Consonance Linear CD players/Dacs
What are "Linear" CD players?,
Utilising non-oversampling ,filter-less dac design as used by Zanden, Audionote, and 47 labs to name a few, a higher degree of enjoyment is achieved, together with a more relaxed approach with less smearing that gives digital less "glare"a more natural musical delivery than other more complicated 24 bit/oversampling technologies achieve.
We only offer "Linear" designed CD players, its been that way now for more than 10 years since our dealers,our customers, and ourselves all decided that in direct comparison to the the 24 bit versions of the range just didn't hit the spot compared to the simpler "Linear" versions
CD120 Linear
The entry level solid state player has been one of our best selling items for the past 10 years or more, hundreds of satisfied buyers have bought these to replace much more costly CD players that have been found wanting despite reputations,reviews and high prices, the level of sheer enjoyment that this seemingly simple looking player can achieve is both amazing and a proven game changer.
It would be easy to underestimate what levels of playback can be achieved from a player at a sub £1000 price point!.
Linear technology
-Non-oversampling, no digital filter -J-FET/Transisters filter, no op-amp's
-Passive I/V conversion In progression -Short pass length, less -is-more!!
Non-oversampling, Digital-filter-less DAC Concept by Ryohei Kusunoki
https://www.sakurasystems.com/articles/Non-oversampling-DAC.html
SPECIFICATION:
DAC resolution : 16bit TDA1543
0dBFS signal output : 2.35V RMS
Output Terminals : Gold plated RCA unbalanced
Frequency response : Less than +/- 0.5 dB deviation 20Hz-20kHz
Phase response : Less than 5 degrees deviation 20Hz-20kHz
Signal-to-noise ratio : More than 100dB
Crosstalk : Less than -100dB
Distortion (RCA) : Less than 0.12 %
Remote Control : Philips RC-5 compatible IR system 36kHz modulation frequency
Dimensions / Weight : 8.5cm x 43cm x 32cm (HxWxD) / 10kg
DAC resolution : 16bit TDA1543
0dBFS signal output : 2.35V RMS
Output Terminals : Gold plated RCA unbalanced
Frequency response : Less than +/- 0.5 dB deviation 20Hz-20kHz
Phase response : Less than 5 degrees deviation 20Hz-20kHz
Signal-to-noise ratio : More than 100dB
Crosstalk : Less than -100dB
Distortion (RCA) : Less than 0.12 %
Remote Control : Philips RC-5 compatible IR system 36kHz modulation frequency
Dimensions / Weight : 8.5cm x 43cm x 32cm (HxWxD) / 10kg
HIFI+ "Product of the year" https://www.opera-consonance.com/technology/images/OpAward2006.pdf
Stereo Times "Hall of Fame" www.stereotimes.com/mw2006.shtml
TNT magazine www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/opera_cd120_e.html
HIFI + magazine https://www.opera-consonance.com/review%20pic/hifiplus/CD120_0Linear.pdf
6 Moons magazine https://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/opera/opera.html
Stereo Times "Hall of Fame" www.stereotimes.com/mw2006.shtml
TNT magazine www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/opera_cd120_e.html
HIFI + magazine https://www.opera-consonance.com/review%20pic/hifiplus/CD120_0Linear.pdf
6 Moons magazine https://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/opera/opera.html
Reference CD2.2 Linear Mk2 CD player/Dac
The Mk2 versions are now equipped with a digital output AND input, just plug your digital out from a digital streamer or similar digital device and you can enjoy the benefits of the Linear dac of the 2.2L.
RCD2.2 linear MKII is an 6H30 output tube, CD-player.
Special made super-clock employed for further lower Jitter.
16 BIT, with your choice of over sampling at (FS 88.2KHz,FS 176.4KHz) or even no oversampling which can be selected at the push of a button on the remote.
These 3 choices allow you to select the sound you find most personally satisfying.
Special made super-clock employed for further lower Jitter.
