T+A CD 1260 R Pulsar CD-Player

Manufacturer: T+A elektroakustik

Design: T+A
HxWxD: 7,5 x 44 x 39 cm, weight: 6 kg

Slim and sleak an yet a true oversampling artist!
Audiophile CD-player CD 1260 R: The CD continues to hold its place as the most important sound medium - simply because it is in such widespread use. We have developed the new CD 1260 R to provide perfect reproduction of this medium. The disc mechanism is equipped with a High-End pushrod loader system, contains top-quality components including Mabuchi motors and an aluminium / ABS laminate drawer, and spins in CD-specific 'Single-Speed' mode. The sophisticated decoder delivers the data to a High-End converter which is a completely new in-house development; this operates in the unique quadruple mode developed by T+A, aimed at achieving optimum values for background noise, cross-talk and dynamics. All the converters of the R-series feature a freely programmable signal processor which makes it possible to exploit the switchable oversampling process developed by the T+A research team. These converters now work in 32-bit mode, making them totally unique, and world leaders in this field. The only disc players available which permit the user to choose between different optimised reproduction characteristics in the areas of timing and frequency response are those in the T+A R-series and V-series. Another in-house development by T+A is the re-synchronisation process which nips jitter effects in the bud, constantly re-synchronising the signal to eliminate adverse effects on sound quality. This enormous refinement explains why our disc players provide such outstanding sonic qualities.

The digital signal processing of the CD 1260 R
Right from the outset T+A has invested tremendous time and trouble in developing and optimising digital sound sources, with the aim of obtaining exceptional sound quality; this applies to T+A CD players, DSR tuners and, more recently, digital storage media and the Internet, and the reward for T+A's intensive work has been to make the company one of the world's leading manufacturers of high-quality digital components. Many of the T+A machines have been reviewed by the international specialist press and hailed as milestones. Converter technology is a particular field of expertise for T+A, as these circuits are crucial in the reproduction of music to the highest standards of quality, as faithful and uncoloured as possible. That is the reason why T+A has developed its unique design philosophy and processes. In conjunction with the digital filters, the converter has the task of transforming the digital data into analogue voltages.

In the case of the R-series units the whole system is controlled by the latest generation of freely programmable signal processors which are exceptionally powerful. Once again T+A shows the way forward, as their converter systems are the first to operate in 32-bit mode.
It is easy to understand that faithful music reproduction can only occur if the conversion process is carried out as well and as accurately as possible.

T+A's new CD player - the CD 1260 R now features for the first time a newly developed quadruple converter derived from the SACD 1260 R. The converter in the SACD 1260 R is unique even by T+A's standards: no fewer than eight highly selected Burr-Brown / TI D/A converters, acknowledged as the world's finest, are employed in this circuit. The quadruple converter is the further logical development of the differential converter. In the differential converter (two D/A converters in a symmetrical push-pull arrangement) common-mode errors cancel themselves out, uncorrelated converter errors are halved, and uncorrelated noise diminishes by 3 dB. The quadruple converter contains twice the number of converters again, i.e. there are now four converters per channel. This configuration reduces uncorrelated converter errors to a quarter, and lowers background noise by 6 dB. The effort of developing a converter of this type is quite immense, but we believe that the results are worth it. The converter circuit is followed by an extremely refined audiophile analogue output section of discrete construction. To prevent any chance of the digital section exerting an adverse influence on the analogue section, these two sub-assemblies are completely separated and de-coupled using a unique T+A design feature: the control signals are transferred via opto-couplers, while the latest inductive, jitter-free i-Couplers from analogue devices cater for the high-speed data signals. The overall result is that the T+A engineers achieve genuine analogue High-End sound quality.

The disc mechanism of the CD 1260 R
The High-End disc mechanism fitted to the CD 1260 R is equipped with nothing but absolute top-quality components: heavy-duty motors from Mabuchi, sub-chassis with excellent damping characteristics, stainless steel pushrods, aluminium / ABS laminate disc drawers and metal encapsulation with good shielding efficiency.
The disc mechanisms of the 1260 models are suspended in a solid anti-resonance housing with a damping coating and three-point supports, so that no external sound or shock can affect the sampling performance of the laser unit.

The back panel connections of the CD 1260 R
Analogue out: The analogue output of the CD player supplies a fixed-level output signal. It is designed for connection to a pre-amplifier, integrated amplifier or receiver with its own volume control
Digital out: Optical digital output for connection to an external digital/analogue converter. Optional co-axial digital output.
RC IN: RC input socket for connection to an 'R'-series pre-amplifier, integrated amplifier or receiver.
R-Link: Interface for future system expansions.

The digital filters of the CD 1260 R
Standard filter (long FIR filter): The long FIR-filter is the standard oversampling filter used in digital technology. Advantages: Extremely linear frequency response in the audible range, very high stop band attenuation, linear phase, constant group delay.
Filter 1 (short FIR filter): The short FIR-filter has similar characteristics to the long FIR filter, but very much lower coefficient (160) and consequently considerably lower pre- and post-echoes. Advantages: Extremely linear frequency response in the audible range, high stop band attenuation, linear phase, constant group delay.
Filter 2 (IIR filter): This filter is a classic 8th order IIR-filter. It exhibits absolutely no pre-echo effects, albeit a slight tendency to post-echo. This is also a feature of natural instruments, and in any case the post-echo is usually masked by the normal audible signal. Advantages: No pre-echo at all, no treble loss, very high stop band attenuation.
Filter 3 (Bezier- / IIR filter): This combination circuit consists of three cascaded filters: a Bezier filter, an IIR filter and a second Bezier filter. It represents a good compromise between transient response and frequency response. Advantages: Virtually no pre-echo, minimal post-echo (in masking range), relatively flat frequency response, no pronounced treble loss.
Filter 4 (Bezier filter): The Bezier-filter is the ideal filter in terms of transient response, virtually no pre- or post- echo, linear phase, slight treble roll-off at 20 kHz. Advantages: Optimum transient response, linear phase, constant group delay.

The technical specifications of the CD 1260 R
Audio formats: CD-DA, CD-R / RW

Audio data
Analogue output: Stereo 2,5 Veff / 22 Ohm
Digital output: 1 x coax / IEC 60958 (CDDA / LPCM)
D/A converter: 32 Bit, 384 kHz Sigma Delta, 8-times oversampling / Double-mono-quadrupel
Upsampling: free programmable signal processor with 4 selectable oversampling algorithms (FIR short, FIR long, Bezier/IIR, Bezier)
Analogue output filter: Phase linear bessel filter with 100 kHz limit frequency

Frequency response / dynamic range
CD: 2 Hz - 20 kHz / 100 dB
Total harmonic distortion: < 0,001 %
Signal / noise ratio: 112 dB
Channel separation: 106 dB
Mains socket: 100 - 240 V, 60 - 60 Hz

Remote control
via R-System or RC set (optional accessory)

What you get: A CD 1260 R Pulsar CD-player including mains lead.

This system is made in Herford, Germany.

Please choose your cabinet colour!

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