Classic CD Player
£850
DVD-ROM drive - includes SRC2 handset
Creek’s Classic CD player has evolved from the CD50mk2.
There has been a change in the design of the casework so
that it better matches the Classic 5350SE integrated
amplifier.
Extracting the digital information from the ATAPI bus,
similar to a computer, has enabled Creek to work with a
virtually jitter free signal source. To convert the signal
to a usable format, the Classic CD player uses a digital
buffer circuit (FPGA) that stores the signal for a short
time and converts it into a suitable format for feeding to
a D to A converter. This creates shock immunity from the
player, so that the disc is not playing exactly in real
time, but slightly delayed through the dynamic buffer. It
also converts the signal into a SPDIF signal to provide a
high quality digital output, which is now available via
TOSLINK optical as well as co-axial sockets.
Sound quality on the Classic is superb. Using an improved
and symmetrical layout with shorter signal paths, the
player has much better measured performance than Creek’s
original CD50, with much lower signal to noise and THD
figures. This is due to the Classic having distributed
power supplies with 7 digital and 5 analogue low noise
voltage regulators and low noise resistors. A higher
frequency clock oscillator is used in this player and is
synchronised with the micro controller and buffer clock to
minimise internal interference.
Two separate high current mains transformers are used in
the Classic player. The voltage to the digital and analogue
circuitry, display and ROM drive are kept completely
separate, for maximum interference immunity.
Front panel controls include Play, Stop, Pause, Open/Close,
Skip Forward, Skip Back, Search Forward, Search Back,
Shuffle,Repeat and Standby functions. They are supplemented
by an attractive full feature Creek system remote control
handset utilising RC5 type codes.
The rear panel has a mains switch, together with the usual
fused IEC mains inlet. A pair of gold plated Phono/RCA
sockets is provided for un-balanced analogue output and
(SPDIF) digital outputs are via a transformer coupled
Phono/RCA socket.
The Classic CD player has been designed to read all known
‘Copy Protected Discs’ that currently exist. In future,
copy protected discs with revised copy protection
algorithms may cause problems, but with its upgradeable
software and firmware capability, the Classic can be easily
upgraded by the dealer or importer to play such discs.
Destiny
CD Player
£1,200
includes SRC2 handset
The Destiny CD player from Creek Audio is the first
indication of Creek’s intention to launch a series of
higher quality products dedicated to the serious hi-fi
consumer.
Following in the footsteps of the popular CD50 mk2, the new
Destiny player offers superior sound quality with the same
playability and durability as the CD50 mk2, but with many
additional features.
The CD50mk2 has, up until now, been the best sounding CD
player Creek has produced. It out-performed all of the
company’s previous players in the area of playability, due
to the use of customised firmware that allowed all known
copy protected discs as well as interactive media to be
played without hiccups. Sound quality was as good as Creek
could make within its budget constraints. The Destiny is
not a replacement for the CD50 mk2 but an additional model
with a real ‘step-up’ in performance.
Performance has been enhanced by careful attention to
design detail, specifically in the area of PCB layout. The
Destiny CD player uses an improved low phase noise (5pS),
temperature controlled, master clock oscillator. It uses
separate, instrument grade, OPA134 op-amps in the audio
output to buffer each channel and the filtering of unwanted
digital artefacts is improved. The op-amps in the output
are also powered separately from their own low noise
regulators.
In total there are now 16 regulated low noise power
supplies in the Destiny player. All rectifiers in the power
supply are Shottky Barrier types for low noise, which do
not require decoupling capacitors. All other power supply
decoupling capacitors are audio grade low impedance 105
degree C types. Audio signal path passive components are
selected for sonic purity, such as high-stability MELF type
resistors and film and polypropylene type capacitors. Audio
output RCA sockets are now solid metal, gold plated types
with screw fixing, if required.
To maintain the isolation between digital and analogue
supplies, Creek has designed a truly stunning mains power
supply for the Destiny, with all components mounted on a
thick double sided plated-through-hole PCB. Three separate
fully encapsulated PCB mounted toroidal mains transformers
are used to completely separate digital and analogue
supplies. A fully shielded, multi-element, mains filter is
used to prevent interference to or from the Destiny. The
mains IEC plug with built-in fuse holder is mounted on the
power supply PCB together with the mains switch. A voltage
selector switch is accessible from inside the case for
multiple country operation. All the supplies are separately
connected to the mother and display boards for improved
serviceability.
