AUDIO TEST is one of Germany’s leading Hi-Fi and home entertainment publications. It reviews a wide range of products, from audio equipment to home theater systems and streaming devices, and is widely recognized in the European market.

In its latest issue, the VRDS-701 received a high rating of 95% (Reference Class). The review praised the unit for proving that the CD player remains a central component of high-end audio by combining TEAC’s proprietary VRDS mechanism with a fully discrete dual-mono DAC.

Regarding sound quality, it was described as extremely clear, high-resolution, and dynamic, yet rich in musicality. The review noted that it was particularly impressive how the player achieves a vast soundstage, excellent localization, and rich detail reproduction without ever sounding cold or analytical. It was also highly praised for its comprehensive range of modern digital features, including a USB DAC, MQA-CD support, balanced outputs, and an external clock input.

In its overall assessment, AUDIO TEST positions the VRDS-701 as one of the leading CD players in the approximately 3,000-euro class and concludes that it is a model with a level of refinement worthy of the reference class.