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03. CEC TL 5 - Belt Drive CD Transport
Review hi-fi + By Roy Gregory - 2019
"... Roy Gregory´s reminder that there`s plenty of life – and superb performance –
In the CD format!
Okay, I admit it: I still listen to CD. But far from apologising for that fact, I’d argue that CD doesn’t just remain relevant: for a number of reasons CD users have never had it so good.
Listen to the chattering classes and nobody in their right mind would invest in CD replay – either as a manufacturer or an end-user. In a world where it seems to be impossible to sell a CD player that doesn't offer a USB input, it seems sensible to conclude that file-replay is well on the way to eradicating optical disc – and in overall market terms you might even be right. But if you are primarily concerned with performance, then you are facing a very different reality. The simple fact is that, irrespective of how big the numbers on your download are, or how many times you up-sample the signal, it's no guarantee of musical performance. Listening to the lamentable results that issue fourth from the vast majority of highly touted file-replay systems, systems that invariably boast the biggest numbers and latest software, it soon becomes obvious that in this instance size really doesn't do it: what actually matters is data integrity, and that's where file replay struggles, both in the provenance of the files themselves and how they are handled in the replay chain – and where optical disc offers a host of very real advantages.
For starters, play a CD and you can instantly defi ne
several performance critical factors: the physical medium
itself is of course, closely defi ned, but so too is the data ratecoming off the disc. Replay and decoding may well be two
separate problems, but at least they're singular in nature and
both depend on mature, targeted technologies. Likewise,
data transfer standards are clearly defined and the cables and
connectors employed benefit from 30-years of development.
Compare that to the computer derived hardware, multiple
file types, and system topologies that constitute a file replay
system. If you also factor in the volatility of the replay chain
itself, you can begin to understand why even the best
sounding file replay solutions are so frustratingly inconsistent.
When it comes to high-end systems, file replay is not only
a long, long way from the premium source so many claim
and assume it to be, but it's also generally well off the pace.
This rather circuitous route brings us to CEC's TL5 CD
transport; a product that offers a fascinating take on the
advantages, practical and sonic, currently enjoyed by optical
disc based systems, a chance to not only put file-replay in
context, but to appreciate and acknowledge the on-going
development of optical disc reading.
Take a look at the CEC TL5 though, and it becomes apparent
that it ticks an awful lot of boxes when it comes to top-flight
CD replay. Since the dawn of digital disc, the top-loading
transport has been an almost ubiquitous part of the best
performing players. Even those state-of-the-art disc players
that use drawer-loading mechanisms are internally arranged
to mimic a top-loading topology. But there's no drawer and
the TL5's simple sliding cover eliminates not just the drawer
but the motors and circuitry associated with mechanical
loading. Likewise, belt-driven CD mechs have built an enviable
reputation, being used in some of the best and most musical
CD replay systems.
Refreshingly – almost bloody-mindedly – simple in
concept and operation, CEC's TL5 transport is living, breathing
proof that less really can be more. This is good old Red Book,
with the emphasis on the 'good'. This is music
making with gusto, a performance with an almost irresistible
sense of ebb and flow that starts with Barbirolli but finishes,
emphatically with the CEC.
After that, the sort of kick required to bring rock or pop to
life, the subtle texture and intimacy to make a vocal connect, or
keep track of an extended instrumental line – they're all child's
play. If you really want to hear what this transport does, just
choose something that depends on phrasing and compare its
performance to the competition. Whether it's Argerich or Arvo,
Ella or Eminem, the way the CEC flows effortlessly through the
music makes most alternatives sound clumsy and disjointed mechanical and stilted.
The CEC TL5 serves notice that it's not how big the
numbers are but how you read them that matters. It offers
a timely reminder of the benefits of dedicated CD transports
when it comes to optical disc replay, but most important of
all, it does a remarkably fine, musically un-intrusive job of
rekindling all those musical performances stored on CD. If that
all-singing, all-dancing, multi-input DAC you just bought still
isn't delivering, you know exactly what to do...
. "
Roy Gregory
Review hifi + | audio magazine 2019
Download full Review of HIFI PLUS 2019
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04. CEC TL 0 3.0 and CEC DA 0 3.0
Review HIFI STARS - 2018
"... Completely in a class of its own!
I will keep this brief: CEC engineers have packed in everything that is technically feasible into this drive in order to perfect CD playback performance and have thus demonstrated their utterly uncompromising approach to music playback via CD. One hundred per cent of each device is produced by hand in Japan which is then tested in every way imaginable and carefully run in before it is despatched.
