Long gone! CEC's belt drive CD machine.
At present, the cd turntable/cd machine/decoder category produced in Japan's cec is not too much, and the turntable has flagship tl-0 3.0, tl-3 3.0 (that is, the overseas version of tl-2n), tl-5; the CD machine is only left with cd-5. The decoders are da-3ex (that is, the overseas version of da-sl) and da-5, and the legendary flagship da-0 3.0 is not introduced much on the official website. As you may not know, CEC has also done power amplifiers, with exclusive digam and lef lines launched Class A output 190 watts / 8 ohms, 256 watts / 4 ohm amps amp6300 combined amplifier, a total of 15a power crystals used 16, the chassis is composed of a large number of composite materials. It's just that this is not the same as the big monster imagined by the enthusiast, and it looks like Sven is very good, so it seems to have not been taken seriously. What is even more unusual is that CEC has launched a gall machine tube 53, each channel with 6l6gc push-pull output of 20 watts of power, input and primary amplification are used 12au7 double transistors. You don't have to ask, I haven't seen this tube merger amplifier, and it is said that there is still a chance to audition at big camara electronic mass stores such as Shinjuku Nishiguchi Main Store, Yurakucho, and Yokohama in Tokyo. In the past, I had only heard about the original TL-1 turntable of CEC, and the cheap TL51z CD machine, the flagship TL-0 could not afford to buy, and the TL51z remembered that there was a small problem, and there were occasional unstable situations when reading discs with a time of more than 74 minutes, so I was really not familiar with CEC.
The Japanese domestic number of this turntable is tl-3 3.0, in addition to the flagship tl-0, the current cec's turntable, CD machine appearance is very similar, are using the design of the upper slide sliding window
For a while CEC seemed to disappear in front of the public's eyes, yes, after becoming independent from Sanyo Electric in 2000, CEC's situation was not good, and some popular products were launched under hunger and food, and the production area was also transferred to the Asian region, and the result was that it was getting farther and farther away from enthusiasts. In 2017, CEC applied for restructuring, after the introduction of new funds CEC began to rectify the catalog, only to retain competitive, stop a large number of products that we can not remember the model, and let the production line return to Japan, and finally Phoenix Nirvana came back to life. Of course, CEC's biggest selling point belt drive CD system has continued to be carried forward, with the exclusive research and development of the superlink interface, forming a new force in the post-CD era. The most touching thing is that CEC did not set the price unattainable, CEC tl-2n turntable + da-sl decoder set of prices is only more than 70,000 yuan, but its overall performance is not inferior to esoteric, accuphase, luxman and other Japanese first-line brands, and even more charming.
CEC's single-door belt drive system
Charming? Yes, from the imaginary dancing of the belt-driven structure, the sense of operation of the film above, to the loose and smooth and transparent sound performance, cec's CD player and turntable will make people forget about vinyl records for a while. Cec tl-2n turntable + da-sl decoder is in addition to the flagship tl-0 3.0 turntable + da-0 3.0 decoder ranked second big brother, drilling oil table-style tl-0 3.0 turntable needless to say, weighing nearly 20 kg of power split structure, light CD town weighs 460 grams, you can imagine how powerful its belt drive system is. As for the mysterious da-0 3.0 decoder, using the 32bit/384khz DAC in cooperation with the American MSB, analog amplification plus output transformer, and of course also using the superlink interface of the CEC, the appearance is very beautiful. A closer look reveals similarities between the design concepts of CEC and MSB, both of which agree that the s/pdif format is not good enough, and MSB calls the interface pro i²s, which can transmit the highest resolution PCM and DSD in the industry, and almost completely eliminate time-base errors. Msb uses its own development of r2rladder dac, by precision resistance cascade arrangement, the digital signal using the resistance string stacked up the ladder into an analog signal, as the number of bits increases, the ladder to multiply, while maintaining the precision pairing of resistors, is definitely easy to know the difficult design. The design of msb is different, in addition to the very low digital noise, no need for steep filtering to filter out high-frequency noise, the sound will sound more natural, and they also use 4-8 modules in one breath to form a differential structure, plus a pair of sharc dsp to perform msb's own development of audio frequency and digital filtering, can pull the character length to 80 bits, highlighting the details of the high and low tones that we usually ignore. Since CEC's decoder is not as famous as the belt-driven turntable, I mean ask enthusiasts to pay attention to it in the future, CEC will have unexpected results.
