This is an update of the initial measurements I did here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...special-edition-cd-player.57160/#post-2089935
I wanted to make a new post instead of continuing the one from the link as it will help to see the actual performance as the initial measurements were flawed. So if you want to see how the device looks on the outside and inside, visit the thread from the link above.
My measurement setup is made out of an E1DA Cosmos ADC (grade A) and a Cosmos Scaler. Both devices are powered from battery packs (each device has its own pack). The CD player is connected to the Scaler via a single ended cable. For test signals, I used @NTTY 's test CD.
Let's start with the 1kHz test tone:
This looks really good for such an old device. Having a SINAD of 91.4 dB is great considering the results @NTTY got on his CD players.
Next is the 1kHz test tone with extended frequency, up to 48kHz
Now 1 kHz test tone but at -3dB FS
We naturally see a decrease in SINAD but it's still pretty good.
Multi tone:
This looks very clean!
Next we'll have a look at the frequency response:
Nice and flat in the audio band
Net we'll have a look at the filtering performed by the device (this is a test that @NTTY does and I thought it's nice to include it as well):
Jitter:
This doesn't look too clean but comparing to what @NTTY is getting on his players, I think this is good as this is the limitation of the test CD.
Next I looked at two-tones signals to see IMD:
Again, very good results.
Now a look at inter-samples as per @NTTY did (unfortunately I forgot to increase the sampling frequency to 192kHz so it only goes up to 48 kHz):
we have -34dB at 5512Hz, -27.6dB at 7350Hz and -16.2dB at 11025Hz
And lastly, the THD vs frequency plot:
Conclusion:
I'm happy to say that the CD52mk2 Special Edition is a good device. I enjoyed listening to it for some years now and I was hoping it will not disappoint on measurements. It didn't. Most of the time I listen to it through my SU-9n DAC but from time to time, I switch to its analog output, just to listen to the 1bit DAC that's inside.
THD is at -97dB so it's clear that the DAC and the analog circuitry works really well. Noise isn't bad at all for a consumer device.
I wanted to make a new post instead of continuing the one from the link as it will help to see the actual performance as the initial measurements were flawed. So if you want to see how the device looks on the outside and inside, visit the thread from the link above.
My measurement setup is made out of an E1DA Cosmos ADC (grade A) and a Cosmos Scaler. Both devices are powered from battery packs (each device has its own pack). The CD player is connected to the Scaler via a single ended cable. For test signals, I used @NTTY 's test CD.
Let's start with the 1kHz test tone:
This looks really good for such an old device. Having a SINAD of 91.4 dB is great considering the results @NTTY got on his CD players.
Next is the 1kHz test tone with extended frequency, up to 48kHz
Now 1 kHz test tone but at -3dB FS
We naturally see a decrease in SINAD but it's still pretty good.
Multi tone:
This looks very clean!
Next we'll have a look at the frequency response:
Nice and flat in the audio band
Net we'll have a look at the filtering performed by the device (this is a test that @NTTY does and I thought it's nice to include it as well):
Jitter:
This doesn't look too clean but comparing to what @NTTY is getting on his players, I think this is good as this is the limitation of the test CD.
Next I looked at two-tones signals to see IMD:
Again, very good results.
Now a look at inter-samples as per @NTTY did (unfortunately I forgot to increase the sampling frequency to 192kHz so it only goes up to 48 kHz):
we have -34dB at 5512Hz, -27.6dB at 7350Hz and -16.2dB at 11025Hz
And lastly, the THD vs frequency plot:
Conclusion:
I'm happy to say that the CD52mk2 Special Edition is a good device. I enjoyed listening to it for some years now and I was hoping it will not disappoint on measurements. It didn't. Most of the time I listen to it through my SU-9n DAC but from time to time, I switch to its analog output, just to listen to the 1bit DAC that's inside.
THD is at -97dB so it's clear that the DAC and the analog circuitry works really well. Noise isn't bad at all for a consumer device.
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