Denon DCD-SA1 User Manual

CD Player

DCD-SA1

Meticulously designed circuitry, drive mechanism, construction reflect the
best of DENON's technology and experience.

The "S1 Series" that appeared in 1993 was a reference-class audio series designed to please the most discerning of all
audiophiles. The primary objective of the S1 Series was to reproduce "reality"---- a deeper, more natural sound.

Continuing the same quest for high-quality sound reproduction that the S1 Series had been pursuing, the DCD-SA1 combines the
latest audio technologies with the reliability that DENON's CD players have earned over the past 10 years. From the external
design to the details on the inside, the DCD-SA1 has been developed as a member of the new SA Series embodying the essence
of DENON's advanced audio technologies. With new advances in audio formats and the ability now of many households to enjoy
multi-channel sound in their own homthaters, "authentic sound" is in even greater demand. The SA Series represents DENON's
latest offering of possibilities in pure 2-channel audio for today's most dedicated music lovers.

■ 'Advanced AL24 Processing,' the latest technology for high sound quality

The DCD-SA1 employs Advanced AL24 Processing, the ultimate analog
waveform reproduction technology developed by DENON, for use during PCM
signal input (during stereo signal processing). In addition to the data expansion of
existing AL24 Processing Plus technology, up-converted sampling is used to
achieve natural interpolation without losing original data. Greater optimisation in
digital processing algorithm has also been achieved for ringing-free pulse
response and for pulsive music data and attack sounds. This enhances
naturalness in the reproduction of spatial information such as the delicate nuances
in the music, the locations of the performers, and the breadth, height, and depth
of the concert hall.

■ Original Drive Mechanism, the heart of DENON's digital disc
playback technology

DENON has been developing original drive mechanisms for a large number of
digital disc players from CD players to universal DVD players. In addition,
the control firmware (for the signal processor and loader drive circuit) to operate
these mechanisms was also developed by DENON. These technologies as well as
DENON's track record of supplying mechanism engines to other manufacturers
have earned high marks. Since Super Audio CDs rotate at high speed during
playback, the length of the motor shaft has been considerably shortened.
A long-life brushless motor capable of withstanding vibration caused
by high-speed rotation has also been used. In addition, thorough consideration
has been given to mechanical deviations in the optical axis of the laser beam
being irradiated by the pickup onto the disc, mechanical unevenness in the base
of the pickup mechanism, and the mechanical inclination of the brushless motor
shaft. The DCD-SA1's mechanism uses a vibration-resistant coating that was
used in the highly-acclaimed SVH loader. In addition to an optimum mechanism
base floating design, the DCD-SA1 features a thorough hybrid vibration-resistant
construction based on vibration analyses in order to suppress the resonance of
components caused by disc rotation.

■ High-accuracy master clock oscillator, to suppress jitter and noise

The importance of a master clock has been growing with the spread of high-grade,
high-sampling audio sources such as Super Audio CD and DVD-Audio and advances
in high sampling and signal processing during CD playback. The DCD-SA1 employs
an oscillator with high accuracy and high stability. Extremely stable oscillation
output has been achieved by modularising the oscillator's circuit blocks and
suppressing influences such as load capacity from PC boards and other areas

compared to general crystal oscillators. In particular, the physical distance between
the clock and the DAC has been shortened, resulting in a clock design that would not
be possible without internal oscillation centred on the DAC. This design thoroughly
minimises the adverse influences of jitter and noise. Greater clock accuracy and
higher volume of information were achieved through the slave operation of the PCM
and DSD decoder LSI. During Super Audio CD playback, the DCD-SA1 reads DSD
decoder data from the high-accuracy master clock for the DAC and performs
frequency division on the clock. This process strictly follows oscillation precision.
By setting the DSD decoder to slave operation, it is possible achieve operation with
the same high-accuracy clock as the DAC.

