FMJ CD23

About the FMJ CD23

The Arcam FMJ CD23 is a stereo compact disc player that represents the pinnacle of CD reproduction at a real-world price. It incorporates a unique digital-to-analogue conversion system developed by dCS (Data Conversion Systems), featuring their patented 24-bit Ring DAC technology with HDCD decoding. The Ring DAC uses a 5-bit digital format with proprietary noise shaping and oversampling to achieve extremely low distortion and high precision. The player uses a Sony CD mechanism (KSS-213B / KSS-240A) and supports CD text and improved CD-RW replay in the Text version. The chassis is constructed with a tri-laminate Sontech material (steel-rubber-steel sandwich) to reduce vibrations, complemented by an 8 mm thick extruded aluminum front panel for structural integrity and vibration resistance. It features a new dual-layer motherboard with improved power supply grounding and buffering of clocks and audio data, plus a high-quality toroidal transformer dedicated to the sensitive audio circuitry. The output stage uses premium operational amplifiers such as Burr Brown OPA2134 and Analog Devices AD797. The player offers analog line outputs at 2.3V and digital coaxial and optical outputs. Dimensions are 430 x 290 x 85 mm, and it weighs 6.5 kg. Accessories include a mains lead and CR314 remote control. The FMJ CD23 was introduced around 2000 and is now discontinued but remains highly regarded for its sound quality and engineering excellence.