The FMJ CD36 CD player and FMJ C31 preamplifier surprised me with their smooth and restrained sound. In fact, you could ascribe a national characteristic to their sound and say they exhibited a stiff upper lip. They provide everything more sophisticated digital unit does, but with not quite as much flesh on the notes. There was a little oomph missing that a much more expensive player will belt out, but this seems to be a conscious choice of Arcam - offering a suaver, more holitistic sound.