CD/SACD-проигрыватели и транспорты — BC Acoustique EX-614

The EX-614 is a CD player with a USB input from BC Acoustique, the French maker of loudspeakers and electronics founded in 1993. It belongs to the EX series, which also includes the EX-214 and EX-234 integrated amplifiers and the EX-714 CD receiver with FM and DAB tuners and 40 presets. The price is EUR 499.

Key specs that matter

The disc is loaded through a slot-in mechanism, which BC Acoustique describes as a professional design also used by larger brands in more expensive players. Supported discs are CD, CD-R and CD-RW, as well as MP3 files up to 320 kbps. The DAC is an AKM AK4432, rated up to 32 bit and 192 kHz. Analogue output level is 2.0 V, frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz within 0.5 dB, THD is below 0.005% at 1 kHz and the A-weighted signal to noise figure is 108 dB. Dynamic range is 96 dB, channel separation is 95 dB from 1 to 10 kHz and channel balance is within 0.5 dB. Outputs are analogue RCA, coaxial and optical S/PDIF and a 6.3 mm headphone jack. The player measures 430 x 80 x 356 mm and weighs 5.3 kg, and it is finished in black.

Engineering and use context

With slot loading the mechanism pulls the disc inside directly, and no motorised drawer is fitted that could wear or rattle, and the front panel stays clean. A USB port on the front plays files from FAT32 media, while a second USB port on the rear is used only for firmware updates, so the owner can install new software. A remote control is supplied. The digital and analogue sections can be controlled separately, and the digital outputs let an external DAC or the digital input of an amplifier take over conversion. The display shows track numbers, CD text and the ID3 tags of USB files. With its own headphone jack, the EX-614 can be used for headphone listening without an amplifier. At 430 mm wide it is a full-width component that matches the other EX models on a shelf.

Pairing

The EX-234 integrated amplifier is the natural partner in the series at EUR 899, with 80 W into 8 ohm and 140 W into 4 ohm, XLR inputs, a moving-magnet phono stage, Bluetooth and a subwoofer output. The EX-214 at EUR 499 is the lower-priced option, and any other amplifier with RCA line inputs or a coaxial or optical digital input can be used.

Alternatives

BC Acoustique makes no other standalone CD player, as the EX-714 combines a CD drive with an amplifier and tuners.