AI-generated product photo — not official manufacturer imagery.
Estimated price (community-sourced)
Around — community and catalog average, updates slowly
The Goldmund Mimesis 36 is a reference‑grade CD digital transport, designed solely to read Red Book CDs and output a very low‑jitter digital signal to an external DAC for high‑end stereo systems. It does not include an internal DAC section or analog outputs and is therefore not an integrated CD player/DAC combo but a dedicated transport intended to be used with separate digital‑to‑analog converters. Goldmund’s own history notes that its proprietary Alize DAC technology was introduced around 1990 in models such as the Mimesis 10 and the *Mimesis 36 CD Transport*, marking the brand’s entry into digital conversion, but in typical system setups the Mimesis 36 itself serves purely as a transport feeding an external DAC. Period and later commentary consistently describe the Mimesis 36 and 36+ variants as very heavily built, high‑mass transports with mechanical grounding and rigid chassis construction to control vibration, as well as physically separated sections for drive control, signal processing, and power supply inside the unit to preserve signal integrity. Available documentation and specialist retailer notes indicate the Mimesis 36 family uses a Philips professional CD mechanism (CDM‑9 Pro in the original/36+ units), reflecting the widespread use of Philips drives in high‑end transports of that era, though detailed official documentation for all later mechanism revisions (such as any CDM‑12 Pro update) is limited. The Mimesis 36 and 36+ are still regarded in reviews and owner systems as benchmark CD transports thanks to their robust construction, careful internal layout, and very high build quality.
DAC capabilities and digital audio processing
Size, weight, and appearance
Specifications are community-contributed and may not be accurate or complete. Verify all details with the manufacturer before making purchasing decisions. Terms & Conditions
The closest alternatives on specs, description and the systems they turn up in, with the specs they share set side by side.
The CD1000 MkIII's weight is 13.6 kg (30 lbs) against the Mimesis 36's 14.5 kg (32 lbs), its width 419 mm against 440 mm, its height 152 mm against 360 mm, and its depth 356 mm against 105 mm.
The Cantata Music Center's weight is 5 kg (11 lbs) against the Mimesis 36's 14.5 kg (32 lbs), its width 430 mm against 440 mm, its depth 50 mm against 105 mm, and its height 220 mm against 360 mm.
The TXi's weight is 16 kg (35 lbs) against the Mimesis 36's 14.5 kg (32 lbs), its width 438 mm against 440 mm, its height 161 mm against 360 mm, and its depth 400 mm against 105 mm.
The CDT-777's weight is 14 kg (31 lbs) against the Mimesis 36's 14.5 kg (32 lbs), its width 430 mm against 440 mm, its height 88 mm against 360 mm, and its depth 325 mm against 105 mm.
The specs and the pairings above are open to everyone. Sign up and you get the system builder, the assistant, a compatibility check against the gear you already own, and a watch on this product so a price or pairing change reaches you.
Sign up free