The TL 0 3.0 drive and DA 0 3.0 make perfect companions
It is hard to believe that these sounds are actually produced from a CD ....The individual instruments on this fantastic recording by legendary producer Phil Ramone, such as the trumpet played by Clark Terry and the saxophone played by Paul Consalves, have never sounded this spectacular. For example, in the piece "Serenata", drummer José Paula is positioned on the far right and beats the rhythm gently with his drum brush. I have never heard this so clearly before and I have never been able to identify the location of each musician in the recording studio with this level of clarity. This was such an amazing experience!
Certain passages totally send shivers all down my spine. The powerful presence of the concert grand (Horowitz always played his own instrument) manifested in my mind's eye so that I completely forgot the four walls that were surrounding me.
It is fascinating how the CEC duo splits up the voices of the large choir enabling the listener to determine the exact position of the sublime voice of Dutch soprano Elly Ameling in the concert hall. This is truly sensational!
The recording made in Vienna in 1981 descended like a thickly woven carpet of sound in the listening room without stripping back any of the finest
nuances within the structure of the pieces. The strings caress the eardrums, the trumpets blare loudly and are then punctuated suddenly by a second of absolute silence. It is fascinating to hear this silence and complete tranquility during playback.
As I write, a CD with Joscho Stephan's Acoustic Rhythm Formation is spinning in the TL 0 0.3. The guitar chords tear straight out of the middle of the stereo like an explosion, accompanied by the highest notes on the flute and the staccato of the drum.
With this in mind, I would now like to take my hat off to this CD playback dream team which is indisputably in a complete class of its own!
In a nutshell
Are you currently thinking about buying your dream car next year? We often tell ourselves that we should spoil ourselves every now and again, however, I have another suggestion: perhaps you could delay this purchase for time being as a new car doesn't really do much more than take you from A to B. On the other hand, the new Dreamteam by CEC will enable you to spend every spare moment you have truly enjoying your favourite music in the best quality you have ever heard. I guarantee that you will not recognise your own CD collection. "
Harald Obst
Review Hifi Stars | audio magazine 2018
Download full Review of Hifi Stars 2018
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05. CEC TL 2N - Double Belt Drive CD Transport
Review Hifi Stars 2017: A true gem of a CD Transport!
"... Thank god, companies such as CEC exist who have spent decades consequently working towards an objective of achieving the most authentic sound experiences as possible with the technical further development of CD playback and always come up with brilliant innovations. The new CEC TL 2N CD drive is undoubtedly one of them.
I can clearly understand the manufacturer's statement for a voluminous, spatial yet very detailed sound pattern.
The latest CD drive by CEC - the TL 2N, which this review is about – transforms into a significantly higher sphere. And it is to make music on a level playing field with the CEC TL 1N that has been available on the market for many years, which is ranked immediately after the legendary flagship CEC
TL 0 3.0 in the product range.
CEC`s completely new Double belt drive system raised to another level! It goes without saying that the manufacturer was carefully prepared to satisfy this demanding objective in technical terms. In doing so, the patented
double belt drive system in the TL 2N was raised
to a new audiophile level.
The developers installed
numerous detailed solutions and the entire mechanism
was meticulously centered and the aluminum
chassis was enlarged.!
Transparency, quietness, ease and stability
in the sound pattern!
It all starts with the Big Band Sound: Quincy Jones "Bossa Nova" spins in the CD tray and I immediately notice the transparency in the sound pattern. I have a clearly differentiated perception of the imaginary stage with the drum kit positioned to the right than what I remember from the playback with other equipment. Furthermore, an impressive quietness and stability , everything appears to be tidy and organised in a more tangible manner.
A CD with recordings of the unforgettable jazz vocalist Sarah Vaughan is often an example for the playback of tightly woven structures of sound. Cut no. 5 of this CD – "Photograph" - also appear in my recordings. However, I notice the clearly defined voice of the vocalist from the middle of the stereo even during the gentle fading out at the end of the track.
In a nutshell
The newly presented CEC TL 2N drive is the
admission ticket to the upper sphere of High
End CD playback so-to-speak – and all this
at a moderate price. If this isn't a convincing
statement, what is? "
Harald Obst
Review Hifi Stars | audio magazine 2017
Download full Review of Hifi Stars 2017
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06. CEC TL 2N - Double Belt Drive CD Transport
Review einsnull 2017 - The double dose
"... . Just as with vinyl records, physical mediums have their own appeal.