After careful disassembly, it can be seen more clearly that the CEC is called a double belt drive, with one motor driving the CD to rotate and the other motor moving the laser head through the gear
First, let's talk about CEC's exclusive superlink interface. Current s/pdif (Sony Philips digital interface) and aes/ebu (Institute of Audio Engineering/European Broadcasting Union) systems are often used for coaxial and fiber optic outputs, transmitting music and clock signals over the same cable, making them prone to jitter and signal interference. cec's superlink transmits these signals separately through 4 wires, eliminating the need for the encoding and decoding process of the transmission, and using the decoder's clock to achieve complete synchronization between the dial and the DAC, minimizing distortion and degradation during transmission. i²s is a bus standard developed by Philips in 1982 for audio data transmission between digital audio equipment (such as CD players, digital sound processors, digital TV sound systems), using independent wires to separate the transmission of clock and data signals, avoiding time-based distortion. i²s has 3 main signals:
(1) Serial clock sck, also known as bit clock (bclk), that is, corresponding to each bit of digital audio data, sclk has 1 pulse, sclk frequency = 2× sampling frequency × sampling bits.
(2) The field (channel) selects ws, also known as lrck, which is used to switch the data of the left and right channels. A lrck of "1" indicates that the data is being transmitted from the left channel, and a value of "0" indicates that the data from the right channel is being transmitted. The frequency of lrck is equal to the sampling frequency.
(3) Serial data sd (sdata), that is, audio data represented in binary. Sometimes in order to better synchronize between devices, it is necessary to transmit another signal mclk, called the master clock, also called the system clock (sys clock), which is 256 times or 384 times the sampling frequency.
But because the i²s format does not enforce interface standards, each manufacturer uses different interfaces, cec uses 4 cnc coaxial lines, their role is different
(1) mck (master clock master clock): The main clock is responsible for the decoder, and the cd dial follows the synchronization.
(2) bck (bit clock bit clock): The bit clock required for digital signal extraction (sampling frequency, etc.) is sent from the CD dial to the decoder.
(3) lrck (left/right clock left right clock): Sends an l/r clock (word clock) that identifies left and right signals.
(4) data: The dial sends a digital signal to the decoder.
The old superlink is a 9-pin d-sub interface, the new superlink switch to 4 75 ohm bnc wires, theoretically with i²s transmission when the wire is not very important, the original factory attached a set of standard lines, there is a chance to try to fever. To enjoy the benefits of superlink, you can only use a whole set of cec products, if you only buy a cd turntable or decoder separately, you are sorry. At this time, you can only connect bck one interface, instead of s/pdif coaxial, but you can trust me, with the superlink connection to hear the orchestra scale sense increase sharply, the picture transparency increases, the amount of music intelligence explodes, the weak tone expression is more abundant Effect, you will definitely abandon the s/pdif transmission. It can be said that when connected with ordinary coaxial lines, this set of cec tl-2n turntable +da-sl decoders is just worth the money, and the sound is loose and neutral. After switching to the superlink connection, I think CEC has a chance to compete with other products that are 2-3 times more expensive, because the rare and elegant sound quality and the dense and gorgeous tone have appeared.
Next, let's discuss the cec tl-2n turntable and the da-sl decoder separately. tl-2n is the discontinued tl-3n successor product, the same is the top sliding window placement design, it should be said that the current CEC turntable and CD machine are unified shape, do not look at the number is still difficult to distinguish. In fact, the tl-2n has made a lot of improvements, including a redesigned double belt drive, brass cast CD town from 70mm/330g to 120mm/380g, and the handling is more trusting. The entry-level tl-5 turntable has only a set of belt drives for the spindle, and the magic is that the structure is simple, but it sounds different from ordinary CD players. The tl-2n, hidden under the central black glass, can only see one belt on the surface of the belt drive, but the structure is much more complicated, not only the disc is rotated by the belt, but the laser head is also positioned by the belt. Because each motor generates pole vibrations and a strong magnetic field that changes as it rotates. There must be an impact near the laser head, and the benefits of separating the two and then soft coupling with a belt are obvious. The heavy and large CD town minimizes the shaking of the disc, and the cec adds a spring bracket of about 3mm under the motor and spindle, giving the tl-2n a delicate structure like a vinyl turntable.
