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Source Components
RED Reference CD Player
Building on the success of the Blu and the DAC64, the RED
Reference CD player has been designed as the ultimate source
component. With stunning looks and state of the art design the RED
utilizes ground breaking technology to give the most accurate
reproduction of compact disc that can be obtained. With internal
176.4 KHz upsampling data transfer, selectable RAM buffer clock
retiming and both 1024 and 4096 tap length filtering, the RED earns
its reference status in the Chord range.
Starting on the outside the RED features the Chord trademark
design and is manufactured from solid aluminum giving a rigid
support structure for the CD mechanism. The front panel design
incorporates ball bearing push button control for the commonly used
functions and a dual display showing CD status on one side and
input, buffer and frequency information on the other. Uniquely the
CD mechanism sits at 45 degrees to allow front access even if placed
on a stand or in a rack. Access to the CD is at the touch of a
button operating a solenoid controlled fluid damped door. At the
rear connections are made via gold plated phono or BNC coax, plastic
optical fiber or balanced XLR style connectors.
(Note: US models are supplied with blue leds not red as shown
above.)
Internally the latest CD Pro 2 mechanism from Philips is
re-clocked using a highly accurate crystal oscillator then the
synchronized data is fed to the upsampling and filtering
electronics. Here the 4096 tap length WTA filter is used to minimize
the transient timing errors and reconstruct the digital data to
either 44.1, 88.2 or 176.4 KHz sampling frequencies.
This data is fed to the rear XLR and optical output connectors
and also via a dual data bus to the digital to analogue conversion
electronics. Based on the DAC64, the digital signal is converted
from 176.4KHz to analogue audio using 1024 tap filtering and 64 bit
digital signal processing core. This is followed by 64th
bit 7th order noise shaping, 2048 times oversampling
rates and improved pulse width modulated elements. This gives much
better measured performance. better detail resolution with a
smoother more focused sound quality. The DAC also features RAM
buffer technology that sequentially takes in all the data, re-times
it, then sends it out giving jitter free operation. Digital data
from other sources can also be fed into the RED via the optical or
AES balanced XLR connections.
All of the above innovations are implemented in Field
Programmable Gate Arrays that can be reprogrammed by simply changing
the EPROM memory chip, thus future proofing is assured.
The RED Reference is a truly unique product. As a standalone CD
player it is able to deliver the best reference CD playback. The
addition of digital inputs and outputs also gives it the ability to
act as both a CD transport and DAC for other audio components making
it completely versatile.
Blu/DAC64 CD Player
The Blu CD transport is a state-of-the-art, up-sampling
ultra-high resolution transport which offers unequalled musical
performance with DAC64.
The Chord Blu CD Transport has been designed to match, both in
performance and style, the highly successful DAC64 and also
completes the Chord Choral range.
The Blu is a direct result of Chord's long term commitment to
innovative research, superior engineering and absolute, no-compromise quality.
Not only does this incredible achievement place Blu at the forefront of the
world's leading music reproduction systems, but a Blu/DAC64 system raises the
sound quality attainable from standard 16 bit CDs to a new plateau which truly
rivals any source in any format.
The Blu transport offers a huge, dramatic, "night
and day" sonic improvement, which will be noticed immediately.
Blu delivers an astonishingly life-like musical
performance. This ultra high resolution system delivers far more
detail than conventional sources. One can hear more air and space,
better separation of instruments, subtle nuances and inner detail.
Layers and textures of instruments are more easily discernible. All
this without the usual negative trade-offs associated with digital
sources. In fact, Blu is smoother and more natural sounding with a
distinctly accurate timbre resulting in a more organic, realistic
sound. Finally, with a deep wide soundstage and almost perfect
timing, Blu delivers the energy, vitality and excitement of a live
performance.
"Superb results in every aspect of performance.
Wow!"
- John Atkinson, Stereophile Class A+ Recommended Component, October
2007. Winner Stereophile Digital Source Component of the Year.
(Click image at right for more info...)
The Blu CD transport shares the same ground breaking technology that has made
the DAC64 one of the most successful digital to analogue converters ever
produced. As a dedicated state-of-the-art, 2-channel CD transport, Blu will take
full advantage of the WTA Filter technology used in the DAC by having it's own
4096 tap length WTA filter.
DAC 64
Chord's revolutionary DAC64 has changed the audio market's
attitude about separate Digital to Analogue Converters. In a period
that has seen many companies move to single box players only, the
DAC64 has proven the superiority of a properly implemented two box
design in a high quality audio system.
The DAC64 is the world's first 64 bit DAC. It's innovative RAM
buffer dramatically lowers jitter distortion. This breakthrough
product gives you the best of both worlds - more detail and a
smoother more natural sound, so you no longer have to choose between
the usual tradeoffs. The DAC64 has received incredible accolades the
world over including the top awards from the industry's most
respected reviewers.
The DAC64 can be purchased separately and used with any CD
player which has a digital output. The DAC64 on its own will prove
to be the single most cost effective upgrade you can make to your
hi-fi.
"It's not often a product leaves me gobsmacked, but the Chord
DAC64 has done just that. I don't think I can live without one. It's
like upgrading your entire CD collection at a stroke!"
- Jimmy Hughes, HiFi+ Magazine.
"If you thought Jimmy's review was enthusiastic you should hear
what he says in private."
- Product of the Year Awards, HiFi+ Magazine, March/April 2001
"It's very unusual to find components that simply blow away the
competition but the Chord DAC and transport system does just that."
- Ernie Fisher, The Inner Ear, 2005
One CD Player
The One is Chord's more affordable, one-box CD player which offers superior
performance. Chord's One features the same professional die-cast CD mechanism
and isolated top-loading arrangement as Chord's flagship Blu CD transport. The
latest 24-bit 192kHz devices provide digital to analogue conversion. A fully
buffered true balanced analogue output stage ensures the best possible musical
performance.
RCA and XLR balanced analogue outputs, plus BNC SPDIF coaxial digital
ensures compatibility with a wide variety of audio systems. The One (below) can
also be upgraded by adding the DAC64.
Symphonic Phono Stage
Chord offers an outstanding MC phono stage. The
Symphonic is part of the Choral range, (same dimensions as DAC64,
One, etc. With push-button adjustable gain and loading, the
Symphonic can be easily configured to match virtually any MC phono
cartridge.
"With its outstanding background quietness,
enormous gain, overall richness, harmonic coherence, and supple yet
slam-bang bass performance, the Chord Symphonic is easy to
recommend." - Michael Fremer, Stereophile, March 2007
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