As a result, for decades more or less without being disturbed it has been possible to develop a unique method of extracting data from CDs.Of course, CEC also scans the pits on the disk with the help of an infrared laser, which is moved into place with a positionable head while the CD is turned by a motor.
CEC invented the belt drive for CD players many years ago, true to the adage: If the decoupling of the motor and the rotation axis of the medium for turntables is good (the lion's share of such devices today work with belt drive), then it can't be bad
for the CD. This has proven itself over the years,
resulting in, for example, Burmester from Berlin relying on the belt know-how from CEC.
With the TL 2N they went one step further and conceived the "double belt drive". This does not just mean, however, that two belts simply take over the job of turning the CD, rather, the positioning drive for the laser head is also controlled by a belt decoupled motor.
For the time being, we enjoy the Superlink connected CEC-Duo and delight with, for example, the wonderfully relaxed diction with which the combination reproduces the latest London Grammar album "Truth is a beautiful thing". Hannah Reid's voice has just the right amount of touching purity, the sparse instrumentation rolls weightlessly throughout the room - it's just pure class.
The new Arcade Fire-Werk "Everything Now" is a completely different calibre in terms of sound, which is just as much fun on the CEC combination: It sounds remarkably warm, incomparably smooth and finely audible - very beautiful, absolutely fantastic, that's just how it should be.
In a nutshell
There is undoubtedly something about the decoupling by belt; especially with this drive, where CEC does the trick twice. This and the Superlink interface make for a brilliantly enchanting and completely artefact-free reproduction - what you can get out of an ordinary CD is really amazing and absolutely colossal, well worth liste!"
Holger Barske
Review HIFI einsnull | audio magazine 2017
Download full Review of Hifi einsnull 2017
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08. CEC TL 0 3.0 and CEC DA 0 3.0
Review Soundrebels - 2017
" The main aspect, immediately drawing our attention, is the above average sound vividness. There is no softening, no rounding off and also no coloring of the sound. And frankly speaking, I am not sure how to explain this. Some of you probably heard a good reel-to-reel tape player with a spool recorded directly from master tape. If not, then you need to listen to tested products and you will know the sound. But if you did listen to a good tape, then please believe me, this is what you will encounter when listening to the top digital source from CEC, so if you do not want to tease your audiophile ear, then you should avoid being exposed to this set, as it will possess your senses for a long time.
Important is, that this is not the only aspect of the fantastic sound of the “zeros”. I am thinking about the way the virtual stage is setup, and what was to date realized masterfully by my player, now I need to give the leader’s position to the newly tested set. All virtual sources were perfectly placed in the intra-speaker ether even closer to the truth. I will not try to describe it further, as you might think this is a sponsored article, but I can tell one thing for sure, there was an order of magnitude of difference between the Reimyo and the CEC, in favor of the latter.
Suddenly we stand inside the church where the recording was made and the interesting positioning of the artists materializes. Those artists are no flat stains on our beautiful virtual stage, but we can look at them from the sides, what makes them really equipped with the third dimension. This is a feat that only very few devices can master, and I had the opportunity to witness that a few times, but it was never so spectacular as now.
So it should not come as a surprise, that the tested gear comes from the Japanese manufacture C.E.C., known not only for squeezing everything out of the digital carrier, but also for doing that in a characteristic, analog way. ."
I will not hide, that for long time, from the moment I heard for the first time a CEC player, in the nineties, it was probably the TL51, later its variants with different letter combinations, I like those digital sources, and I believe those were the most analog sounding ones.Time slowed down and life seemed more bearable. A kind of audiophile anti-depressant.
I have not heard such an analog sound for a long time.Here is was dynamics and resolution unreachable for other digital sources.
The borderline between what we perceived as a certain reference point and its complete re-definition was crossed. Maybe for some of you this might sound like a heresy, but compared to the CEC, our player on duty, the Reimyo CDT – 777 + DAP – 999 EX Limited, was so pale and without saturation, that I started wondering, if it was not broken.Fortunately it is absolutely fine.
Standard descriptions like: resolving, detailed, etc., seem to be pale, bland and two-dimensional compared to what the CEC offers."
Download full Review of Soundrebels 2017
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13. CEC DA 0 3.0 - D/A Converter
just get the Award - Gold Fingerprint - from High Fidelity.
