CD drawer display control buttons power button open/close play pause DISC PLAY PAUSE REPEAT ALL TO STEP PRE-EMP ERROR A­B 88 88 INDEX 88: 88 TOTAL TIME REM stop -- track + PROGRAM TRACKS cd transport CDT20R contents 0 2 welcome 0 8 key features 1 0 getting started 1 2 playing cds 1 4 selecting tracks 1 6 repeat play 1 8 display options 1 9 programming 2 3 editing stored program 2 5 digital output types 2 7 running in and warming up 2 8 care and maintenance 3 0 technical data 3 2 international standards made in United Kingdom serial number power LED remote control window fuse carrier coaxial output sockets AES/EBU output socket 220-240V ~ 50-60Hz Fuse: T1A L 250V 1 COAXIAL OUTPUT 2 spdif 75 ohm AES/EBU OUTPUT 110 ohm bal CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT this product complies with 21 CFR §1010 CDT 1234567 cd transport CDT20R ac supply socket Specification shown may var y for different countries welcome to a new partnership . . i n h i - p e r fo r m a n c e , h i - f i d e l i t y All TAG companies perpetually strive for, and achieve, excellence and highperformance in every area of their business. These qualities are demonstrated in the fastidious standards that make TAG Heuer Derek Scotland (on the left) ­ Technical Director Peter Stevens ­ Chief Industrial Designer Dr. Zucker ­ Chief Executive TAG McLaren Audio has been created with celebrating a TAG McLaren victor y one aim in mind: to produce the best highfidelity audio and audio-visual systems available. Now the first fruits of that Now, this blend of talent and expertise has been combined with the award-winning experience of Audiolab to create a company with a technical advantage and access to resources second-to-none in the high end audio industry TAG McLaren Audio. Throughout the F3 Series development process, quality, performance and reliability have been paramount, resulting in unparalleled performance, operational excellence and sheer listening pleasure. alliance are ready ­ a unique new range of audio products. watches some of the world's most admired; in the teamwork that makes TAG McLaren's motor racing team one of the most successful in Formula One; and in the advanced electronics technology that makes TAG Electronic Systems the first choice for many Formula One constructors and high-performance car makers. 03 welcome welcome cd transport Thank you for purchasing the TAG McLaren Audio cd transport CDT20R. cd transport CDT20R We are convinced it will give you many hours of listening pleasure. You already know about the undoubted virtues of Compact Discs (CDs) ­ their convenience, ruggedness and long, uninterrupted playing time ­ but, up to now, you may have been disappointed by the sound quality when you play them. At TAG McLaren Audio we understand exactly what needs to be done to get the best sound from a CD. 04 Many years ago, when CDs were introduced, it was assumed that the process of reading the digital data from a CD (which is what happens in the CDT20R) is a simple task. Simple because the data is digital and error correction mechanisms exist which allow reconstruction of missing data.The last 10 years have shown that this assumption is an oversimplification. It is, in fact, extremely difficult to read the data from the disc in such a way that errors do not occur. The error correction mechanisms in a CD player simply cloud missing data by making a best assumption.This adds distortion and reduces clarity and transparency. Furthermore, the data coming from the CD, even when read correctly, is an extremely difficult signal to process. For best listening results, we strongly recommend that you use your CDT20R with a very high quality digital to analogue converter, such as our DAC20, together with a high-quality digital connection cable, as recommended by our retailers. digital output In the CDT20R, the digital data stream coming from the CD transport is available at the digital output sockets in two different formats: SPDIF 75 coaxial using both phono and BNC connectors and, for optimum noise rejection, AES/EBU 110 , balanced, transformercoupled using XLR connectors. 05 welcome welcome high-quality transport mechanism To minimise any corruption of data being read from the CD, the CDT20R has a heavy-duty transport mechanism and the laser, which reads the data from the CD, has a fast digital servo control to ensure that it follows the CD tracks as quickly and accurately as possible. The specially-designed Sorbothane® sonic isolation feet help the servo to track accurately by minimising the vibration that reaches the mechanism. stable internal clock clock which is synchronised to the CD data stream to provide accurate timing. high-quality circuitry program your choice of tracks in any sequence.You can also edit the program after you've entered it. The CDT20R, when used with a hi- performance DAC, provides you with hi-fidelity sound coupled to the convenience of the Compact Disc. The circuits in the CDT20R are `nocompromise' designs using high-quality, high-stability components to send a smooth, clean signal to your DAC for excellent sound quality easy control The timing of the data is as important as the data itself.Timing inaccuracy, known as `jitter', is responsible for a wide range of subtle distortions. In the CDT20R, jitter is reduced to an absolute technical minimum by a very stable electronic 06 Controls on the front panel and on the remote control make the CDT20R easy and convenient to operate. Our engineers have made sure that you cannot damage your CDT20R, or your discs, should you accidentally operate the wrong control. The CDT20R offers you sophisticated facilities to repeat tracks or specified sections of a CD, and allows you to 07 key features key features · · · High-stability transport mechanism with digital servo control Low-noise data re-timing clock · Sophisticated programming facilities allow up to 59 tracks to be played in any order, including repetitions Program may be edited after it has been entered Repeat tracks or specified sections of a CD Sorbothane® sonic isolation feet, specially designed by TAG McLaren Audio(1) · SPDIF 75 coaxial digital output using both phono and BNC connectors AES/EBU, 110 , balanced, transformer-coupled digital output using XLR connectors High-quality, high-stability components Back-lit LCD display to show information about the CD being played and CDT20R functions Operation by front