Simon Price
How do CD players work?
I don’t have to tell you how to suck eggs, for everyone knows that CD players pick up digital content from a spinning disc using a laser. Again like streaming, the signal is a digital one compromising 1’s and 0’s. The signal must be converted to an analogue waveform by a Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC) for it to be heard. But what’s the difference between CD Players & Transports. Read on….
What types of players are there?
Generally there are two types; – a ‘CD transport’ which conveys a digital signal to a DAC or one with an integrated DAC, which in normal use language is referred to as a ‘CD player’.
They can also be combined, such that they have both analogue outputs and digital outputs, and can operate as CD players or CD transports. You might use either the internal DAC and route it to your preamplifier or integrated amplifier, or use the digital output(s) to send the digital to a better DAC when you upgrade later. The use of such devices with digital outputs and analogue outputs allows you to use the best DAC, wherever it sits in your HiFi.
Connections?
Often CD Transports and CD Players look the same and operate the same but the difference in having a DAC or not is reflective in rear connections. Hence lets have a look;
Rega Apollo CDP CD player & Transport : Rear Panel
The Apollo is both a Transport and CD Player which you can work out from the connections!
Common digital cables
The demise of CD?
Now is a good time to buy your last CD spinner as it’s likely the new manufacture of CDs will have had its time in a few years. This is certainly the case of the British and American markets and in much of Europe, but in places like Japan, most music is still consumed from CD.
Read about the differences between types of amplifiers here.