Review - High Fideliy - 09 -2016:
CEC DA 0 3.0 - D/A Converter with
CEC TL 0 3.0 - Double Belt CD Transport
" We had to wait a long time so that the flagship belt-drive transport of Japanese company CEC would finally be joined by equally sophisticated DAC.
The new CEC DAC - DA 0 3.0 is big and heavy. It's housing was made of perfectly matched aluminum plates and the device accepts digital signals up to 32 bits and 384 kHz, as well as DSD128 (via USB). It is equipped with a number of digital inputs, and it features a transformer coupled output. Each section has a separate power supply. What is even more important is that instead of some of-the-shelf DAC chip they decided to use a discrete, multi-bit 32/384 DAC.
In addition to classic digital inputs, such as: RCA, optical, USB and AES / EBU, CEC DA 0 3.0 also incorporates a Superlink input ("CEC Superlink- Digital Signal Transmission System Connection"), based on four 75 Ω BNC cables. This way allows a separation of the clock for left and right channel audio signal, the return clock signal from transport and audio signal. It's a rarely used solution, but one of the best ones, allowing to bypass the S/PDIF receiver to better synchronize both components of the system, and thereby reduce jitter.
When I compared Superlink and S/PDIF connection the differences between them were more fundamental. I would think of TL0 3.0 and DA0 3.0 as an "obligatory" set that should work together. We liked this device so much that during the High End Show in Munich we awarded it with Best Sound. All that is just a beginning.
The way that CEC system presents the physicality of drums, bass, trumpet, vocals finally, is simply incredible.
It's very uncommon in the context of audio in general, not only for a digital player. In this respect, this performance was very close to the sound of an analog master tape.
... and in many ways, it's even better sound than the one we know from the ‚live' events.
Contact with a live music is achieved through one's whole being, body and mind. It is something that can not be faked. I must say, however, that CEC DAC listened together with their transport TL 0 3.0 offered something just as valuable in return: the already mentioned "palpability" of the sound, so that each subsequent event, ie. each new recording carried an emotional charge comparable to the one perceived during a live concert.
This CEC setup ranks at the top of the currently available digital sources, there is nothing to argue about. GOLD Fingerprint."
Download full Review - High Fidelity - 2016
CEC DA 0 3.0 and CEC TL 0 3.0
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14. CEC - new Distributor for USA.
CEC is proud to announce a new member of the CEC family. From the fourth quarter of 2016, Audio Union will be the exclusive CEC distributor in USA.
The Reference TL0 3.0 and DA 0 3.0 sets a new benchmark for Red Book CD replay. The official launch in USA will take place at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, PrimeRose room, held in Denver, October 7th thru 9th, 2016.
Audio Union is a company registered in the USA, with the main offices located in Lees Summit, Missouri. AU continually pushes the boundaries of known sonic reproduction and is noted for it's highly acclaimed international talent pool. Our Scientists and Engineers are obsessed with research exceeding the limitations of current playback systems to bring you the finest musical reproduction available.
Weblink: audio-union.com
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16. CEC TL 0 3.0 - Double Belt CD Transport
Review Fidelity 2016:The Eternal Disc Player.
"... There are billions and billions of CDs out there. It is worth getting a standout
digital device from Japan for the best, finest and most valuable ones.
What do you want from a turntable? As stable a drive as possible, as little resonance as possible, and as uninterrupted a pick-up process as possible. Then, the resulting music will be great. What do you want from a CD player? Exactly the same things, according to C.E.C., who, for almost a quarter of a century, have been building CD players with astonishing similarities to large analog machines, even in terms of sound.
C.E.C.'s top-of-the range model pushes everything to the max in analog technology terms, so much so that it completely blurs the lines with the best record players, and yes, even in terms of the sound.
In short, the transport looks simply gorgeous and radiates much more analog flair than any
other digital machine.
On the rear, an unusually large number of connectivity options attract your attention, and a signal interconnect called Superlink requiring a quartet of interconnect cables in particular catches your eye. This four-way connection, specially designed in-house by C.E.C.,transmits the various different "clocks" and the digital audio data of the CD with separate cables.
So? Is the large C.E.C. transport immediately wrapping me around
its digital finger with every single combination?
It is always clearly noticeable, and works miracles with more mundanely timbred DACs by turning comparatively plain zero-one slaves (e.g. from Ayon or T+A) into extremely enthusiastic music sources, which do their job with considerably more joy. Dynamics and attack win to some extent without becoming analytically sharp at all.