Creek has introduced additional re-clocking circuitry to
eliminate jitter, or timing errors, from corrupting the
performance of the Destiny player. It has also incorporated
a Creek BUS system to carry signals to and from the player
and a link to other Creek linked products. In the future
the Creek bus will be able to join certain Creek linked
products to proprietary multi-room controllers.
Casework for the Destiny has been increased in size over
earlier Creek products, it is more substantial and will
reduce vibrations that can cause harmful sonic effects to
be heard. The front panel is fitted with solid metal
buttons to improve the feel and feedback from the controls.
Machined out of 10mm thick solid aluminium, the front panel
exudes a much higher impression of quality and reliability
than previous Creek CD Players.
The Destiny CD player has been designed ideally to be
partnered with Creek’s newest integrated amplifier,
scheduled for release at the same time – the Destiny
Integrated Amplifier.
Evolution
Compact Disc Player
£495
The
Evo CD player uses a Philips VAM1201 laser assembly and low
profile loader.
This transport is different to the short-loader previously
used by Creek in its CD43mk2, CD50 and CD53. However, the
laser and chipset are the same. The short-loader transport
became obsolete; hence the switch to alternatives, such as
the ATAPI drive used in the more expensive Classic and
Destiny CD players.
Servo control and decoder functions are performed by a
Philips chip set. Custom software controls these functions
and also interfaces with user functions such as display,
function buttons and remote control.
The Evo uses a single high current C core mains transformer
fed from the mains via a custom designed common mode
filter. To allow it to be easily used in different
countries, this CD player uses an external voltage
selector.
To stabilise and isolate the voltages to the various
analogue and digital circuits the Evo uses no less than
eight voltage regulators. Digital and analogue supplies are
kept separate and the master clock uses its own supply.
One of the most important parts of a good sounding CD
player is the master clock. The Evo has been designed to
use a low jitter oscillator module that clocks the data
from the drive to the D to A converter and also clocks the
microcontroller with the same frequency. This is done to
avoid the internal interference that would cause sonic
performance reductions if run at a different and
asynchronous frequency.
The data from the decoder is re-clocked to provide a low
jitter signal to a Burr-Brown PCM 1738, DAC IC, which is
capable of 24 bit/192kHz operation. However, Creek Audio
does not up-sample the data as we do not believe there is
performance advantage unless done correctly. The Evo CD is
an entry level product and therefore its price cannot
support the level of circuitry required to perform
up-sampling correctly.
Following the D to A conversion, the Evo uses four high
grade Burr-Brown OPA604 op-amps to sum the balanced output
from the DAC and to convert the output current into a
voltage.
Analogue filtering is required to the signal to eliminate
digital artefacts. This needs to be buffered from the
output sockets, so that external equipment does not change
the filter shape and response. As it also exits the D to A
converter in the reverse phase, the Evo uses two dual
OPA2134 op-amps to both buffer the signal and reverse the
phase prior to the output sockets. A relay is used at the
output to mute the signal to ground when required.
The Evo operates conventionally with buttons for Play and
Pause, Stop, Open and Close, Track forward and backward and
power On/off.
A visual indication of its status is displayed on a large
blue Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD). The display
brightness can be altered from the Evo remote control
handset.
Gold plated, solid metal, analogue and co-axial digital
output sockets have been chosen to provide a good
connection and appearance for a product at its price point.
Optical digital output is also available via a standard
TOSLINK connector.
Mains connection is via a standard, fused, IEC chassis
plug. A high quality power cord, with suitable mains plug
for the country of use is supplied.
The Evo has a dedicated remote control handset, which
currently operates both the integrated amplifier and CD
player. Evo uses different codes to other Creek products.
Therefore it cannot be used with Classic or Destiny, nor
can the alternate Creek remote handsets, ARC 53, SRC 1 or
SRC 2 be used with Evo. However it has all the features you
would expect, including an ability to dim the brightness of
the display.
The controls are intuitive and the remote is packaged with
every product