Disc Players

Although the CD 60 is not equipped with balanced XLR outputs, Marantz's proprietary HDAM op-amps are capable of superb performance, offering a 2.2V maximum output from a ~92ohm source impedance with an excellent 110dB A-wtd S/N ratio. Few other players or (headphone) DACs employing this 'low consumption' version of the ES9016 converter have achieved quite such low noise in single-ended guise. In practice there's very little benefit offered by 24-bit media plugged into the front USB-A port over dithered 16-bit CD data. Naturally, 96kHz+ files have a more extended response: from –0.8dB/20kHz, to –3.0dB/45kHz and –5.3dB/90kHz with 48kHz, 96kHz and 192kHz media, respectively, but there's arguably as much subjective difference brought about by your choice of digital filter.

Filter 1 is a very slow roll-off linear phase type with barely perceptible pre/post ringing but very poor 7dB stopband rejection, rolling away to –4.2dB/20kHz, while Filter 2 is a hybrid type with less pre- than post-ringing, a superior 50dB stopband rejection and –0.8dB/20kHz response with CD. Filter 1 is possibly better suited to 96kHz+ media while Filter 2 will give optimum results with CD/48kHz files. Distortion is a very low 0.00014% through bass and midrange at 0dBFs, increasing to 0.00045% at 20kHz, while 24-bit data has a mere 1-4dB advantage over CD at lower digital levels [see Graph 1]. The jitter test is inevitably limited by the encoded data pattern (16-bit for CD and 24-bit for USB-A media) so the former's 115psec is a function of the test itself while the mere 8psec revealed with 24-bit data [see Graph 2] is perhaps a truer reflection of the CD 60's potential. PM