Who listens to CDs these days anyway?
The CEC TL0 3.0 will silence anyone
considering asking themselves that question.
C.E.C. builds turntables for CDs with astonishing similarities to analog machines.
C.E.C.'s great transport pushes every DAC to achieve peak performance.""
Cai Brockmann
Review Fidelity | hifi and music magazine 2016
Download full Review CEC TL 0 3.0 - of Fidelity 2016
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17. CEC TL 5 - CD Belt Drive Transport
Review Hifi Stars 2016: introduction or promotion?
"... Among the four CD transport by the Japanese manufacturer CEC, the TL 5
is at the lower end of the price range. In view of the very high playback quality,
this solid device offers an outstanding price/performance ratio.
An understatement in pure culture. It's fair
to say my sensitivity to music has had to be
honed over the years, and the sound quality
simply, extremely impressive. I have to make
that absolutely clear at this point. If the CEC
TL 5 drive is integrated in the reproducing chain, there is another detail that I very much
like. The lower pitches in the recordings are
reproduced extremely accurately.
The CEC TL 5
also makes a very good impression when it
has to do with deep dimension picture of larger sound bodies. Exemplary is the fine, soft
drawing of the solo violin. On the other hand,
the brute force of the orchestral tutti is felt all
across the body. In a nutshell: In view of the
very high playback quality, this solid device
offers an outstanding price/performance ratio.
Combined with an appropriate DA converter,
a digital pre-amplifier and power amplifier, this
opens up a highly interesting as well as recommendable
entry opportunity in the upper quality
regions of CD playback. An addition plus
of CEC TL 5, is the belt-drive principle that is
used.
My opinion:
As a buyer, you cannot do
anything wrong!""
Harald Obst
Review Hifi Stars | audio magazine 2016
Download full Review of Hifi Stars 2016
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21. CEC CD Player and USB Sound System CD 5
Review Hifi Stars 2015: Analogue Digitalist
The lower torque and greater distance between the motor and the centre spindle (turntable) provides perfect conditions for noise-free reproduction of music, reminiscent
of an analogue drive.
The word about the musical cohesion, the rich detail and emotionally gripping "analogue-like" sound got out very
quickly.
No other CD drive has sounded so analogue to this day. CEC continue to develop and improve on this concept all the time.
The CEC CD 5 CD Player has independent, directly controllable digital/analogue DA converter technology and connectors on the back. Digital / analogue conversion in the CD5 is carried out by the latest generation of ESS Hyper-Stream-DAC-Chip ES9018K2M, which is compatible with signals up to 32bit/384kHz. Signals fed by the chip are also passed through a symmetrical switch. This guarantees dynamic, flawless reproduction of your music. This means
high resolution music files can be played with a PC (at USB Port) up to 32 bit/384 kHz PCM and 128/5.6 MHz DSD.
Listening material
It's fair to say my sensitivity to music has had to be honed over the years, and the sound quality I can hear in this CEC CD player is, quite simply, extremely impressive. I have to make that absolutely clear at this point..
In a nutshell
Yes, the HiFi world needs new products like the CEC CD5! The Musical playback ability on display offers a sensational relationship to price. There has seldom been higher quality compact disc playback in this price class! Complemented by corresponding connection options in keeping with the zeitgeist, the belt driven, analogue principle CD player will, in future, provide many hours of extraordinary listening pleasure.
Alexander Aschenbrunner
Review Hifi Stars | audio magazine
2015
Download full Review of Hifi Stars 2015
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22. CEC CD 5 Belt Drive CD Player - USB Sound System review Hifi einsnull 2015.
For any situation
Luckily, there are still a few “real“ CD players around. As there are only very few suppliers for appropriate drives left, if you’re in any doubt you need to do the job yourself.
And fortunately, the premium Japanese manufacturer CEC has no problem with that – making devices to play disks has been the main business area for the Tokyo company since their founding in 1954. In the 80’s came the general trend towards digital technology, initially. Since the early 90’s, the company’s reputation has been based mainly on their own belt-driven CD drives, produced in-house. The classics TL 0 and TL 1 are regarded as icons of the craft, and are still lovingly and carefully produced to this day.
That aside, there are however considerably more affordable yet highly modern solutions such as the CD 5. Naturally, this 3,000 Euro unit boasts the latest generation belt-driven CD drive, and the manufacturer has quite deliberately given it the title of a “ USB Sound System“.
