CD / SACD players and transports — T+A MP 2000 R MK II

The MP 2000 R MK II is a multi-source player from the German company T+A elektroakustik that combines a CD drive, a high-resolution DAC, a network streaming client and a radio tuner in one R series chassis. This MK II version succeeds the original MP 2000 R, and its US price has been given as USD 9,000.

Key specs that matter

The disc section handles CD-DA, CD-Text, CD-RW and CD-R discs, with a CD frequency response of 2 Hz to 20,000 Hz within 3 dB. PCM conversion uses four Texas Instruments (formerly Burr-Brown) PCM1795 chips in a double differential quadruple configuration, giving four 32-bit sigma-delta converters per channel and PCM sample rates up to 384 kHz. DSD takes a separate route through the T+A True 1 Bit converter, an analogue single-bit design, and is handled up to DSD 512. Digital inputs comprise a pair of coaxial S/PDIF sockets, a pair of optical sockets, USB-A and USB-B ports and LAN, plus WLAN and Bluetooth. Analogue outputs consist of a balanced XLR pair plus a single-ended RCA pair. The case is 460 mm wide, 82 mm high and 400 mm deep, and the player weighs 8 kg.

Engineering and use context

A double mono circuit forms the output stage with a bandwidth of 100 kHz, and the analogue section is galvanically isolated from the digital circuitry. To reduce jitter, the clock is resynchronised by two quartz oscillators, one for the 44.1, 88.2, 176.4 and 352.8 kHz family and one for 48, 96, 192 and 384 kHz. Four switchable oversampling algorithms let the owner choose how the digital filter behaves. The sealed disc transport sits on a floating, well-damped suspension, and the disc cradle is made from aluminium and ABS. On the network side the player streams from Tidal, Deezer and Qobuz, receives internet radio and is Roon Ready, while file playback covers MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, OGG Vorbis, WAV, AIFF and ALAC. The built-in tuner receives FM, FM HD and DAB+ broadcasts. The rear panel also carries an R2 link connection for use with other T+A R series components.

Pairing

A symmetrical connection is possible to amplifiers equipped with XLR sockets, including integrated amplifiers in the same T+A R series such as the PA 2500 R. The digital inputs let a television, games console or computer use the internal DAC, so a single unit handles every digital source in a stereo system.

Alternatives

The T+A MP 3100 HV is a larger multi-source player from the HV series that adds SACD playback through a double-laser linear tracking drive.