A leading consumer magazine suggests there are no differences from one CD player to the next; digital is digital, O's are O's and 1's are 1's.

Manufacturers suggest there are many differences: 16-bit, 18-bit, 20-bit, 1 bit MASH, 4x, 8x, 256X oversampling! Confused?? We're not!

This is just a lot of pseudo-scientific "baffle-gab" designed to intimidate consumers. Can they both be wrong ?

YES! - Just trust your ears!

The Theory

Your ears are analog devices. You do not plug yourself directly into the digital output. Manufacturers' suggestion that 16 bits, etc. is the path, have over-simplified some very incredible math. The most basic digital-to-analog conversion uses simple "addition" - not precise but really cheap. The net result - not a very smooth sound wave. The evolution in the math component of your CD player is called "polynomial" math.

Think of your CD player as containing a mini computer, that looks at the "zeros" and "ones". It determines that there are some fixed points on this harsh sound wave, then calculates where other music points might be. This results in a smoother sounding wave. The very best CD players employ the Motorola Microprocessor 56002 incorporating "transcendental math". This consists of using sine and cosine, plus three to 5 times more math equations to further smooth and refine the sound waves.

The Reality

With a hard-time deadline, problems are further compounded. Every second of time from the disc consists of 44,067 samples of information. When your CD player is asked to do all this incredibly complex mathematical re-constitution, it could run out of time.

The Laser diode assembly

Anybody can do it right, given a large enough budget. To make machines affordable though, much slower and less expensive devices are used. We believe there is a difference in sound from one CD player to the next. You must listen and decide for yourself. When we play various qualities of CD players, ask yourself - do you hear a difference and is it worth paying extra!

Single or Multi Disc

After dealing with the quality of sound, you must deal with the thorny issue of "creature comforts". There are purists who insist on single-play CD machines. There are those who want to load in half a day's worth of music. Single play machines that we recommend start at $700; multi-discs at $500.

Mechanical

CD players are incredibly complex. They must be able to compensate for the limitations in the disc itself. If the hole is not centred, the lens must be able to move to compensate. If the disc is not absolutely flat, the lens must bob up and down for accurate tracking. Even more amazing is that the laser diode assembly starts reading the music from the inside edge of the disc and works its way to the outer edge. The inner tracks are shorter than the outer tracks. The disc must be able to spin 500 revolutions per minute for the inner tracks and gradually slow to 200 RPM for the outer ones. Now that you understand how delicate and precise a CD player is, you'll understand why we insist you invest in a high quality, well-built unit!

The Power Supply

When we discuss power supply, we do not mean the amplifier. We literally mean the power distribution within the CD player. They are four very different but interlinked sections: the motor, the front display, the digital signal processor and the analog output section. Ideally, we wish the CD player to be electrically quiet.

Yet, when the motor and display are turned on, like your fridge or furnace, there is electrical interference, called "common mode noise". One of the greatest sources of internal electrical noise is the digital signal processor. Isolation from all these devices from the analog or sound wave section must be as complete as possible.

In addition, with a very real possibility of momentarily running out of internal power - a brown out - a better machine will possess excellent isolation and a regulated, stable power supply with good grounding.

Harman Kardon single CD player

Warning: Please do not attempt to clean or service your CD player. The light emitted from the laser diode assembly is invisible and may do permanent eye damage. We provide eternal cleaning and lubrication "free of charge" to all our customers CD players as long as they own them.

Come and see how we created big, wonderful music in a garden, tennis court and swimming pool setting that's not seen or be heard by the neighbors.