Oracle Audio CD2500 MkIV CD Player

The Oracle Audio CD2500 MkIV is a complete CD playback system that pairs Oracle's reference floating-chassis transport with an integrated Burr Brown PCM1792-AG DAC, four independent discrete analog output modules, and both single-ended RCA and balanced XLR outputs. Built on the same massive aluminum floating chassis and four-tower suspension system as the CD2000 MkIII transport, the CD2500 adds 24-bit/192kHz conversion with a 129 dB signal-to-noise ratio. It also accepts an external S/PDIF digital input, so it can serve as a standalone DAC for streamers or music servers.

Oracle Audio has been handcrafting turntables and CD systems in Quebec, Canada since 1979. While the Delphi turntable made their name in analog, the CD2500 MkIV represents everything Oracle has learned about vibration control and signal path design applied to a complete digital playback instrument. We carry Oracle because they build things the way we think audio equipment should be built: by hand, to order, with no compromises on materials or construction. Mike has a direct dealer relationship with Oracle, and the CD2500 MkIV is not just a CD player with a DAC bolted on. It is a unified system where the transport, conversion, and analog output stages were designed together from the ground up.

Key Features of the Oracle CD2500 MkIV

• Burr Brown PCM1792-AG DAC: 24-bit/192kHz converter with 129 dB signal-to-noise ratio, 123 dB dynamic range, and 0.0015% total harmonic distortion.
• Four Independent Discrete Analog Modules: Each analog signal from the PCM1792 passes through its own fully discrete module, keeping channels completely separate.
• Balanced XLR and Single-Ended RCA Outputs: XLR balanced at 4V RMS and RCA single-ended at 2V RMS, with output impedance below 100 ohms.
• Massive Aluminum Floating Chassis: The transport sits on a floating chassis suspended by four multi-component towers, decoupled from the outer frame.
• Philips CD PRO 2LF Drive Mechanism: Professional-grade swing-arm transport for accurate reading of CD, CD-R, and CD-RW discs.
• S/PDIF Digital Input: Connect a streamer or music server to use the CD2500's DAC and analog output stage as a standalone converter.
• Redesigned Power Supply: The MkIV features a completely redesigned power supply stage supporting both transport and DAC sections.
• Turntable-Derived Disc Clamping: Magnetic clamp with urethane vacuum washer eliminates disc chatter during rotation.

The Integrated DAC: Burr Brown PCM1792-AG

The DAC at the center of the CD2500 MkIV is the Burr Brown (Texas Instruments) PCM1792-AG, a 24-bit converter capable of processing digital data up to 192kHz sampling rates. Measured performance includes 129 dB signal-to-noise ratio, 123 dB dynamic range, and total harmonic distortion of 0.0015%. Analog frequency response extends from 10 Hz to 50 kHz within +/- 0.3 dB through the RCA outputs. Oracle implemented the analog output stage using four independent, fully discrete analog modules, one for each signal from the PCM1792. The left and right channels (and their positive and negative phases in balanced mode) each get their own dedicated circuit, eliminating shared-path compromises. The MkIV generation brought further refinements to these modules, building on what Oracle learned from earlier versions.

Analog and Digital Connectivity

The CD2500 MkIV provides balanced XLR outputs at 4V RMS and single-ended RCA outputs at 2V RMS. Output impedance on both is below 100 ohms, ensuring clean signal delivery regardless of your downstream component's input impedance. An RCA S/PDIF digital output (75 ohm, 0.5V peak-to-peak) lets you use the CD2500 as a transport feeding an external DAC if desired. The S/PDIF digital input accepts signals up to 24-bit/192kHz, letting you route a network streamer, music server, or other digital source through the CD2500's Burr Brown DAC and discrete analog output stage. This dual-purpose capability makes the CD2500 a versatile hub for systems that include both physical media and streaming.

Four-Tower Suspension and Floating Chassis

The CD2500 MkIV shares its floating chassis and four-tower suspension with the CD2000 MkIII transport. Each tower contains no fewer than 12 individual components working as an integrated mechanical filter. Delrin pillars cut mid and higher-frequency vibrations. Conical springs address lower-frequency energy. Sorbothane dampers absorb residual vibration. Felt dampers address inner spring resonances. The chassis floats on these towers, completely decoupled from the outer frame. For a CD player with an integrated DAC, this level of transport isolation matters even more than for a standalone transport, because any vibration-induced jitter in disc reading feeds directly into the conversion process without the opportunity for reclocking that an external DAC might provide.

What the CD2500 MkIV Offers Over the CD2000 MkIII

The CD2000 MkIII and CD2500 MkIV share the same floating chassis, suspension system, Philips CD PRO 2LF drive, and disc clamping. The difference is what happens after the disc is read. The CD2000 sends a raw digital signal to your external DAC through BNC, AES/EBU, or ST optical outputs. The CD2500 processes that signal internally through the Burr Brown PCM1792-AG and four discrete analog modules, delivering a finished analog signal through balanced XLR or single-ended RCA outputs. The CD2500 trades the CD2000's AES/EBU and ST optical outputs for its analog section and digital input. If you own a reference external DAC, the CD2000 is the right choice. If you want a single-chassis solution where transport and conversion are engineered as one system, with the bonus of standalone DAC functionality, the CD2500 MkIV is the complete package.

Explore the Full Oracle Audio CD Range

Oracle's CD systems share the same Philips CD PRO 2LF transport and turntable-derived vibration isolation, scaled to different needs.

• Oracle Audio CD2000 MkIII CD Transport - Oracle's reference transport with the same floating chassis, three digital outputs (BNC, AES/EBU, ST optical), for systems with a dedicated external DAC.
• Oracle Audio CD1000 MkIII CD Transport - Oracle's entry-level transport with Delrin pillar decoupling, four digital outputs, and the same Philips drive in a more accessible package.
• Oracle Audio Delphi MkVII Classic Turntable - Oracle's iconic turntable, the origin of the suspension engineering used in every Oracle CD system.

The Listening Room Difference

We're a third-generation family business with a brick-and-mortar showroom in Chestertown, Maryland, and a reputation built on trust, not hype. Whether you're visiting in person or ordering online, we bring decades of experience, personalized service, and honest guidance to every interaction. We don't just ship boxes. We help build systems, answer your questions like real humans, and make sure every detail of your setup is right, from the cables to the final connection. Our passion is helping you get the most out of your gear, with support that lasts well beyond the sale.

Oracle CD2500 MkIV Specifications