The right half of the tl-2n turntable is still empty, and someone abroad uses this position to install a set of linear power supplies, and it is said that the effect has improved greatly
CEC has always used a linear power supply structure, 50va toroidal transformer
The lower half of the board controls the optical drive, and the top half provides numerous digital outputs, including i2s or superlink, as well as a clock input
The improved drive and servo line read faster, and the discs that are burned by themselves can be read quickly even if the surface is scratched, and the super capacity CD with a time of nearly 80 minutes is no problem. These improvements also allow the turntable to read out valuable data more precisely and without distraction, ultimately leading to more natural and musical reproduction. Audiophiles mentioned the so-called cold and hard "digital sound", which is not an inherent component of CDs, usually produced by the playback device, interference from the power supply and other effects superimposed on the music signal, coupled with distortion produced by the transmission process, so we hear the sound we don't like. Does the tl 2n dual belt drive read 100% of the data on the disc, or is it musical? The conclusion remains to be seen, but this is already the best CD drive system I've heard in recent years! It is quiet but not dead, it is stable but alive, it is responsive and detailed, and its tone shines with a faint silver light but is not too sharp.
I tried to connect the tl-2n turntable to the vibrato model one combined amplifier and enjoyed the soft and delicate sound base, and the high frequency had a special beauty of silky smoothness and extension, not very stunning but chewy, and the more I listened, the more smooth it was. The vocals of this turntable are sweet, soft and delicate with Japanese sound, smooth with water but not too fat, unlike marantz's richness and magnetism. If Marantz brings out the mature and feminine style of a woman, then CEC is as innocent and romantic as a girl. In terms of low frequency, CEC walks the same Japanese japanese wind, the lines are clear and clean, can show the cello texture very well, the finishing speed is faster, the sense of volume is not particularly abundant and full, and the strength of the dive is also more restrained. In exchange, the advantage is that the sound field is wide and large, the space depiction ability is very strong, the orchestral instruments are clearly arranged and positioned, and there is no stimulation pressure at large volumes, of course, this is related to its softer sound base. So does it seem that the tl-2n turntable will be classified as what enthusiasts call "Japanese radish sounds"? No, no, no, in fact the CEC sound is closer to the European style, with the shadow of the Swiss goldmund. Come to a rr record of "The Old Man and the Sea Beachcomber", fennell and Dallas Wind Orchestra are full of firepower, 18 concerts as Encore wind sketches with diverse flavors, the endless charm of the hot and exciting wind music is exerted to the extreme, rr's recordings show excellent transparency and rich layering, rapid response and oversized dynamic performance makes people listen to it! The tl-2n turntable shows a very majestic momentum, the stage is open and wide, the background is deep and dark, several large drums beat the knot like a three-dimensional shape, the speed is moderate and smooth, and the treble is warm and fleshy. However, the impact of the moment, and the dynamic ups and downs of the big opening, cec seems to be more Sven, it shows the music is very dynamic, but I like to be more powerful and more condensed and fuller.
The Japanese domestic number of the da-sl decoder is da-3ex, which is upgraded from the discontinued da-3n, and the biggest change is to switch to a newer decoder chip, removing the volume control. The digital filter of the da-sl decoder can switch between flat with excellent frequency characteristics in the high frequency range and pulse with natural damping characteristics while suppressing jitter distortion
This is the effect of connecting with the aes/ebu interface, replacing the da-sl decoder with a superlink connection, which will make people think that it is a change of equipment. The digital output of the tl-2n turntable also has aes/ebu, rca coaxial and tos fiber, of course, the first choice is to use superlink, although there is no chance to try to replace other wires, I already feel that i²s transmission is heaven! At this time, the overall sound heard is warmer, clearer, cleaner, fuller, more intense, and the musical expression is richer and more infectious. The quintet of Schubert's "Trout" played by the violin goddess Mutte, and the live recording of the theater of the Baden-Baden Festival with several young players in June 2017, musicians from different cultural backgrounds such as South Korea, Germany, Slovakia and other cultural backgrounds stirred up new sparks with each other. The whole set of CEC also feels fresh and interesting, the five people play more sweet fusion and resonance, rather than going their own way, CEC manages to attract the listener to the music more intensely. The bass of the tl-2n turntable +da-sl decoder is more relaxed and elastic, the piano sounds more pleasant, the shadows and air around the instrument are more, and it is less tense and dull for our ears, and it will feel like the concert scene should be.