No expense was spared when it comes to the electronics on the CD 5 either. A well respected chip from the US manufacturer ESS acts as a D/A converter, which delivers a fully symmetrical analogue output signal, and so can be fed by practically anything with a PCM format with maximum 32 bit resolution and a sampling rate of 384 kilohertz or a DSD data flow with double sampling rate (DSD128).
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“an extremely successful, really well prepared CD player with analogue sound flair and with the highest level of powerful converter section, which can do justice to all current and foreseeable digital challenges. A really fine piece of equipment for any situation.“
Holger Barske
Review HIFI einsnull | audio magazine
2015
Download full Review of HIFI einsnull 2015
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26. Munich High End 2014 - Hot Product
"By far the high point of this year's High End show for me what the demonstration of the Living Voice Vox Olympian, this year the power supply, and the cleanliness thereof, which assured thanks to the lithium ion batteries. No more than three seconds of music what needed to REALISE did something extraordinary what Occurring. Cecilia Bartoli's voice Appeared tangibly in the room, the difficult sibilants Remained completely Call with the voice, the height of the image was right so the strings so wonderful and the combined effect so comprehensively realistic, did if you closed your eyes, You Could really believe the performance did what happening live right in front of you.
I have never heard the like of it at a show before, not by a long chalk, and Certainly not from CD. In fact, when i come to think of it, I've never heard anything like it at all Together with the Kondo equipment upstream in the chain and the new CEC TL 0 3.0 transport, the system cost well over a million -. Whether Euro or Pounds, Regardless. In all honesty, if I were a customer with Sufficient financial wherewithal, this is Exactly the system I would be buying, right down to the load screw.
Two other hi-fi distributors who thus heard the system Both said, pretty much word for word (Although Independently from one another) did it was as If They Had heard a genuine recreation of the musical event, and I can only agree.
The unforgettable high point of this show."
Uwe Kirbach
Image hifi | audio magazine
2014
more Information of Living Voice Vox Olympian
The online magazine - The Audio Beat - certified the new CEC CD drive TL 0 3.0 a superior musical reproduction quality and vote the CEC TL 0 3.0 drive as one of the best products of the High End exhibition 2014.
The Audio Beat - High End - Hot Product 2014
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27. CEC TL 3N - review The Audio Beat .(UK)
A Transport of Delight: CEC's TL 3N
This ability to maintain both the spatial and tonal distinction between instruments while also effortlessly maintaining the music's motion and pattern are what set the CEC so far ahead of the other transports that I customarily use -- units that are already ahead of the crowd in this respect. But the CEC is simply in another league.
But it's under the hood that things get seriously interesting. The TL 3N employs CEC's twin-motor belt-driven CD transport. Like the high-priced and highly regarded Burmester 001 and 089 players, which employ in-house-modified Philips mechs, this CEC dispenses with the standard direct-drive motor as used by the majority of transports, opting instead for something that would look more at home on an analog rig. CEC's transport is a thing of simple beauty. The disc spindle and laser sled are mounted on a thick alloy subchassis, raised on four soft polymer sprung isolators. The two motors, one to spin the disc, the other to drive the sled, are rigidly mounted to the substantial baseplate, with belts connecting their spindles to the transport proper, thus creating a genuine belt-and-braces isolation system.
Even a swift listen will demonstrate just how solid and dimensional this transport sounds. It brings a rooted and purposeful quality to music, coupled to a clearly defined and stable soundstage. CEC TL 3N delivers so much performance for such a modest investment -- so much performance, in fact, that I can see more than a few customers buying it simply to rip their discs, only to rediscover just how good they themselves can sound.
Roy Gregory | The Audio Beat | UK 2014
Download full Review of The Audio Beat 2014
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28. CEC CD 3N - review Hifi Stars.
Does it work out?
Just a few months ago, a combination of a CD drive and D/A converter from the big Japanese producer CEC played very impressive music in my listening room: the CD belt-drive TL3N and the first D/A converter released, the DA3N. Readers of HIFI-STARS will perhaps remember that in my article in issue 17, I left readers in no doubt as to how much I like these latest CEC developments. At that time the manufacturer announced a CD player that combined the drive technology of the TL3N and the new D/A converter into one device – the CEC CD3N. It is particularly interesting because the new D/A converter houses the Hyperstream DAC ESS 9008 chip, which until recently could only be found in professional audio technology, allowing it to process music signals up to 24 bit / 192 kHz. Now the CEC CD3N is sitting in my listening room.
