CDP-300 DVD Player

Universal and multi-format players are common solutions for consumers who seek maximum value from their disc player purchase. They also save space by combining several disc-reading functions into a single player. But for high-end players, the perceptions of value and simplicity are typically over-stated. Integration of video with multiple audio formats can compromise performance and complicate the user interface.

It is well known that high-end audio and video solutions usually employ separate components, where individual circuit blocks are dedicated to specific functions and optimized for best performance. The separation of functions often includes electrical, electromagnetic and physical isolation, with the intent of reducing or eliminating unwanted interactions with adjacent components or circuitry.

The challenge for high-end audio and video designers is to find the appropriate balance between the often conflicting demands of performance, convenience and value. The Classé Design Team achieves this goal with the new CDP-300 DVD Player, which artfully balances the needs of multiple audio formats with high-resolution video processing and an advanced touchscreen user interface.

Fashion, Function and Firsts

As the first Classé Delta series DVD player, the CDP-300 shares the beautiful industrial design and elegant control screens found throughout the range. It is, in fact, the first DVD Player to offer touchscreen control and video preview on the front panel. The preview feature allows audiophiles the option of enjoying a pure music listening session without video, eliminating the noise and distraction sometimes associated with projectors and other display devices. Simply navigate DVD-Audio (or DVD-Video) discs from the front panel and listen under ideal conditions.

The CDP-300 DVD Player utilizes a TEAC ® slot-loader mechanism for reading discs. It was chosen in place of the older drawer-loading designs because of its superior disc-handling characteristics, reliability and control options. Elimination of the drawer also facilitates a greater range of installation options. Loading remains convenient even when the player is mounted at or above eye-level in equipment racks, where placing discs in trays can be awkward. Fitting neatly within the Delta series model's black control strip, the slot is illuminated by a soft blue light to assist when loading discs in a darkened room.

From its specially designed, vibration-absorbing feet to its strong and rigid chassis and DVD-ROM drive, the CDP-300 is a 'from the ground up' design serving as a high-quality and reliable disc-playing platform. The drive is capable of reading DVD-Video discs and more. Play CD, DVD-Audio, MP3, WMA, Video-CD, S-VCD discs, with audio and video signal paths fully optimized to deliver the experience like no other.

Digital to Analog, Amazing Audio

For best audio performance, special attention is paid to the routing and clocking (timing) of digital audio signals. Most DVD (and universal players) derive their audio clocks from the 27 MHz video clock, which has no relationship to the clocks needed for various audio signals (usually multiples of 44.1 and 48kHz). The result is a typically poor approximation of the desired audio clock frequencies, which is another way of saying that most DVD players under-perform because of excessive digital jitter.

The presence of jitter at the point of conversion from digital to analog increases distortion and robs the playback system of resolution. To reduce jitter in the CDP-300, digital audio signals of all types (CD, DVD, DVD-Audio, etc.) are routed through a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) and sample rate converter to de-correlate them from the MPEG decoder (video) clock. The result is that all digital sources are re-created as 24-bit/192kHz signals and re-clocked before being output to the D-to-A converters. By attacking jitter at its source, the Classé Design team makes great sounding audio possible from a variety of digital formats.

Three stereo DACs (with 8x digital filters) have been selected to perform the delicate process of converting digital audio to analog. Each channel of each stereo DAC is itself converted as a differential signal. Six channels of analog audio are output in single-ended format on RCA connectors, while the front left and right channels are also available balanced on XLR connectors. These channels are truly balanced, having been taken as differential outputs from each channel of a stereo DAC. Interestingly, the single-ended outputs for all channels also get the full benefit of the differential output of the DAC, by passing through a differential amplifier for conversion to single-ended.

Digital and Analog, Virtuous Video

The latest flat panel displays and certain projector models can display as many as 1080 horizontal lines at once. In order to capitalize on this new, higher resolution capability, the CDP-300 DVD Player utilizes newly developed video processing circuitry, making it the world's first DVD player to offer a full implementation of all HDTV resolutions. Digital video on HDMI is available at 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p.

In addition to deinterlacing and scaling functions, the CDP-300 employs extensive digital processing to reduce "mosquito noise," improve edge definition, adaptively control color/contrast ratios and improve chroma transient performance. Said another way, the CDP-300 performs complex mathematics to deliver a sharper, clearer, more compelling image than has been possible from earlier DVD player technologies.

Encore!

As with audio, the performance of video circuitry owes partly to the individual components and partly to the execution of an overall design strategy. The fact is, high-end players often use similar parts, but usually reach quite different levels of performance. The CDP-300 uses state-of-the-art component parts, employed to maximum advantage and built with precision and care. But its true value is only realized by playing familiar music recordings and watching your favorite movies.