Fog 3 CD Player
£1995
FOG 3 has the hard task to succeed FOG 2, one of the
worldwide reference for the last 5 years. Cairn’s flagship
CD player uses the technical solutions developed in OLAN
but at a more affordable price. FOG 3 exploits the
quintessence of the available digital technology linked to
a custom in house developed software and user interface. It
offers a new idea.
Elegant and easy to use: the user interface allows direct
access to the main functions thanks to 4 keys, the knob
controls the secondary functions, the menu and the
functions defined by the user. The selected materials
have high visual and mechanical qualities: 2 mm steel and
12mm machined aluminium. The front panel is made after 5
different machining and surface treatments to offer the
best finish without any flaws.
Musicality was a challenge, because we had to improve FOG2
performances including the OLAN development and still be
able to offer our flagship at a 5 times less expensive cost
than OLAN ! We are proud to have been able to achieve this
result without compromising the sound quality, keeping a
refined and airy sound with more detail and body like a
sensual high end instrument.
FOG 3 offers a wide frequency response: bass is very deep
without any roundness and with an ideal damping, treble
goes very high smoothly thanks to the new adjustable
digital filter. FOG 3 is the result of the most
sophisticated technical solutions and represents Cairn
signature sound at its summit.
Technic includes the last generation of D/A converter
working in digital balanced mode and simulates a AES/EBU
professional signal from a SPDIF signal. The new analog
stages are in class A, balanced and without negative
feedback. The analog filter has been adapted to the new
digital features to reduce phase distortion. The use of SMD
components allows a layout without any noise or coupling
effects.
Multi Solutions options system is available with FOG3. It
can be a regular CD player but a D/A converter and Digital
preamplifier too. The digital inputs can be switched by the
knob or by the remote. The digital filters can be adjusted
by the front panel controls or by the remote. The user
interface (English or French) allows an individual setup
(sources name, relative levels). Connected to 481O or NITRO
with a serial/RS232 cable, FOG3 is recognized and can be
switched on/off or waked up automatically. A first step
towards domotics. The firmware can be updated by
downloading a new version from an attached file sent by
email. Whenever you feel like upgrading your FOG 3 with the
latest software and firmaware updates, Multi Solutions is
the easy and quick answer to your needs.
Hardware features
- Cairn / Ezo universal remote control with direct access to parameters
- Serial Communication with 4810 and NITRO
- Blue LCD display, with white LEDs powerful backlight
- Contrôle du niveau de sortie
- 2 digital coaxial inputs
- 1 digital optical input
- 1 digital coaxial output
- 1 digital optical output
- 1 unbalanced analog output
- 1 balanced analog output
- 0.47" (12mm) front panel in anodised aluminium
- Steel Frame painted NEXTEL
- Top cover painted NEXTEL
- D/A Converter : 4x24-bit
Digital treatment :
- D/A convertion : from 16, 18, 20-bit to 24-bit
- Upsampling : 32, 44.1, 48, 96KHz to 192kHz
- Digital filter : 4
- (time interpolation, frequency interpolation, short/long group delay)
- Dynamic:120 dB
- Maximim output level : 2VRMS
- Output impedance : 50 Ohms
- Width (mm / inch) : 432 / 17
- Height (mm / inch) :102 / 4
- Depth (mm / inch) : 312 / 12,3
- Weight (kg / lbs) : 10 / 22.5
- Power supply (VA) : 200
- Number of transformers (Toroidal/Regular) : 1 / 1
Software characteristics
- Relative volume set up between sources
- Volumes set up by step of 0.5 dB (from -96 to +6dB)
- Volume rising time set up
- Balances set up
- Independant headphone volume set up
- "Wake up" feature with source selection, and wake up hour set up for each day of a week.
- "Sleep" feature with time adjustment
- Hour & date setting
- Auto power off with time left set up
- Custom source creation
- Display luminosities set up
- Language selection (english or french)
Tornado CD Player £850
TORNADO is based on FOG 3 technical design with a simplified design. We made no compromise when selecting the electronic components choice, but some functions are not offered : no XLR OUT, no digital input. Nevertheless it can be supplied with SOFT 24-bit/192kHz upsampler board
TORNADO offers a basic but very effective design : five buttons to open and close the tray and to easily access the main functions play/pause/next/FF/previous/FB and ON/OFF. The other functions can be controlled by the universal Cairn remote : out level, digital filtering setup with SOFT, display setup
Musicality is the main asset of TORNADO. It has the difficult mission to follow FOG 2, one of the world reference in this price range for 5 years. TORNADO exceeds the expectation : it is simply better everywhere for a 30% lower retail price ! You will find the same feeling : a smooth, sweetly extended treble, one of the most refined top end : delicacy, definition and detail. Bass is deep and strong with more body and weight, medium is warm and sensual but delicate without any excess. SOFT “the magic bullet” intensifies all the qualities and brings a refinement that you find sometimes only in very high end stuff.
Technical specifications are very close to FOG3. TORNADO uses the same D/A converter the new Crystal CS4398 and a similar analog output stage with bipolar transistor in class A without any negative feedback. The power supply (200VA) is an assset and avoid any analogic saturation. It also offers a great stability to the digital circuits. The transformer wires are separate for analog, digital and the loader control. In option 24-bit/192 kHz SOFT board is available.
Hardware features
- All function remote control
- Outlevel controlled by the remote
- 24bits Conversion
- 24bits/192 kHz Conversion with SOFT 24,192 board
- Adjustable digital filter with SOFT 24,192(o)
- LCD blue and white graphic display
- Optical and coaxial digital out,
- Front panel in 5 mm aluminium
- Steel frame with epoxy painting
- Steel top cover with epoxy painting
- Buttons in aluminium
- Inox screws
- Width : 432 mm
- Height : 92 mm
- Depth: 245 mm
- Weight: 7 kg
- Power supply : 200 VA
- Nombre of toroidal transformer : 1
- Dynamic : 120dB
- Loader Philips CDM12.1
- Out impedance : 50 Ohms