We believe the CD7 breaks new ground in the retrieval and transmission of digital data from the CD format. In fact, that’s a large part of the fun: just as in the past, when a new cartridge and tonearm combination brought music to life with startlingly improved resolution, subtlety and dynamics, so too you will discover layers of musical infor- mation you never knew were there in the mirrored surface of the compact disc.

What’s the reason for this superior performance? Well, a look inside the CD7 reveals a wealth of proven Audio Research design philosophy. Circuit boards are Audio Research engineered, with robust construction, careful hand soldering and layouts optimized for lowest digital noise. Sophisticated electronic “jitter stripping” techniques help minimize jitter in the overall circuit. Advanced massive power supply design, with two transformers and extensive regulation, has proved crucial even in digital applications like the CD7. The BNC and XLR digital outputs are transformer coupled and are driven by a high-current balanced line driver. Mechanical damping theory has also been applied to internal mounting of key components and to critical aspects of the transport and chassis structures (including tuned polymer feet), to minimize vibration- induced noise.

Both the analog output stage amplification and the power supply regulation are all-tube and handled by a total of seven class A triode operation 6H30 vacuum tubes (four for the analog stage and three in the power supply).

A bitstream digital-to-analog converter and a high-current pure class A analog output stage allow the CD7 to be used with a line-level preamplifier or integrated amplifier. Both single-ended (RCA) and balanced (XLR) outputs are includ- ed. Alternatively, the owner may use the CD7 as a high- quality CD transport in conjunction with an external digital processor.

The CD drive mechanism itself represents the latest think- ing from digital engineers, and offers performance clearly superior to older drives. In part, this is because even the servos of the CD7 drive operate fully in the digital domain, whereas older transport models were actually hybrid

designs using analog servos, which placed greater demands on power supply reserves. The CD7 laser also has a superior eye pattern for more effective resolution of CD data and, again, lower jitter.