TEAC - VRDS-701 CD Player

More Than a CD Player: TEAC VRDS-701 Plays Back 22.5MHz DSD and Features VRDS Mechanism, Discrete DAC, Three Indpendent Toroidal Transformers, Enhanced Buffer Amp
Created in celebration of the company’s 70th anniversary, the TEAC VRDS-701 is more than a reference-level CD player. Much more. Bolstered by the brand-new Vibration-Free Rigid Disc-Clamping System (VRDS) mechanism — an original design that drastically reduces rotation vibration and other unwanted noise by clamping the CD to an aluminum turntable — this 24.5-pound unit features a TEAC-devised discrete Delta Sigma DAC; fully balanced dual-mono circuitry that provide complete mono paths for each channel; up-conversion modes; a stellar headphone amplifier; and more. It presents music with massive dynamic swings, exquisite detail, immersive clarity, three-dimensional imaging, and balanced tonality.
Complete with a 10MHz clock input that invites you to connect an external clock for maximum performance, VRDS-701 is built to thrill and delivers fully balanced transmission at every stage. A power supply with no less than three high-capacity, independent toroidal core transformers — one for the analog signals, one for the digital output, one for the CD mechanism — dispenses current with rock-solid stability. The power transformers are mounted on the floating subchassis, separate and isolated from the bottom panel to expertly control vibrations. Speaking of that issue: Heat-dissipating side fins with different lengths eliminate sympathetic vibrations. Three machined-steel support feet with an innovative structure that helps provide a suitable amount of play in the connection between them and the bottom panel further defeat vibrations.
Able to fully decode MQA — and up to 22.5MHz DSD and 32-bit/284kHz PCM when used as a USB DAC — VRDS-701 leverages Refined Digital Output Technology NEO (RDOT-NEO), which provides a function to upconvert the sampling frequency of PCM by 2×, 4× or 8×. RDOT, which applies an analogous interpolation method using fluency logic, was developed to enable the playback of the frequencies higher than 20kHz lost by the CD format. A high-precision dual clock for 44.1kHz and 48kHz multiples is also on board. For the analog output circuit, an original TEAC-HCLD 2 enhanced-current output buffer amp increases current transmission capability by employing diamond buffer amps with high-current output capacity as the line drivers.
Compatible with 88.2kHz MQA CDs, the appeal of VRDS-701 comes back to the VRDS that practically eliminated reading errors and time lag. Supported by a bridge section with a resin torus structure, and comprised of a semi-floating mount, disc drive, disc tray, and turn table, it acts in concert to instill precision, accuracy, and isolation during playback. You can read more about this design below. Plus, if you have any further questions about the 4.4 x 17.5 x 13.
VRDS Bridge Section Support
For the bridge that supports the turntable, Technics selected lightweight materials that are very rigid and do not transmit vibration. By naturally settling vibrations quickly, the transport realizes a wide, dynamic sound. The bridge, which has a torus structure made of resin, is only fixed on one side, and propagation of vibration from the CD mechanism to the opposite side through the bridge is suppressed, so the entire mechanism minimizes unwanted sympathetic vibrations.
VRDS Semi-Floating Mount
The entire CD mechanism is mounted on the sub-chassis in a semi-floating state. By controlling the transmission of vibrations between the CD mechanism and the chassis, the impact of sympathetic vibrations is abated, and natural playback sound is realized throughout the frequency range. By isolating motor vibrations from the main chassis, sympathetic vibrations within the chassis are prevented. At the same time, the CD mechanism is also isolated from external vibrations. Reading precision is also increased by isolating the CD mechanism from external vibrations.
TEAC Discrete DAC
Instead of an ordinary DAC IC, the DAC section, which is critical for determining the sound, is a TEAC ΔΣ (Delta Sigma) discrete DAC that consists of a discrete circuit structure that incorporates our unique algorithms using FPGA. DSD signals are left as is, while PCM signals are converted to 1-bit using a ΔΣ modulator and then output as high-quality analog signals. The sound field that is wide and perfectly clear can be realized because of this discrete design.
Power Supply with Three Toroidal Core Transformers
In addition to a toroidal core transformer for the analog signals, the digital control section and the CD mechanism each have independent high-capacity toroidal core transformers. Through the supply of steady current using these three toroidal core transformers, the sudden starts and stops of sounds can be expressed clearly, realizing outstanding sound linearity. The transformers are each mounted to the sub-chassis, controlling vibrations.
TEAC-HCLD 2 Output Buffer Amp Circuit
For the analog output circuit, the TEAC-HCLD 2 circuit is an enhanced-current output buffer amp that increases crucial current transmission capability. It uses diamond buffer amps with high current output capacity as line drivers. By using a positive-negative two-circuit structure for each channel, drive can be differential with balanced output and parallel with unbalanced output. Transmitting audio signals without degrading their dynamism becomes possible with increased current supply capacity.