Just like the TL3N, the CD3N is an open-top machine with the CD tray on the top of the device. The standard black puck in the new CD3N covers the entire surface of the CD and acts as a stabiliser to let the CD run optimally. The concrete mechanical effects on the CD player are that jitters are significantly reduced and motor vibrations are not transferred onto the CD when scanning a sluggish CD which is running smoothly and is weighted down by a puck.
CEC is the originator of the belt drive system – they
introduced it into the analogue record player in 1954 and in 1991 they developed the world's first belt drive in a CD player. It eliminates vibrations and electromagnetic noise and the CD3N even features a dual-belt system: both as a drive for the turntable axis and for the laser. This prevents disruptive influences and improves overall music playback. Everything in the processing quality seems to be up to the usual high standard.
In a nutshell
Just a few months ago, I was really excited by the combination of the TL3N player and the DA3N D/A converter from CEC. The playback reminded me of an analogue turntable, which I mean as a great compliment. The technical subtleties packed into both devices – including the new Hyperstream DAC ESS 9008 converter chip – are now available in a single device for the first time. It is called the CEC CD3N and I wholeheartedly recommend it. In terms of sound, it is evenly matched with the player and D/A converter duo, and the price-performance ratio is also good.
The CEC Wellfloat described in this article will set you back around 1,000 euros, but the benefits of this base are perceptible and make the CD3N sound that little bit better.
The CD 3N received the 2013 Hi-Fi Stars Award!
"wholeheartedly recommend"
Obst | Review Hifi Stars | german audio magazine
2013
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29. CEC TL 3N and DA 3N review Hifi Critic.
Made in Japan
CEC was founded way back in 1954, and was originally known for vinyl turntables, growing steadily into a major supplier of same, under its own brand but also as an OEM
source, until CD came on the scene during the 1980s.
The company moved naturally enough into CD player manufacture, and found a USP in the early 1990s by adopting a belt drive approach to the disc drive (and pickup drive) mechanisms.
Another unusual technique CEC applies to the TL 3N disc
CEC The drive and the DA 3N DAC is a so called 'Superlink'. This separates the digital signals into four different components, labelled MCK, BCK, LRCK and DATA (Master clock, Bit clock, L/R clock and digital data stream), and carries them between drive and DAC via four supplied
BNC terminated cables.
Using the Pulse filter throughout, the overall character of this disc drive/DAC combo is essentially sweet, kind and free from any unpleasant nasties, and if the fine detail is slightly suppressed compared to the best, marginally compromising texture information, there's no quibbling about the superior timing and presentation.
One surprise was the significant sound quality difference heard between the single-cable S/PDIF connection and the four-cable Superlink. Despite using a costly Kondo digital S/PDIF cable, the four supplied BNC-terminated Superlink cables clearly sounded superior, delivering a combination of improved dynamic vigour and a greater impression of scale.
There's no denying this combo makes a fine CD player, but of course this DAC has a plethora of other digital inputs. Rather the DA3N comes with such a huge variety of different input types it ought to be able to cater for any possible eventuality.
Conclusions
This is a very impressive two-box CD player, with lovely timing and dynamic expression plus a sweet and delicate presentation. Add in exceptional DAC input flexibility, a sensible remote handset and costeffective construction at prices well below today's high end norm, and as a result deserves my confident recommendation.
Paul Messenger | Review Hifi Critic
UK audio magazine
2013
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30. CEC TL 3N and DA 3N review Hifi Stars.
The surprise package...
Detail, richness of tone and spatial information are just glorious. The concentrated application of know-how, innovative capacity and decades of experience have quite obviously paid off...
For me, the result is clear:
playback on the TL 3N drive and the DA 3N D/A converter are among the finest I have ever heard from a CD. This turns the new duo by the Japanese manufacturer CEC into a surprise package for audiophiles.
Let yourself be surprised, too.
The CEC TL 3N is equipped with the double belt mechanics from the highly reputed TL1. The drive motor for the CD and the laser drive motor are separated from the laser unit by each having separate belts. A sub-chassis design also decouples the scanning kinematics from the chassis. Also, special attention has been paid to the power supply. Drive and electronics have each been given separate power supply units.
Multitude of connection options
The rear panel connectors of the DA3N literally leave nothing to be desired. The digital inputs range from the usual 75-ohm coaxial RCA sockets by way of two TOSLINK connectors and the balanced AES/EBU with XLR socket to yet another USB port. Then there are the four BNC connectors for the "Super Link" on the TL3N, as already mentioned.
