Plinius - CD-101 CD PLAYER

In true PLINIUS tradition we have approached the development of our CD Player from a different angle. We have always felt that the potential of Redbook CD has held promise but has been short on delivery. In our research we have listened long and hard to SACD and other formats but we have elected to stick with Redbook because of the results achieved and to support the extensive CD collections our customers already have.

Our DAC development has been time consuming. An initial false start using some of the latest technology (asynchronous upsampling, and bitstream conversion) lead to a disappointing sonic result. We then re-thought and developed a DAC following a very conservative path. Noting the DIY enthusiast's endorsement of simple solutions, and with our general philosophy of avoiding unnecessary complexity, we evaluated a DAC design that used simple synchronous oversampling, and a multibit DAC. This needed no additional analogue filtering, and was in keeping with our like of simplicity. The outcome was more than we expected. This design, coupled with a low jitter master clock feeding the transport, has delivered Redbook CD performance that surpasses that which we have previously heard.

Physically the PLINIUS CD101 matches our range of Integrated, Pre and Power Amplifiers. The operational styling of the CD101 has only one control button on the front panel with all other functions driven from the distinctive remote control. The remote control also has some basic functions allowing volume and mute adjustment on PLINIUS Pre and Integrated Amplifiers. We put much effort into understanding the interface requirements, and decided that as music is the goal, the interface should distract as little as possible. Considering the user interaction with vinyl replay, where there are no digital track-time-elapsed displays, and the focus is on just listening to music, we decided to make the user interaction with the CD101 similar. The display consists of a series of micro LEDs showing the progress of the tracks through the disc. This is simple, elegant, and directs the listener's focus to the music and away from the technology.

The mechanical design has also seen much effort go into ensuring the transport is isolated, and the chassis is well damped. We have developed a substantial tray support and bearing system, and applied damping material and compliance where necessary. The build quality is beyond reproach.

As with other PLINIUS products it is the music that matters most. The CD101 is a worthy addition to our range.

Frequency Response:20Hz to 20kHz ±0.2dB. Distortion: <0.01% THD at rated input level. Hum & Noise: -100dB at rated input level, A Weighted. Maximum Output Level: 2V RMS into 10kohms or higher. Output Source Impedance: Typically 100ohms Digital Output Impedance: 75ohms Dimensions: Height 105mm (4"), Width 450mm (17.75"), Depth 400mm (15.75"), Weight 10kg (22lb).