To
think of the Crescendo Cd Player as a “common” high-end player
or still worse as a “low -level” high-end one would be totally misguided to
say the least!!!! The Crescendo CD Player, in reality, is the result of in
depth research and careful attention to detail. In fact, the product has been
implemented with technology only previously used in benchmark players... until
now. This challenge has been undertaken with the ulterior requirement of
maximizing value for money. This has pushed the Audio Analogue designers to
develop new circuit solutions and has brought about results which have gone
over and above our already ambitious initial targets!
A
toroidal transformer is used with secondary dedicated stages: one to the
Analog/DAC section power supply and other two dedicated to the digital power
supply. The analog power supply has been realized using all Audio Analogue‘s
strategies to reduce any interference and kill the noise in every part of the
unit. Regulation stages have been placed in every sensitive circuit point and
the bypass capacitors have been chosen not only for their electric performance
but also after long and careful listening sessions.
A
complete 24bit/192KHz DAC chain has been implemented. All our experience and
technology has been widely used. We have especially focused on the bypassing of
the power supply, the decoupling of the DAC outputs and we have worked on a
perfect separation between analog and digital circuits, with particular
attention paid to the ground return path separation.
In this
product Audio Analogue has placed a lot of focus on the output stage and a new
approach to the design has been developed. We have realized a fourth order
active output filter that, together with the inner one pole filter inside the
used DAC, forms a fifth order output one. Such a high order (usually found only
in really very expensive products!) has permitted us to increase the cut off
frequency of the output filter with excellent results on the audio performance
of the unit, especially for the increased precision of the listening stage. The
problem of the approach (and that’s why it is usually implemented in high price
products) is the added distortion and noise due to the high number of stages
the sound has to pass through. Audio Analogue has used all its experience and
technology to design every part of the stage and choose every passive component
to reduce, after long endeavours, the overall distortion and noise with
absolutely astonishing results!
The
Crescendo CD Player has both the Trigger in, through which the unit can be
turned on by another unit in the chain and a Trigger out, which can be used to
turn on an external unit.
The
Crescendo CD Player, like all the Audio Analogue CD Players, is mounted with
the Teac CD-5010A, a mechanism specifically designed for high end audio
applications.
This CD
Mechanism is very sturdy and has a very low Jitter output.
The best
starting point for a very high performance player!
Specifications:
THD at 1 kHz 0 dBFs (Band limits
0Hz-22KHz): less than 0,003%
THD at 1 kHz -10 dBFs (Band limits 0Hz-22KHz): less than 0,005%
Dynamic Range (Band
limits 0Hz-22KHz): 97 dB
Noise Level (Band
limits 0Hz-22KHz): -120 dBV
Output Level (Max rms voltage output value): 2
Digital Output: Coaxial
Unbalanced Output, Trigger IN and Trigger Out
CD Mechanism: TEAC CD-5010A
Dimensions (H x W x D): 3,2 x 17,5 x 13,7 inch
Weight: 15,0 lbs