I had a listen to Creek‘s new lineup released last year — the A50iR integrated amplifier and the CD50 Mk II CDP. Unlike the earlier, more delicate Creek products such as the CREEK 4240 that I used to own, the front panel here is thick and finished in a luxurious silver hairline, and in person the quality of the aesthetic presence is even more striking than photographs suggest. It is something of a mystery why Creek’s own website images fail entirely to convey the lustre and beauty of this finish.
The sound quality too retains that Creek hallmark — musical vitality and a lively tonal character — and it is simply a joy to listen to. The frequency balance has been extended modestly at both ends, and the overall sound has become easy on the ear, taking on a bright tonality that calls to mind a soft rose, with what feels like a broader versatility and greater driving power than before.
ポチップ
The CD50 Mk II is also a considerable step forward compared to the slightly cheap impression I had of its predecessor, and I think it is safe to say this is a top-class music player in the upper teens of the hundred-thousand-yen range. According to jazzaudiofan, Stereophile in the US, which gives AH! a “C” rating, has awarded the Creek CD50 Mk II a “B” — and hearing the actual sound quality for myself, I am left feeling that yet another troublesome option has been added to an already agonising list of choices. Beyond the sound, it also radiates a beauty that does justice to its price as a piece of furniture, with genuinely lovely build quality throughout. As a design object alone it is handsome enough to warrant buying. In an earlier article I wrote that I preferred the black faceplate, but I must retract that statement. Apparently in Europe they also sell a black-and-green-logo version, so it would be nice if Japanese buyers could choose between the two — though for that to happen, more people would need to appreciate the true merits of a genuine music reproduction machine and buy them in sufficient numbers, or it would all become rather difficult for the distributor.
This range also includes a tuner called the T50, sharing the same design language, but unlike the previous T43, it has unfortunately not been brought into Japan. However, by design it supports world bands and would work here if it were. Genuinely musical tuners of pure audio calibre have become rather hard to come by these days, so if this one were to make it to Japan, it would surely be a compelling option for FM-loving music fans. I have not heard it myself, but given Creek’s standards, it is easy to imagine the radio sound would be gentle and full of musicality — a mild, unhurried tonality one could leave playing all day without ever feeling fatigued. The price is, however, a little on the high side — in US dollar list price terms it actually costs more than the A50i amplifier, which is quite something for a box that is rather sparse inside. That said, it is a beautifully handsome piece simply to have sitting quietly in a living room, and even I — who have no Creek system to speak of — find myself very much wanting the T50 tuner. Come to think of it — what if one put together a complete Creek 50 series system: CD player, amplifier, and tuner, with a pair of QUAD 11Ls for speakers? All in, perhaps around 500,000 yen. What do you think? I have a feeling it would make for an enormously enjoyable musical experience.
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List of comments （2）
ご無沙汰しております。Creek 4330とQuad 11Lの組み合わせで鳴らしていましたが、ちょっと浮気をしてしまい、、、展示品セールに出ていたSHARPの1 bitオーディオシステムAuvi SD-SG40を衝動買いしてしまいました。Creek 4330とQuad 11Lの組み合わせは捨て難かったのですが、SD-SG40のベールが２,３枚剥がれた様な鮮明さと細かい部分まで正確に表現する能力に軍配を上げてQuad 11Lと組み合わせることにしました。ピアノ、声楽、弦の小編成、オペラもの、などクラシックのどのジャンルでも高い再現能力ですし、クラシックギターのソロやジャズのセッションなども良い雰囲気です。また、システム全体が非常にコンパクトに纏まり、モダンなデザインもバーズアイメープルの11Lと上手くマッチしています。機会があったら、一度試聴してみて下さい。。。
ufugi0331さんこんにちは。遅レス失礼しますm(__)m
こんな所にコメントが……。
SD-SG40御購入おめでとうございます。
11Lの持つアナログチックな雑味感を程よく払拭してくれそうな組み合わせですね♪
SD-SG40は製造終了みたいですが、一体型ミニコンポとしては
出色のデキだっただけにちょっと残念です。