Differences Between Professional Broadcast CD Player and Consumer (Home Use) Grade?

[kach22i]

I've had little luck researching this topic on the Internet.

The best answer I picked up was that the money spent on a Pro-Broadcast CD Player goes into durability for touring/frequent relocation (plus cuing features most hobbyist don't need/use), and not money/resources which go into listening quality - highly tuned to audiophile standards.

I suspect that it goes deeper than that, especially concerning output matching to a preamp. For the record, I'm only interested in RCA non-balanced connections to simplify things.

Example 1 - Pro/Broacast: Tascam CD-6010 (about $800-$1,200)

http://tascam.com/product/cd-6010/

The CD-6010 features the field-proven CD-5010B drive asembly - the same drive used in the TASCAM CD-9010 & CD-9010CF - our top Broadcasting models. The CD-6010 is the new standard of Broadcast, Installation, and Touring CD players.

The column to the far right has the output information.

http://tascam.com/product/cd-6010/specifications/

Output impedance - - Less than 200ohms
Nominal output level - - -10dBV
Max output level
-
- +6dBV

Example 2 - Consumer: tweaked by an audiophile firm

Not a classic consumer grade piece of equipment (modified pro piece), but a similar enough as that's how it's being marketed.

The Zen CD Player - Decware model ZCD240 (about $1,300)
http://www.decware.com/newsite/ZCD.htm

The ZCD-240 uses the same high-quality TEAC-made CD drive designed for audio as other models in the CD-200 series. Developed by TEAC, the CD drive is optimized for audio playback and professional reliability – unlike competing players using computer drives...........................

Decware Designed Output stage

It's how you get the Decware Sound from a reliable and affordable platform. Since 2001 we have been offering a CD player with a tube output stage, in fact there has been many. This is the first year we are stepping up our game with the only thing that can sound better, a wide bandwidth transformer design with adjustable output voltage...........................

Sound Quality and Adjustability

All of the above features are pretty meaningless if the unit doesn't sound exceptional!

The imaging and slam is undeniably obvious. Yes, the staging and imaging and detail is as you would expect from a hi-end DAC, but what the ZCD-240 has that most by comparison lack, is BALLS. This has always been the case, even when the output stage was tube, the Zen CD Players have always featured a fully adjustable output that can be turned to many times the industry standard 2 volts. When combined with a preamplifier or amplifier with an adjustable input level, you can adjust the ZCD-240 by ear to achieve the density and drive that sounds best. If your amp doesn't have an input level control, or you don't have a preamp, you can still use the ZCD-240 in a pinch by adjusting the volume via the rear output level control..............................

Specifications
Specifications for this player's operation are unchanged from the original Tascam model. The only exception is the additional output stage and it's adjustable voltage level from 0 to 7.75 volts.

The industry standard varies a bit from what I read, 2.0 to 2.4 volts in practice.

I don't know why the pro piece lists the output in ohms, and the consumer piece is listed in volts. (EDIT- I see the dBV now.........)

This could be a problem, and the reason for this post.

I need for data/information in order to use this online calculator:

http://www.rapidtables.com/calc/electric/watt-volt-amp-calculator.htm

Ending Thoughts:
Another puzzlement specific to the Decware Zen CD Player, will the variable setting matching output be of any use if the preamp is a standard type with non-variable inputs?

I have an older tube preamp, not sure how messing with the RCA CD Player signal input (be it measured in ohms or volts) will be tolerated by the old gal. She's Italian and used to run hot before she was serviced years ago. I'd rather not taunt her if I don't have to.

EDIT-1 Found some info in an attempt to answer my own question.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel#Voltage

dBV

dB(VRMS) – voltage relative to 1 volt, regardless of impedance.[2]

...................In professional audio, equipment may be calibrated to indicate a "0" on the VU meters some finite time after a signal has been applied at an amplitude of +4 dBu. Consumer equipment typically uses a lower "nominal" signal level of -10 dBV.[39] Therefore, many devices offer dual voltage operation (with different gain or "trim" settings) for interoperability reasons. A switch or adjustment that covers at least the range between +4 dBu and -10 dBV is common in professional equipment.

 

[amirm]

The Teac deck is outputting the standard -10 dBV for its unbalanced output. That corresponds to 0.9 volt peak to peak which is I think the numbers the other deck is specifying. Your amp should have no problem with this level of input.