Since the cec uses special screws, we can't open the da-sl decoder, which is inside the old version of da3n, and it can be seen that the analog output part is a fully balanced architecture
Da-sl decoder is also a discontinued da-3n follow-up product, the biggest difference is that the decoding chip from ess es9008 upgraded to ES9028pro, canceled the headphone output and a set of variable volume output, digital input coaxial, aesebu, optical fiber, USB interface at the same time canceled, only superlink, cec to tell everyone, this is the best! CEC did not adhere to the decoding chip, the past DX-71 MK1 decoder used burr brown multi-bit classic chip PCM1704, and then in DX-71 MK2 switched to NPC SM5865cm, and later the all-in-one CD machine TL-51XZ also used NPC chip. ess's es9038pro is one of the highest parameter indicators in the industry chip, integrated s/pdif interface, through the use of sample rate asynchronous conversion technology jitter elimination circuit, and front-end transmission jitter to couple, there is a great degree of jitter tolerance; hyperstream patent modulator can enable sigma-delta modulator to overcome some transient very linear, plus some other technologies, such as distortion correction, There are many advantages to the 8-channel switchable differential DAC and the dedicated ultra-low noise linear power supply. The es9028pro and the ES9038pro are almost identical chips (including functions and chip packaging, pins), and only two differences can be found: one is that the output impedance is greater than the es9038pro; the other is that the dynamic range, distortion and noise specifications are lower than one level of the es9038pro. Due to the late launch of ESS and AKM's chips and newer technology, there are obvious advantages, but the chip performance is not exactly equivalent to the advantages and disadvantages of sound, such as the dynamic range of > 120db, and it is not easy for peripheral circuits to achieve this performance, so the final performance depends on the overall design.
The da-sl decoder was switched to ESS's ES9028 pro chip, which improved the analysis power and signal-to-noise ratio
Since the da-sl decoder is clearly to match the cec dial, it cancels other commonly used interfaces, and mainly matches the tl-2n dial when listening, connected with superlink, and the digital filter is placed in flat (flat) mode. Writing here, I can't help but mention the difference between superlink and s/pdif (whether it is rca coaxial or aes/ebu balance), from the subjective sense of hearing, the latter is "colorless" tap water, which sounds like neutral and less additive, but actually contains some turbid impurities; and the former is a "charming" glacier mineral water, more crystal clear, slightly sweet and clear taste. It's hard to tell the difference in percentage numbers, because s/pdf will look different with the switch to wire, and superlink feels close to perfect. Without exaggerating, using the velvety texture and naturalness produced by superlink, I believe that all audiophiles can distinguish it in one ear, and now the overall sound is fuller, more solid, more natural, the bass is more authoritative, and the dynamics and impact are also satisfactory, I think this is a match made in heaven.
This 380-gram CD town is probably the heaviest guy I've ever used besides denon, can the CD still vibrate under pressure?
Once listening to Deng Yijian's recording at the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra Recording Studio, Uncle Jian only used a professional tascam recorder to connect to the Adam active monitor speaker to produce an unforgettable natural and stable sound, which may not be too enjoyable from a hi-fi point of view, but it is extremely real and rich effect, and the cec tl-2n turntable +da-sl decoder provides a very similar performance. They have a very rich amount of musical intelligence, and even in our well-known Mut playing Carmen Fantasia, you can still hear some fresh, unfamiliar but lively expressions. The balance of the biased mid-bass is particularly suited to classical music, and compared to most digital sources, cec lays out a firm and stable lower disc, allowing all instruments to play on it. Jazz is no problem, drums, bass, trumpets, vocals are even more "analog" than vinyl records, and the background is more tranquil, the soundstage is more delicate, the three-dimensional sense is stronger, which is probably more than many vinyl systems!
And I also noticed that the way the cec represents the sound field is vast and vast, but the listener's position is closer to the stage, that is, the instruments we hear are closer, more realistic, and easier to distinguish between the player's technique and timbre. In the case of the Italian fonè records 30th anniversary cd, the recording engineer Giulio Cesare Ricci has been using the 1947 and 1949 neumann single-point microphones u47, u48 and m49, which all have natural and transparent clean highs, and have excellent dual-microphone sound field effects. Fonè's specialty is classical music, especially since they never released records made in the studio, in villas, churches, theatres and country houses. Through the cec to enjoy the 12 small music recorded in a minimalist way by fonè records, the sound of the violin and cello is not to mention, and the accompaniment piano sets off the natural acoustic characteristics of different spaces as if we are sitting in the right and optimal position, or we are the position of the microphone arrangement, listening to various performances at a glance, and the appeal is very strong.
Maybe I should say that the biggest killer of the cec tl-2n turntable +da-sl decoder is that in addition to the warm and feminine tone, but more importantly, the subtle and amazing changes in expressions and feelings, it is difficult to hear such a sound on other CD combinations. It will make people immediately want to integrate into the music, even Yao Yingge's CD, it has a clever "aphrodisiac" power, listening to the CEC's magical belt drive system, will temporarily forget all the vinyl turntable.
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