel. Disc playback, network streaming, D/A conversion and digital preamplification are combined in one unit, and it is the DreamPlay X with an internal converter and Leedh Processing digital volume control added. It was announced in January 2022 at EUR 68,700 and is made in France.

Key specs that matter

A CD and SACD pickup from D&M of the Sound United group, optimised to Métronome specifications, reads the discs. The DAC is an ESS ES9038PRO, with THD+N of -122 dB and 132 dB of signal to noise ratio. CD plays at 44.1 kHz and 16 bit, and SACD as native DSD64. Analogue outputs are RCA with 100 ohm and XLR with 150 ohm output impedance, both delivering up to 3 V at 0 dB. Digital outputs are S/PDIF, AES/EBU and I2S, carrying PCM up to 384 kHz and DSD. Streaming and file playback reach PCM at 32 bit and 384 kHz and DSD256, with MQA and a resampling function. It joins the network over dual-band Wi-Fi at 2.4 and 5 GHz or Gigabit Ethernet. The drive unit measures 446 x 125 x 420 mm and weighs 17.3 kg. The external Elektra supply is made as a low-profile unit of 420 x 70 x 430 mm and 12.7 kg, or as a tower of 420 x 85 x 425 mm and 26.3 kg.

Engineering and use context

To load a disc, the owner places it on the spindle, sets a light magnetic puck on top and slides a heavy cover over it, so there is no motorised drawer. The body follows the Kalista disc-spinner shape, with an aluminium chassis, stainless steel feet and a clear methacrylate top. A round touchscreen display and a metal remote control operate it. Leedh Processing is a digital volume algorithm designed to keep resolution at reduced levels, letting the XC feed a power amplifier directly. With the supply in a separate case, its transformer is kept at a distance from the drive and converter. Supported services and protocols include Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Deezer, vTuner internet radio, Audirvana and DLNA/UPnP, and files can be played from USB storage. Finishes are Black Pearl, Diamond in silver and Custom.

Pairing

With its volume control in use, the XC connects straight to stereo or mono power amplifiers through XLR. Its digital outputs, including I2S, let an external converter take over conversion.

Alternatives

The Kalista DreamPlay X is the same player without the internal DAC, with digital outputs only, at EUR 59,900.