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The CD50 mk2 uses a ROM drive which replaces the Philips CDM12 transport. 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 CD50 mk2 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 DtoA 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.
To enable the CD50 mk2 to be future-proofed, connection of the CD50 mk2 to an RS232 bus system will allow remote control and serial connection of the player with next generation Creek equipment or proprietary room controllers. Soft upgrades are made easy in the CD50 mk2. Creek will supply a new EPROM that can be plugged into the motherboard to replace the existing one. The player will ‘boot load’ the new software upon start-up.
Sound quality on the CD50 mk2 is superb. With an improved and symmetrical layout with shorter signal paths, the mk2 has much better measured performance than its predecessor, with signal to noise and THD figures much lower than on the CD50. This is due to the mk2 having distributed power supplies with 7 digital and 5 analogue low noise voltage regulators and low noise resistors. Two separate high current mains transformers are used in the CD50 mk2.
The CD50 mk2 has been designed to read all known ‘Copy Protected Discs’ that currently exist. With its upgradeable software and firmware capability, the CD50 mk2 can be easily upgraded by the dealer or importer to play any future discs.
With so many changes to the internal circuitry, it is not possible to upgrade the CD50 to the CD50 mk2.
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