In fact, these Super Link connections are doubled up on the DA3N - the second is for the nine-pin D-sub connection with which the manufacturer's older CD drives, such as the TL1, TL51 or TL5100, are equipped.
On the DA3N four analogue outputs are available: one stereo pair each, with fixed and adjustable signal level in balanced (XLR) and unbalanced output (RCA). Anyone who wants to listen only to CDs can thus use the CEC converter as a pre-amp and either operate an amplifier or active speakers on the variable outputs.
So, the DA3N is a highly flexible device - but that's not the end of the story, surely? No, because there are also some interesting things inside. The heart of the DA3N, so to speak, is the built-in Sabre Reference D/A chip, designated the ES 9008, the world's first 8-channel audio DAC that opens up real professional digital audio to the market. It is considered to be the best currently available DAC for audiophile equipment.
In a nutshell
Since the company was founded almost sixty years ago, the Japanese manufacturer CEC has repeatedly made people sit up and listen with its innovations. The ingenious belt drive in its CD drives has now long been standard; the latest generation continues to provide good service in the form of the TL3N. The DA3N D/A converter which has now come out is the ideal partner for the TL3N and scores, among other things, by using the latest D/A chip whose use has so far been limited purely to the professional field.
you get sound reproduction quality at its finest. The calm, supreme composure and confidence with which the TL3N and DA3N produce music together recall the playback by an analogue mass-loaded turntable. Great job!
Obst | Review Hifi Stars | german audio magazine
2013
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31. CEC TL 3N and DA 3N review einsnull
What is definitely true is that CEC is back, and back with drums, trumpets and lots of new devices…
In the past, CEC made a name for itself successfully implementing belt-driven transports. In these, the CD lies on a precision bearing that looks like a miniaturised version of a record player which is driven by belts. This even has real advantages if you do it right. On the one hand, you keep the vibration from the motor away from the CD, and on the other the immediate surroundings can be kept as far away as possible from the continuously changing magnetic field. And since a drive of this type is not quite extravagant enough, CEC has added another one on top and even provided the positioning of the laser with a drive of this type. That’s what I call thorough.
The electricity supply has also become quite elaborate thanks to the really high weight of both the converter and the transport. This means that the electricity stability of both devices is also reliable, as well as advantageous from a sound quality perspective since it has been established that digital electronics react in a highly sensitive manner to vibrations, which almost never occur here due to the sheer mass. This is very definitely the highest work of CD transport art.
For compact discs, this really is the best thing you can do do them…
For the D/A converter CEC DA 3N, they really pulled out all of the stops. The hyperstream 9008 by ESS which I really like deals with this type, and this chip is well known for having an absolutely top quality of sound once you manage to tame the beast.
You get dizzy just thinking about how long the list of devices which can be connected to the DAC is – this converter can't be beaten in terms of its versatility.
This high level of effort means that CEC can claim to transfer a signal completely free from interference, motor noises and other disturbances. The DAC will be grateful for this. The result of this complicated signal chain is an exceptionally stable, well-defined playback which is distinguished by unique events and is simply internally consistent.
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CEC combines the best drive system, an excellent transfer concept and precise signal processing to create a CD drive/converter package with superior sound quality which shows the capacity of the CD in a very impressive manner.
Rechenbach | einsnull | german audio magazine
2013
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32. CEC TL 0X and DA 3N review in Nov 2012 Hifi News.
"The TL0X and DA3N might not be natural partners, but I found the combination quite enchanting.
CEC's flagship CD transport appeared to control nicely the slightly softfocused, euphonic nature of the DAC. On more than one occasion I sat down to write a description of these products only to find myself getting lost in musical treasures from my CD collection. If you've a substantial investment in compact discs and are still searching for the most satisfying way to play them, you certainly need to experience the sublime musical qualities of CEC's unique designs.
Hi-Fi News Verdict:
As with hand-built Japanese highend gear from the likes of Esoteric and TAD, these CEC components are something to savour. There's little not to like other than their price tags – but this is the price one pays for artisan craftsmanship. Forget any notion of 'digital hardness': the CEC sound is beguiling, with a lyrical, flowing quality that never fails to draw you into the musical event. A delicious encounter!
(hi-fi news | Editors Choice)
John Bamford, hi-fi news | UK audio magazine
Download full Review of hi-fi news 11/2012
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CEC THE DRIVE | SINCE 1954
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