Here is a much better calculator for this use: http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-db-volt.htm

 

[kach22i]

The Teac deck is outputting the standard -10 dBV for its unbalanced output. That corresponds to 0.9 volt peak to peak which is I think the numbers the other deck is specifying. Your amp should have no problem with this level of input.

Here is a much better calculator for this use: http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-db-volt.htm

Let's call the first example a Tascam (I know it's owned by Teac).

The second example a Decware/Teac.

Did you mean in the first example?

Decware site:

adjustable voltage level from 0 to 7.75 volts.

EDIT:
Oh yes, a much better conversion site - thanks.

My head is spinning - need food.

 

[amirm]

Let's call the first example a Tascam.

The second example a Teac/Decware.

Did you mean in the first example?

Sorry yes, I meant the Tascam .

 

[kach22i]

As I thought, thank you for the speedy clarification.

As far as reviews of Pro CD players for Consumer/Home use this John Marks article in Sterophile is the only example I've come across.

The Fifth Element #86
By John Marks • Posted: Jul 30, 2014
http://www.stereophile.com/content/fifth-element-86#6O7LqrFvZizjsrIC.97

The CD-200 is the new CD-only player from TASCAM, the professional-audio division of TEAC (footnote 1). It has unbalanced analog outputs, and RCA and optical digital outputs. The CD-200 also has a new transport, the CD-5020A, designed by TEAC for audio use.

Anyone with experience on this topic (Pro V's Consumer), please chime in, if only for generalities and sterotypes.

On occasion I see used pro equipment for sale at the U of M property disposition near me (university selling used stuff to the public) . So far purchases have been limited to a few Furman power conditioners for my HT system, and an old FM tuner.

I can experiment cheaply before buying something new, and may do so.

 

[kach22i]

The Teac deck is outputting the standard -10 dBV for its unbalanced output. That corresponds to 0.9 volt peak to peak which is I think the numbers the other deck is specifying. Your amp should have no problem with this level of input.

So I would not need one of these?

micro – iTube
http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/micro-itube/

The Digital Antidote Plus® re-equalises harsh, ‘ringing’ digital sources which causes listening fatigue.

The Tri-brid stage offers input impedances of 1M ohm (Buffer) to 100k (Preamp) with the ability to drive professional 600 Ohm loads. This feature found only in select, top-end pre-amplifiers means the iTube is able to ‘bridge’ different impedance systems such as tubes to pro-audio solid-state.

 

[amirm]

I see no reason to buy that device. If you give me a link to the specs of the amp I can confirm if there will be any issues but I would be highly surprised if there is one.

 

[RayDunzl]

I recently purchased a Tascam CD-200, to replace an old DX-2 that has earned the nickname "Skippy" in its later years.

The output level is essentially the same as the DX-2 on RCA, which was strong enough to directly drive a power amp via passive volume control in the past.

I use the Digital Outs for playback (via OpenDRC-DI and DAC2), and the RCA to monitor source via preamp to REW.

It doesn't have a "Power" button on the remote, that's the only thing about it that has bothered me (and not much).

It has a bright white on blue display, that is not dimmable nor defeatable.

 

[NorthStar]

Sorry for the off topic stance; Welcome ? Ray!

 

[kach22i]

I recently purchased a Tascam CD-200...........

I think that's the model Stereophile put on it's Recommended List, as a transport.

http://tascam.com/product/cd-200/

The new player uses a brand new transport, the TEAC CD-5020A.

CD-5020A-AT info/spec
http://www.teac.eu/en/cd-5020a-at.html

Compared to the one I was looking at.

http://tascam.com/product/cd-6010/

The CD-6010 features the field-proven CD-5010B drive asembly

CD-5010B info/specs
http://www.teac.eu/en/cd-5010b.html

If comparing these two units as transports, is one really worth paying four to five times more for?

I mean the difference in price is nearly $1,000.............that's a lot of CD's (or a years worth of cigars).

 

[zztop7]

watching

 

[RayDunzl]

If comparing these two units as transports, is one really worth paying four to five times more for?

Opinion/Observation:

The first is an audio drive, the second is a computer drive, their interface hardware is different, I2S/SPDIF vs PATA output at the drive.

The architecture of the external electronics on the "motherboard" will be different.

I don't see a reason to pay 5x more to get digits off the disc onto a coax or optical cable.

However, if you need AES3 digital or XLR analog outputs, the more expensive player has that.