Spotlight on Cen.Grand’s Digital Masterpieces

This week, we’re diving into one of the most talked‑about digital front ends in high‑end audio: the Cen.Grand DSDAC1.0 Deluxe and the GLD1.0 Deluxe media players. Over the past several years, these components have been evaluated by some of the most respected ears in the industry — and the praise has been unusually consistent.

Below is a curated summary of what top reviewers are saying, and why we’re so excited to offer private auditions here at Angelic Sound, paired with complementary brands such as Harbeth and Line Magnetic.

🎧 What the Reviewers Are Saying

Cen.Grand DSDAC1.0 Deluxe — A New Digital Benchmark

Srajan Ebaen — 6moons

Srajan’s review of the DSDAC1.0 Deluxe was nothing short of glowing. Key takeaways include:

·       Calling it his “2023 equivalent of the 2017 Denafrips Terminator” — signalling a generational leap in DAC performance.

·       Noting that it edges out the Terminator Plus, a remarkable statement given the price class.

·       Praising its rich tone, deep layering, and natural musical flow, describing it as a DAC that “does premium differently.”

John Darko — Darko.Audio

Darko emphasised Cen.Grand’s engineering seriousness:

·       Highlighted the proprietary FPGA architecture and its ability to upsample PCM to DSD1024.

·       Noted how the DAC avoids the “chocolate raspberry sameness” that plagues lesser DSD‑upsampling designs.

·       Praised its clarity, dynamic nuance, and tonal density, calling it a DAC that rewards long listening.

John Hoffman — Positive Feedback

Hoffman focused on the DAC’s musicality:

·       Described the DSDAC1.0 Deluxe as “a refreshing reminder that digital audio can still surprise us.”

·       Praised its analogue‑like smoothness, effortless detail, and natural timbre.

·       Emphasised its ability to make even average recordings enjoyable — a rare trait in high‑resolution DACs.

Cen.Grand GLD1.0 Deluxe — A Music Server & Network Transport in a Class of Its Own

Srajan Ebaen — 6moons

In his GLD1.0 Deluxe review, Srajan wrote:

·       The GLD1.0 is “fuller, fruitier, and more suave… softer without losing definition.”

·       With complex classical works like Bruckner and Tchaikovsky, the GLD1.0 “widens the gap” over conventional transports.

·       He emphasised that the improvements aren’t dramatic gimmicks, but more detail, richer overtones, and heightened spatiality.

Project86 (John) — Head‑Fi

After months with the GLD1.0 Deluxe, Project86 concluded:

“I have never heard better performance from a transport feeding a DAC than the Cen.Grand GLD1.0 Deluxe feeding the matching DSDAC1.0 Deluxe via their proprietary POW link… none quite captured the sense of spatial realism, tonal balance, subtle dynamic shading, and musical nuance as the Deluxe duo.”

He also noted that the GLD1.0 should be seriously considered by anyone seeking a top‑calibre transport, regardless of the DAC brand.

Hans Beekhuyzen — The Hans Beekhuyzen Channel

Hans tested the Deluxe combo and found:

·       Using the POW interface, the sound becomes more fluent (compared with AES), with improved low‑end depth and clearer texture.

·       The listening position becomes less critical — you hear a natural, stable stereo image even away from the sweet spot.

🎼 What Makes Cen.Grand Special?

Across all reviewers, several themes repeat:

·       Proprietary engineering — FPGA‑based 1‑bit DSD architecture and a PCIe‑based internal communication system.

·       POW interface — A unique dual‑path clock/data system that reviewers consistently praise for realism and stability.

·       Musicality first — Not just detail, but emotional connection and long‑term listenability.

·       Reference‑grade performance — Competing with dCS, Playback Designs, Grimm Audio, and Meitner Audio at a fraction of the cost.

GLD1.0 Deluxe Media Player

DSDAC1.0 Deluxe