16 BIT, with your choice of over sampling at (FS 88.2KHz,FS 176.4KHz) or even no oversampling which can be selected at the push of a button on the remote.
These 3 choices allow you to select the sound you find most personally satisfying.
The new RCD2.2 linear CD player will also allow the digital input from our Wireless Digital Transmitterl Box 1.0 and other cd transports, cable TV decoders and satellite receivers either through the CD players co-axial inputs or with any other device with a digital PCM output. This will not only provide high quality audio but also provide an enjoyable ease of use. The future is coming soon and Opera Audio is providing our customers with the most up to date high quality sound for their future enjoyment. Specification:
DAC resolution TDA1543
0dBFS signal output 2.5V RMS
Output Terminals 5Hz - 47kHz (-3dB) Gold plated Tube RCA unbalanced
Frequency response
Less than +/- 0.5 dB deviation 20Hz-15kHz FS:44.1KHz
Less than +/- 0.5 dB deviation 20Hz-20kHz FS:88.2KHz
Less than +/- 0.5 dB deviation 20Hz-20kHz FS:176.4KHz
Signal-to-noise ratio More than 100dB
Distortion (RCA)
Less than 0.21 % 1KHz FS:44.1KHz
Less than 0.14 % 1KHz FS:88.2KHz
Less than 0.14 % 1KHz FS:176.4KHz
Remote Control Philips RC-5 compatible IR system 36kHz modulation frequency
Vacuum tube 6H30 x1
DAC resolution TDA1543
0dBFS signal output 2.5V RMS
Output Terminals 5Hz - 47kHz (-3dB) Gold plated Tube RCA unbalanced
Frequency response
Less than +/- 0.5 dB deviation 20Hz-15kHz FS:44.1KHz
Less than +/- 0.5 dB deviation 20Hz-20kHz FS:88.2KHz
Less than +/- 0.5 dB deviation 20Hz-20kHz FS:176.4KHz
Signal-to-noise ratio More than 100dB
Distortion (RCA)
Less than 0.21 % 1KHz FS:44.1KHz
Less than 0.14 % 1KHz FS:88.2KHz
Less than 0.14 % 1KHz FS:176.4KHz
Remote Control Philips RC-5 compatible IR system 36kHz modulation frequency
Vacuum tube 6H30 x1
Mini-Droplet CDP3.1 Linear CD player/Dac
Piano Black finish
Rear panel/Digital input E88CC valve output
Rear panel/Digital input E88CC valve output
The latest player to join the Linear range is the Mini-Droplet CDP 3.1 Linear, utilising an E88CC triode output ,and a top loading mechanism with wood, aluminium and ceramic sandwich chassis construction.
Also fitted with a new specially made super-clock for even lower levels of jitter.
Employing our preferred method of 16 BIT filterless dac design with a choice of over sampling at (FS 88.2KHz,FS 176.4KHz) or non-oversampling which can be selected at the push of a button on the remote.
These 3 choices allow you to select the sound you find most personally satisfying.
An SPDIF Digital input function allows you to use multiple input devices such as a computer or music server (such as a Squeezebox) or the use of another existing CD player as a transport. The latest player to join the Linear range is the Mini-Droplet CDP 3.1 Linear,
These 3 choices allow you to select the sound you find most personally satisfying.
Also fitted with a new specially made super-clock for even lower levels of jitter.
Employing our preferred method of 16 BIT filterless dac design with a choice of over sampling at (FS 88.2KHz,FS 176.4KHz) or non-oversampling which can be selected at the push of a button on the remote.
These 3 choices allow you to select the sound you find most personally satisfying.
An SPDIF Digital input function allows you to use multiple input devices such as a computer or music server (such as a Squeezebox) or the use of another existing CD player as a transport. The latest player to join the Linear range is the Mini-Droplet CDP 3.1 Linear,
These 3 choices allow you to select the sound you find most personally satisfying.
Link to review https://www.adventuresinhifiaudio.com/19/08/2010/operaconsonance-mini-droplet-3-1-linear-cd-player/
Notes on digital theories [or where did we go wrong?]
