DEEN

P8 CD-Player


The P 8 is our first own digital source. This time we had a special ambitiously requirement specification, as we wanted to avoid typical mistakes in the deveolopment and furthermore we wanted to create a CD-Player which would reduce the tonal differences to a high-class turntable towards Zero.

Already in 2011 we presented at High End fair the first prototype. Even though it could have gone well we ourselves have not been really satisfied. It still had been too digital, it showed too little acoustic colour and we missed the musical flow. A further year of development passed. We changed the previous base for the CD-transport. Experiments with various types of wood and other materials such as e.g. different artificial stones showed only a short success; long lasting listening sessions brought to light great differences concerning an analog reproduction. Finally we found the ultimate base for the drive: acryl - additionally on both sides damped with heavy foil. The bearing/mounting has been effected on special plastic bolts with brass application.

But the deciding change came with two little somethings. First the positioning of some parts (here we are talking about a half millimeter, on the other hand the repeated change of two capacitor types with a good reputation.  It made „Click“ and the P 8 showed a real analog feeling which was not due to bent frequency response and/or additional distortions.

 

This appliance has been developed in order to reproduce music as lifelike and pure as possible. We are protectionists of the minimalist and extremely puristic construction/assembling. A lot of piece parts or devices will not automatically mean a better sound: less often is more. This can also be said for correction and regulating circuits, which will be applied only if absolutely necessary or if they do not have any negative sound effects. Otherwise we prefer other possibilities; e.g. to construct the power supply more extensive and oversized. An expensive way, of course, but the result shows: we are right.

With the same effort we constructed the other part of the conception: the single piece parts and the internal wiring have been determined in particular hearing sessions; the chassis is being optimized mechanically ex works and other – Audio Exklusiv-own, resonance absorbing measurements are implanted in order to take care that the music signal will be available – without any modifications – at the output of the appliance.

Nevertheless other measurements for decoupling (e.g. under-cover bases or feet by Audio Exklusiv) will be able to optimize the sound.

This can also be applied for the current supply: Even though the power input has been provided with a high quality line filter an additional line filtering can be useful in some regions.


The final environment had been defined from the beginning. Three separated, vast configurated power supplies with R-C-L-filters – like always – the best possible working conditions. Concerning the converter- and  upsamplerchips we made the decision for the flagships from Crystal (CS 4398) and Analog Devices (ADA 1896).  The additional purchase of already existing D/A-converter-boards had never been an option for us!

Concerning the output we decided on a pure tube solution (with only little negative feed back) in the sense of a direct-coupling anode-/cathode-circuit with 2 ECC 802. 2 additional ECC 802 serve as impedance converter.

Some tricks in the circuit ensure to reach ideal characteristics of the upsamplers (192 kHz) as well as a special jitterfree signal.  With the help of an asynchronous clocking all signals inside the P 8 are principally clocked newly. But we have already worked out the next step: we are working on a „superclock“ - the basis circuit is provided for a piggyback board.

Another future feature with an immediate benefit as well has been implemented. For several times there can be seen a worldwide trend to download/to save the music software on the computer. Some supplier here offer 24 Bit/192 kHz. This format via Windows would automatically be limited on 24 Bit/96 kHz. Our USB-Interface however enables – in conjunction with a little softwaredriver – the maximal solution. Behind the USB-Interface the data pass through the whole P 8 converter- and outputsection. And so totally new possibilities will be developed.













Technical Data and Dimensions

  • Frequency response:
    20 Hz - 20 kHz (+/-0,5 dB)
  • S/N ratio (weighted):
    97,8 dB
  • S/B ratio (unweighted: 93,5 dB
  • THD+N: 0,079 % (CD-PCM)

   
  • Output impedance: 780 Ohm
  • Channel diff.: 0,1 dB
  • Output voltage: 2,2 V
   
  • Power consumption:
    38 Watt
  • Dimensions:
    480 (B) x 465 (T) x 145 (H) mm
  • Weight: 17,6 kg