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The Rotel CD Standard: A 16-bit 44.1 kHz Legacy
Posted on October 04 2024
Article Written By Rotel.
The 1982 release of the CD player, a collaboration between Philips and Sony, revolutionized music listening. Boasting superior sound quality with a wider frequency response and higher signal-to-noise ratio, CDs dethroned cassette tapes as the dominant format. Their durability further solidified their popularity.
The impact? Over 200 billion CDs sold worldwide, with audiophiles still cherishing them in the age of streaming for their fidelity and pride of ownership. Rotel has proudly been a part of this history since the earliest days continuing even today with 5 models of CD Players in our Rotel and Michi brand portfolios.
From the beginning Rotel’s meticulous design is paramount when crafting high-performance CD players. One of the many crucial elements when engineering a CD player is the digital-to-analog converter (DAC), responsible for transforming digital data from the disc into analog sound.
Over the years, we've meticulously chosen different types of DACs – MultiBit or Delta from renowned brands like Burr-Brown, Texas Instruments, ESS, AKM and more – based on the specific player's requirements. We prioritize maximizing the performance of a proven platform over simply adopting the latest technology. Switching to a newer DAC can sometimes be a step back, as the engineers learn how to implement it efficiently.
On other occasions, the newer DAC provides clear audible improvements. The key is to be open to both options and not base the end decision of a DAC strictly from the technical specification or solely from popularity trends. Rotel engineers constantly review new technologies supported by actual audible listening and detailed measurements for component selection in all critical circuits with special attention to the DAC.
The performance of the CD player is also heavily affected by other factors such as those outlined below.
- The Choice Of Transport Mechanism: This component is responsible for spinning the disc and reading the data accurately. Rotel uses precision-engineered mechanisms to minimise vibration and ensure smooth operation.
- High-Quality Laser Assembly: The laser must accurately read the microscopic pits on the disc. A well-built assembly ensures consistent focus and minimal errors.
- Suspension System: This isolates the transport mechanism from external vibrations that can disrupt data reading and reduces vibrations inside the unit itself from the spinning disc at up to 500 RPM.
- Solid Chassis Construction: A rigid chassis minimizes vibrations and contributes to a stable operating environment. Look for a well-built chassis with high-quality materials and vibration resistant feet.
- Analogue Stages: The quality of the circuitry that processes the analogue signal after the DAC conversion significantly impacts the final sound output. Rotel employs premium-grade, hand-tuned audiophile grade components and careful noise reduction, balanced circuit design architecture, using our decades of experience to preserve sonic fidelity.
- Power Supply: A stable and clean power supply is essential for providing consistent power to all the player's components that ultimately affect sound quality. Some models will have a dedicated Power supply for both the analogue and digital sections as well as fully isolated power to the mechanical components to further reduce noise.
Crafting a high-performance CD player demands meticulous attention to detail. Our audio engineers understand this well having released over 45 unique CD players and still counting. Leveraging our heritage, we know each component plays a crucial role, and the final product embodies our Balanced Design Concept engineering and product design philosophy.
Whether you choose the entry-level CD11 MKII or our flagship Michi Q5 Transport DAC, Rotel delivers exceptional value for performance. We're confident you'll find the perfect fit for your listening experience.
We invite you to join us on our journey and learn more the current offering of Rotel and Michi high performance CD players at the links below.
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