There is something quietly stubborn about a CD.

In an age where music has been thinned into data — summoned, skipped and forgotten in seconds — the compact disc insists on still being relevant. In the era of vinyl, it still has weight. It clicks into place. It asks for a small ritual: opening the case, reading the liner notes, pressing play. That ritual slows us down and, in doing so, restores intention to listening (just like vinyl).

Now, the Viking Reference CD player from Hegel helps that cause by adding an exquisite extra dimension to playing a disc through a great hi-fi system.

The Viking Makes Landfall

From the moment you unbox the Viking, it strikes you as a very slick piece of kit. The design is clean, elegant, and free from gimmicks. It has a slot-in mechanism that is beautifully executed; CDs load smoothly and the chassis feels reassuringly solid. The casework is almost void-like, with its deep black finish. That may sound unusual, but the unit simply disappears into the background under subdued ambient lighting.

Hegel has matched the styling to its P30A/H30A amplifier line, which gives it a natural cohesion if you’re using their ecosystem.

The Book of Red — what’s this, you say?

CD players themselves encourage patience and focus. Unlike phones, they do not buzz with notifications or tempt you into endless scrolling. You listen to an album as a whole, in the order it was meant to be heard. Songs are no longer isolated content units; they become chapters in a larger story.

This kind of listening fosters memory. You remember where you were when track seven played. You associate albums with seasons of your life.

The Hegel Viking makes the point that the Red Book standard is the purest way to listen to CDs, without any so-called file format distractions. Its sole purpose is to play CDs with no upsampling to a higher digital rate — just “bit-perfect” native Red Book playback.

For some purists, this is a major plus. For others, it may be less appealing if you’re hoping to “stretch” or process your digital content. There is no format flexibility: no DSD, SACD, MQA, high-resolution PCM (above 44.1 kHz), or streaming features. If you want a “one box to rule them all” source, this isn’t it — but it does know how to spin a CD perfectly.

Around the back, there are balanced XLR outputs, unbalanced RCA outputs, and a BNC digital output for those who want to use the Viking as a transport.

The chassis is mounted on three feet; this tripod design helps keep the Viking planted. The feet themselves are based on those supplied with the hefty H600.

The OLED display is subtle and traditional in design. It was chosen for low noise — and it looks pretty cool too.

Time to light a fire, make merriment and listen to the music

An internal master clock system in Hegel’s SoundEngine reduces jitter, along with a dedicated drive and laser assembly. These are the elements that, in theory at least, separate more ordinary CD players from high-end ones.

The sound is detailed yet never harsh when compared to older or less well-designed CD players, which can emphasise “digital glare” or brightness. Hegel’s Viking retains detail but presents it with a more analogue-like balance.

A brilliant aspect is the bass: articulate and well-controlled, never booming, bloated or overemphasised. It carries convincing weight and clarity in the low end throughout your listening sessions.

Imaging and soundstage are also strong points. The precise placement of instruments and voices creates a convincing sense of depth.

Perhaps most poignantly, CDs represent a bridge between generations. They are modern enough to feel familiar, yet tactile enough to feel human. They can be gifted, borrowed, handed down and rediscovered on a shelf years later. Scratches and worn cases become evidence of love and repetition, not flaws to be hidden.

CDs — and the Viking CD player — remind us that music is not just something to consume. It is something to keep, care for and return to. In their quiet persistence, they offer a gentle resistance to disposability, asking us to listen not more, but better. The Viking ensures your CDs are truly being played at their best.

Thanks for reading.

Munir, James and Dave - Audio T Manchester

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…