It was inevitable that I'd encounter the California Audio Labs CL-15 in my search for a CD player priced less than stratospherically. CAL was one of the first companies to hit the market with a high-end CD player, and they've been building great-sounding digital gear ever since. What's more, the CL-15's predecessor was the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/696cal">Icon PowerBoss Mk.II HDCD</A>, a longtime personal favorite. I was particularly curious to see how the CAL would stack up against today's competition. I've been impressed with CAL products over the years&mdash;the original Sigma, the Delta, the DX-1 and 2, and, of course, the Icon. On the other hand, the competition&mdash;players like the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/634">Rega Planet</A>, Arcam's Alpha 8 and <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/199arcam">Alpha 9</A>, and Ultech's UCD 100&mdash;has improved dramatically since I last heard the Icon.

It was inevitable that I'd encounter the California Audio Labs CL-15 in my search for a CD player priced less than stratospherically. CAL was one of the first companies to hit the market with a high-end CD player, and they've been building great-sounding digital gear ever since. What's more, the CL-15's predecessor was the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/696cal">Icon PowerBoss Mk.II HDCD</A>, a longtime personal favorite. I was particularly curious to see how the CAL would stack up against today's competition. I've been impressed with CAL products over the years&mdash;the original Sigma, the Delta, the DX-1 and 2, and, of course, the Icon. On the other hand, the competition&mdash;players like the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/634">Rega Planet</A>, Arcam's Alpha 8 and <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/199arcam">Alpha 9</A>, and Ultech's UCD 100&mdash;has improved dramatically since I last heard the Icon.

It was inevitable that I'd encounter the California Audio Labs CL-15 in my search for a CD player priced less than stratospherically. CAL was one of the first companies to hit the market with a high-end CD player, and they've been building great-sounding digital gear ever since. What's more, the CL-15's predecessor was the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/696cal">Icon PowerBoss Mk.II HDCD</A>, a longtime personal favorite. I was particularly curious to see how the CAL would stack up against today's competition. I've been impressed with CAL products over the years&mdash;the original Sigma, the Delta, the DX-1 and 2, and, of course, the Icon. On the other hand, the competition&mdash;players like the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/634">Rega Planet</A>, Arcam's Alpha 8 and <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/199arcam">Alpha 9</A>, and Ultech's UCD 100&mdash;has improved dramatically since I last heard the Icon.

"They're <I>cuuuute!</I>" Not a very professional reaction, but what can I say? When the Monster Cable folks pulled out their new Entech Number Crunchers during a recent visit to Santa Fe, I couldn't help myself. I was edging John Atkinson and Wes Phillips out of the way, using my long arms to reach over...gotta get one! There would be time later for the critical evaluation and cool, detached objectivity&mdash;first, I had to get one. The Entechs are the Beanie Babies of the audio world

"They're <I>cuuuute!</I>" Not a very professional reaction, but what can I say? When the Monster Cable folks pulled out their new Entech Number Crunchers during a recent visit to Santa Fe, I couldn't help myself. I was edging John Atkinson and Wes Phillips out of the way, using my long arms to reach over...gotta get one! There would be time later for the critical evaluation and cool, detached objectivity&mdash;first, I had to get one. The Entechs are the Beanie Babies of the audio world

"They're <I>cuuuute!</I>" Not a very professional reaction, but what can I say? When the Monster Cable folks pulled out their new Entech Number Crunchers during a recent visit to Santa Fe, I couldn't help myself. I was edging John Atkinson and Wes Phillips out of the way, using my long arms to reach over...gotta get one! There would be time later for the critical evaluation and cool, detached objectivity&mdash;first, I had to get one. The Entechs are the Beanie Babies of the audio world

"They're <I>cuuuute!</I>" Not a very professional reaction, but what can I say? When the Monster Cable folks pulled out their new Entech Number Crunchers during a recent visit to Santa Fe, I couldn't help myself. I was edging John Atkinson and Wes Phillips out of the way, using my long arms to reach over...gotta get one! There would be time later for the critical evaluation and cool, detached objectivity&mdash;first, I had to get one. The Entechs are the Beanie Babies of the audio world

"They're <I>cuuuute!</I>" Not a very professional reaction, but what can I say? When the Monster Cable folks pulled out their new Entech Number Crunchers during a recent visit to Santa Fe, I couldn't help myself. I was edging John Atkinson and Wes Phillips out of the way, using my long arms to reach over...gotta get one! There would be time later for the critical evaluation and cool, detached objectivity&mdash;first, I had to get one. The Entechs are the Beanie Babies of the audio world

"They're <I>cuuuute!</I>" Not a very professional reaction, but what can I say? When the Monster Cable folks pulled out their new Entech Number Crunchers during a recent visit to Santa Fe, I couldn't help myself. I was edging John Atkinson and Wes Phillips out of the way, using my long arms to reach over...gotta get one! There would be time later for the critical evaluation and cool, detached objectivity&mdash;first, I had to get one. The Entechs are the Beanie Babies of the audio world

"They're <I>cuuuute!</I>" Not a very professional reaction, but what can I say? When the Monster Cable folks pulled out their new Entech Number Crunchers during a recent visit to Santa Fe, I couldn't help myself. I was edging John Atkinson and Wes Phillips out of the way, using my long arms to reach over...gotta get one! There would be time later for the critical evaluation and cool, detached objectivity&mdash;first, I had to get one. The Entechs are the Beanie Babies of the audio world