CD/SACD-проигрыватели и транспорты — AVM CD 30.3

The CD 30.3 is a CD player and DAC from AVM, the German company from Malsch near Karlsruhe, in its AVM30 series. It was the first player designed to match the A 30.3 integrated amplifier and the AVM 30.3 line, and it brings technology from AVM's higher Evolution Line CD players into the series. It plays CDs only, to the Red Book standard.

Key specs that matter

The drive is a TEAC Pure CD slot-in mechanism supplied exclusively to AVM. Analogue outputs are two XLR and two RCA. Digital inputs are two coaxial, two optical and one AES/EBU, plus an asynchronous, galvanically isolated USB input accepting DSD64. Digital outputs are one coaxial and one optical. Signal processing runs at up to 192 kHz/24-bit. The housing is aluminium in silver or black, and the RC 3 remote control is included. The German price was EUR 2,190, and the US price USD 2,995.

Engineering and use context

The Pure CD drive is designed specifically for CD playback, with a monofocal lens system, and it reads discs using the S/PDIF protocol, so it is not an adapted DVD or CD-ROM drive. Slot-in loading takes the disc directly without a tray. The digital signal is upsampled to that maximum rate before conversion, a function AVM's Evolution Line players also use. With five S/PDIF and AES/EBU inputs plus USB, the CD 30.3 also works as a DAC for a streamer, television or computer. The USB input is asynchronous, so the DAC's own clock controls timing, and it is galvanically isolated to keep computer noise out of the audio circuits. The power supplies are low-noise, with separate construction for the drive and the audio electronics, so the mechanism's motors do not disturb the conversion. Balanced XLR outputs suit amplifiers with balanced inputs, including AVM's own. The digital outputs let the player act as a transport for an external DAC. AVM makes its products in Germany. The CD 30.3 can control the A 30.3 amplifier's functions from the same remote, and its design follows the 30.3 series with a matching front panel. It supports all Red Book CDs, including the many early discs mastered before high-resolution formats existed.

Pairing

The CD 30.3 matches the AVM A 30.3 integrated amplifier and the AS 30.3 in size and finish. Its XLR outputs connect to any balanced amplifier.

Alternatives

AVM's Evolution CD 5.2 MKII is the higher CD player of the brand with valve output stages and seven digital inputs.