The Merak combines a CD transport, DAC and headphone amplifier in one compact unit for listeners who want to get more from their CD collection.
CD players never really disappeared, but they have definitely been overlooked. In the age of analog nostalgia, Fosi Audio’s new Merak makes a solid argument for why that’s worth reconsidering.
Named after Beta Ursae Majoris, a star historically used for navigation, the Merak positions itself as a reference point in personal audio. It’s an all-in-one CD transport, DAC and headphone amplifier built around a CS43131 DAC and TPA6120 amplifier, supporting playback up to 16-bit/96kHz. A signal-to-noise ratio of up to 124dB and ultra-low distortion keep the sound clean and detailed across headphones, amplifiers and active speakers.
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A professional-grade servo system drives the CD mechanism for stable, accurate disc reading, which is important if your collection includes older pressings that have seen better days. Gapless playback keeps live recordings and classical works uninterrupted, and the transparent top-loading design lets you watch the disc spin while keeping wear to a minimum.
The Merak covers more ground than its size suggests. An optical output with a low-jitter clock lets it run as a dedicated digital transport paired with an external DAC. USB playback adds another source option, and one-touch CD ripping archives discs directly to a connected USB drive in lossless WAV format – useful for anyone building a digital library from a physical collection. The unit supports USB drives up to 128GB.
An OLED display delivers clear playback information, a remote control handles the basics from across the room, and electronic anti-shock protection keeps everything stable. Repeat, Shuffle and additional playback modes round out the feature set.
For listeners who want a high-quality way back into physical media without stacking separate components, the Merak makes a great entry point.
The Fosi Audio Merak CD Player is available now. More information at fosiaudio.com.
