CD / SACD players and transports — T+A MP 3100 HV G3

The MP 3100 HV G3 is the third generation of the multi source SACD player in the HV series from T+A of Herford, Germany. Beyond the disc drive, the same chassis holds a network streaming client, a USB DAC, a set of digital inputs for external sources, Bluetooth and a radio section, letting a single component handle every digital source in a stereo setup.

Key specs that matter

Supported discs are stereo SACD and CD with CD Text, plus CD-R and CD-RW blanks. T+A quotes 2 Hz to 20 kHz with 100 dB of dynamic range for CD and 2 Hz to 44 kHz with 110 dB for SACD. Distortion is below 0.001 percent, signal to noise ratio exceeds 116 dB and channel separation exceeds 110 dB. The analogue outputs deliver 2.5 V on RCA and 5.0 V on balanced XLR, both at an output impedance of 50 ohm, while LPCM leaves via a coaxial S/P-DIF socket to an external converter. The casework measures 17 x 46 x 46 cm and weighs 26 kg, finished in silver lacquer or titanium lacquer with black heat sinks. Two mains sections draw up to 40 W each, while standby consumption stays under 0.5 W.

Engineering and use context

T+A uses what it calls Path Separation Technology, keeping DSD and PCM in separate conversion paths. DSD is handled natively as a true 1-bit stream without conversion, while PCM goes to a quadruple converter built from eight 32-bit Burr-Brown chips. The in-house SACD mechanism sits in a machined aluminium housing on precision linear bearings with anti-resonance stabilisation. For file playback the streaming client accepts FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, MP3, AAC and OGG Vorbis, with PCM up to 384 kHz at 24 bit and DSD64 through DSD512. Supported services and protocols are Spotify Connect, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz, Amazon Music HD, Audirvana and Apple AirPlay 2. Digital inputs comprise one AES-EBU, five S/P-DIF and one USB port that works in device or master mode. Network access uses Gigabit Ethernet cable or 802.11ax Wi-Fi. The radio section covers FM with HD Radio from 87.5 to 108 MHz, DAB and DAB+ from 168 to 240 MHz and more than 11,000 internet stations.

Pairing

Within the same HV series T+A builds the PA 3100 HV integrated amplifier, the P 3100 HV preamplifier and the A 3100 HV and M 40 HV power amplifiers, all in matching casework. The balanced outputs connect directly to any amplifier that accepts XLR line level signals.

Alternatives

The T+A PDT 3100 HV is a disc transport for SACD and CD in the same HV series for owners who already run a separate converter.