Solid State vs Valve, Digital vs Analogue, SACD vs DVD-A, the arguments rage on, with one persons point of view seemingly contradicting anothers, which is right?, which is wrong?, are there any winners, and losers ?, or is it down to personal tastes at the end of the day ?, now we have opposing technologies in the digital world, Digital Filters vs Filter-less Dac's, Upsampling vs Non upsampling, Oversampling vs no Oversampling, how are we supposed to make a decision with so many opposing viewpoints??
There seems to be only one way to decide, and that is with your ears, if you like the sound of the latest technology with 24/192 upsampling [or more], with brick-wall filters to block unwanted spurious noise, and beleive that the measured signal is of utmost importance, then that is what you are looking for, if on the other hand you trust your ears to make a buying decision , then the alternative "Simple" approach is clearly worth listening tor,
Is 16 bit/44.1 enough? Clearly not!!, but we are stuck with it for now, SACD/DVD-A are currently not taking the world by storm, so we have to make the best of 16/44.1,
This is an excerpt from the thoughts of Ryohei Kusunoki --- The choice of Philips's TDA-1543 to the non-oversampling DACs published on MJ was a pure coincidence, but anyhow the DAC chip had one unique quality: a very high output. This helped to use discrete passive I/V conversion circuit rather than IC chips. The discrete I/V circuit sounds much better than the ICs. The non-oversampling DACs have distinctive tonal quality, but I couldn't figure out the reasons in the early stages. I found the answer after listening to a DAC using eight DAC ICs to bring about 8-times oversampling without a digital filter. The DAC's sound clearly indicated that oversampling was not the culprit of sound degrading, but the real offender was the digital filter. Digital filters cut off signals beyond 20kHz with a very steep curve, but needs around 2msec of time to calculate the enormous data. I think this is the reason of "diffusion of sound coherence", [AKA Smearing]the characteristic tonal quality of the oversampling DAC. The new technologies are welcome and I'm quite interested in them. But if the reasons to alter the original CD format are to expand frequency range and dynamic range, I must say, they are barking up the wrong tree. This is why the new technologies can provide just a tiny improvement to the sound quality compared to using better quality capacitors and resistors.
There seems to be only one way to decide, and that is with your ears, if you like the sound of the latest technology with 24/192 upsampling [or more], with brick-wall filters to block unwanted spurious noise, and beleive that the measured signal is of utmost importance, then that is what you are looking for, if on the other hand you trust your ears to make a buying decision , then the alternative "Simple" approach is clearly worth listening tor,
Is 16 bit/44.1 enough? Clearly not!!, but we are stuck with it for now, SACD/DVD-A are currently not taking the world by storm, so we have to make the best of 16/44.1,
This is an excerpt from the thoughts of Ryohei Kusunoki --- The choice of Philips's TDA-1543 to the non-oversampling DACs published on MJ was a pure coincidence, but anyhow the DAC chip had one unique quality: a very high output. This helped to use discrete passive I/V conversion circuit rather than IC chips. The discrete I/V circuit sounds much better than the ICs. The non-oversampling DACs have distinctive tonal quality, but I couldn't figure out the reasons in the early stages. I found the answer after listening to a DAC using eight DAC ICs to bring about 8-times oversampling without a digital filter. The DAC's sound clearly indicated that oversampling was not the culprit of sound degrading, but the real offender was the digital filter. Digital filters cut off signals beyond 20kHz with a very steep curve, but needs around 2msec of time to calculate the enormous data. I think this is the reason of "diffusion of sound coherence", [AKA Smearing]the characteristic tonal quality of the oversampling DAC. The new technologies are welcome and I'm quite interested in them. But if the reasons to alter the original CD format are to expand frequency range and dynamic range, I must say, they are barking up the wrong tree. This is why the new technologies can provide just a tiny improvement to the sound quality compared to using better quality capacitors and resistors.
Link to the article by Ryohei Kusunoki
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