panel or remote control Remote control also operates selected TAG McLaren Audio F3 Series amplifiers and preamplifiers Microprocessor control with computer logic to prevent damage and reduce the number of key presses · · · · · · · · 1. For the very best performance we recommend that our units are placed on individual shelves and are not stacked one on top of another 08 09 getting started getting started We know you are keen to get your CDT20R working. This section will have you listening to your favourite CD as quickly as possible. If you fold out the front cover of this manual you will locate diagrams which will help you find your way around your CDT20R(1). prepare your system Ensure that your digital to analogue converter is connected to your amplifier and switch them both on. Turn the volume down on your amplifier and select the appropriate input(4). Press the power button in. The blue power LED will come on and the display window will light up and show the word DISC(5). open/close switch on before you start Make sure that all the components of your audio system are disconnected from the AC supply whenever you change any connections. open drawer Press the open/close button(6). The CD drawer will slide open. connection to a digital to analogue converter Your CDT20R does not have an analogue output and cannot be connected directly to an amplifier unless it has a digital input. It is intended for use with a dedicated, high-quality, external digital to analogue converter (such as our DAC20). Use a goodquality, screened digital cable to connect COAXIAL OUTPUT spdif 75 ohm 1 to the coaxial SPDIF input socket of your digital to analogue converter (on the DAC20 use COAXIAL INPUT spdif 75 ohm 1). The cable should have a phono plug for the CDT20R at one end and the appropriate plug for your digital to analogue converter at the other end(2). 1 COAXIAL OUTPUT 2 spdif 75 ohm play a cd Put a CD in the drawer with its label facing up. Press the play button to close the drawer and start the CD playing. Turn up the volume on your amplifier, sit back and enjoy the music. Feel free to experiment with the controls. You cannot damage the CD or the CDT20R if you press the wrong button. 1. 2. Throughout this instruction manual (except in titles) , bold print indicates the lettering that you will find on the panels and display of your CDT20R To enable you to get started easily we suggest you use a phono-phono digital cable. However, you will get better results with the BNC or the AES/EBU output. Please see page 25 The power button is a latching switch. One press will hold it in, the next will release it Please refer to the instruction manuals supplied with your digital to analogue converter and amplifier If there is already a CD in the CDT20R then, after a few seconds, the display will show the number of tracks and the total playing time of the CD You can use the button on the front panel or on the remote control play k 3. power connection Check that the power button is out so that power is off when you plug in(3). Using the cable supplied, connect the socket on the back of your CDT20R to an AC supply outlet. For the best sound quality, we recommend that you do not use multi-plug adaptors. 4. 5. 6. 10 11 playing cds playing cds Your CDT20R can be operated by using the buttons on the front panel or by using the remote control supplied(1). The remote control also operates selected TAG McLaren Audio integrated amplifiers and preamplifiers. pause Press the pause button to interrupt the playing of the CD. PAUSE appears on the display while playing is paused. This function remembers which part of the CD was playing when you pressed the button. Press pause again, or press play, to restart at exactly the same place. pause open drawer Press the open/close button to open the CD drawer. You can now put a CD in the drawer (make sure its label is facing up). Press the button again to close the drawer. The drawer will close automatically after about three minutes. open/close stop Press the stop button to stop the CD playing. This function does not remember which part of the CD was playing when you pressed the button and clears any repeat settings (see page 16). stop cd recognition A few seconds after the CD is loaded, the display will show the table of contents, referred to as TOC, which consists of the total number of tracks and total playing time of the CD. If the CD is not loaded correctly or is faulty, the word ERROR will be shown on the display for about three seconds, followed by the word DISC. If this happens, open the drawer and re-seat the CD. play Press the play button to start the CD playing. The TRACK number, TIME (2) and the word PLAY will appear on the display. Play will start at the first track and go on to the end of the CD. If you press play while a track is playing, the CDT20R will return to the beginning of the track and start playing it again. If the drawer is open, pressing play will close it. play k 1. Some buttons have special functions when pressed for more than two seconds (see page 14 and 19). Unless you want to use these functions you should not hold any button down for longer than two seconds See page 18 for more information about the TIME display 2. 12 13 selecting tracks selecting tracks Buttons on the remote control allow you to select tracks and to search through tracks as they play. The track + and track ­ buttons are duplicated on the front panel of your CDT20R. For optimum performance from the remote control, you must point it towards the remote control pickup window on the front panel. direct entry Press a number button to go directly to a specific track on the CD. The number you have selected will be shown on the display. If the number is flashing you can enter another digit(3). The first digit will flash five times before the track is played. Play will continue from the selected track to the end of the CD. next/previous track Press the track + button to go to the start of the next track(1). Press track ­ for the previous track. If you hold down either of the track buttons for more than two seconds, the CDT20R will quickly step through the track numbers. Play will continue from the selected track to the end of the CD. -- track + search Press the search + button to play at high speed forwards. Press search ­ to play at high speed backwards. The output of the CDT20R will sound strange as the music is played at high ...