Vintage

The standard of build and finish is good, although not quite in the Technics/Sony class. The optical unit is of the highest quality though, evidenced by its accurately turned brass turntable (today they are usually made from moulded plastic). Operation is simple enough with no ergonomic quirks and it's nice to see separate track skip and search keys too. The output is close to the normal 2V standard and uses traditional RCA connectors, so integration into an existing system is as simple as it could be.

Tim Listens
No non-oversampled/single DAC machine is ever going to be a top sonic performer, but slight improvements had been made to the scheme by the time the CP 08 was designed. The alternation between the two channels takes place twice as fast as the norm, limiting the harm to the treble that resulted from the use of this method.

The lack of oversampling means that confusion is still introduced in the powerful analogue filters, but at least it's a step in the right direction. In my experience the bulk of '80s Japanese players fall into two distinct camps. The simple ones, such as the CP 08, can sound a tad strident while the top-end ones, despite being technically excellent, can be a bit underwhelming to listen to. There are, of course, exceptions to these generalisations, the Aiwa DX-1500 – most often seen as the B&O Beogram CD50 [HFN May '15] – is unusually refined despite its fairly modest specification while the Technics SL-P1200 [HFN Aug '13] packs a punch, unlike many a big Japanese player.

In contrast, the CP 08 sounds exactly as one would expect: it's a bright and lively-sounding machine which brings plenty of whizz-bang excitement to whatever music you choose to listen to. It doesn't offer the last word in refinement but is well up to scratch in most of the key areas.

More intriguing, perhaps, are the sonic trade-offs that seem to have been taken in the design. A slight coarseness in the treble suggests the final stages of filtering are less stringent in the CP 08 than in some of its rivals, but this has allowed a notably wider and more detailed soundstage to be created. It still doesn't have the walk-in expansiveness one enjoys with a 4x oversampling/two-channel DAC model from Philips, etc, but it's a lot better in this respect than the Fisher AD 800.

Listening to Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition played by the Berlin Philharmonic and conducted by Herbert von Karajan [Deutsche Grammophon 447 426-2] revealed a subjectively thin tonal balance from the

CP 08 whose presence was evident throughout the performance. As a result, the Promenades lacked their familiar richness of tone while the Bydlo appeared to be more of a mouse on roller skates than a heavy-set ox cart on giant wooden wheels. The payback for this compromise was an excellent sense of 'bite', the strings in particular sounding as vivid as one would ever wish them to be. This, combined with the player's unexpectedly expansive soundstage, resulted in an enjoyable and engaging performance which I enjoyed right through to the end of more than a few discs.

Fast 'N' Furious
The CP 08 was at its best with music from the decade in which it was created. The CD issue of A Secret Wish, the 1985 debut album by German synthpop band Propaganda [ZTT CID 126/AS 13], can sound a bit thick and muddled on many players, but the Sanyo CP 08 cut straight through the mire, making for a dynamic and fast-paced musical ride. One could argue that the synthetic percussion sounded a little splashy at times, but the way tracks such as 'Dream Within A Dream' and 'P Machinery' came to life meant this was a fair exchange. This is less of a CD player and more of a cut-price time machine that can take you back to the heart of the 1980s.

Of course, the benefits are not universal; there were some albums with which the CP 08 sounded too stark and for these the old Philips CD100 was preferable. However, the CP 08 is hardly a large machine so why not own both and retain the option?

All in all I really enjoyed my time with the Sanyo CP 08. Not everyone thinks of CD players as 'vintage', but the character of simple players like this, with no digital filtering and only a single DAC, is something that has not been available from new equipment for many years. For those looking for a different take on digital replay, one of these early Japanese machines is definitely something for the hi-fi bucket-list, and the Sanyo CP 08 does it as well as any of them.

Buying Secondhand
The CP 08 did not sell in huge numbers in the UK and so is unusual to come across on the secondhand market these days. Sales were better in Europe, notably Germany where Sanyo products were marketed more widely. Those in search of a top-notch example would be advised to start their search there, although our sample is a genuine UK model.

Key Grip
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is problems with the drawer mechanics that sideline the bulk of these machines. The grip and tension of the drive belt is critical: too tight and the player will skip and jump during playback, too loose and the drawer simply won't open.

The rest of the mechanism is durable, but it is easy to assemble it incorrectly during service and introduce further baffling faults. The optical block isn't a standard type and replacements are very difficult to find, so its condition is the determining factor in the viability of the machine as a whole. Finally, on the subject of housekeeping, be careful if wiping the fascia with a damp cloth as it's easy to get water trapped inside the disc prism. Removing it is no joke – take it from one who knows...

Hi-Fi News Verdict
Something of an oddball and rare to find these days, it's a shame the CP 08 won't be encountered by more vintage enthusiasts because compared with some of the more obvious classic CD player choices it has a lot to offer. Not only is it neat, compact and pretty, it also has a distinctive sound that gels perfectly with recordings from one of music's most exciting eras. It's well worth a try if you can track one down.