■ Fully balanced output using 4-DAC configuration

The DCD-SA1's D/A conversion circuitry, configuring a differential output circuit,
uses 2 D/A converters for each stereo channel. Independent converters are used
for each of the hot and cold terminals to realise a fully differential balanced circuit.
This configuration is very different from a balanced output configuration that uses
an operational amp to invert phase following conventional D/A converter output.
Since delays between hot and cold terminals no longer occur and interference is
avoided, it is an ideal high-quality sound output. The differential drive circuit
configuration is also used for the unbalanced output circuit.

■ Triple floating power supply

The elimination of the adverse effects of vibration from the power supply
transformer not only suppresses resonance among all components and prevents
noise from influencing the audio signal, it also ensures a clean, stable supply of
power. The DCD-SA1 features a triple floating construction from the base of the
power supply to the transformer.
(1) Vibration-resistant construction between the transformer and the case: A base
filling material is first poured onto the bottom of the cast aluminum case, and the
power supply transformer is placed into the case after it hardens. The filling
material is then inserted again.
(2) Suppression of vibration onto the secured base: Shock absorbing material is
inserted between the transformer case and the cast aluminum transformer base.
(3) Control of vibration transmitted to the chassis in all frequencies: Four types of
shock absorbing materials of different resonance frequencies have been
combined between the transformer base and the chassis.

DCD-SA1

■ Thoroughly vibration-resistant construction

To prevent external vibration and minute internal vibration from adversely affecting
sound quality, the DCD-SA1 has been engineered to be
thoroughly vibration resistant.

• 4-layer bottom plate construction

• Cast iron insulator

• Hybrid construction for all panels

• Vibration-resistant PC board design

• Flexible input/output, also operates as high-grade D/A converter

• Pure Direct mode

Specifications

Audio Section

Signal System
Sampling frequency range

Analog Output

- Channels

- Frequency response

- Signal-to-Noise ratio

- Dynamic range

- Total Harmonic Distortion

- Wow & Flutter :

- Output Voltage : UNBALANCE

: BALANCE

Digital Output

- COAXIAL

- OPTICAL

- Emission wavelength

Digital Input

- Format

- COAXIAL

- OPTICAL

Super Audio CD

1bit DSD

2.822MHz

2 Channels
2 Hz - 50 kHz (-3dB)
117 dB (audible band)
110 dB (audible band)

0.0005% (1kHz, audible band)
Below measurable limit: (± 0.001 % W. peak)

2.0V (10kΩ)

2.0V (10kΩ)

-

-

-

DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE

0.5Vp-p/75Ω
above -27dBm
660nm

■ European Sound Tune

With the advance of Super Audio CD and other new formats, fans of high-end
audio are demanding refinements in the quality of sound from audio equipment.
European audiophiles are particularly keen to reproduce the naturalness of live
sound, including transparency, precise localisation, and a thoroughly realistic
ambience. The parts for the DCD-SA1 have been carefully selected for their ability

to deliver superior sound quality. Since some of these
parts are hand-made, they are difficult to
procure and are currently used only by DENON.
The DCD-SA1 has a large number of top-grade
capacitors, for instance, that use a natural silk textile
on the inside and high-purity copper wires. DENON's
technologies, design philosophy, and
strictly selected parts together produce a sublime
artistry that eminently befits a flagship audio
component.

CD

16 bit, Linear PCM

44.1kHz

2 Channels
2Hz - 20kHz
120dB
100dB

0.0015% (1kHz)
Below measurable limit: (± 0.001 % W. peak)

2.0V (10kΩ)

2.0V (10kΩ)

0.5Vp-p/75Ω

-15 - -21dbm
660nm

General

Power consumption
Dimensions
Weight
Remote (RC-997)

35 W
W434 x H150 x D410 mm

21.8 kg

*Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
*Super Audio CD is a registered trademark of Sony and Philips.

DENON CO., LTD.
KAYABACHO TOWER 14F 1-21-2 SHINKAWA, CHUO-KU, TOKYO 104-0033, JAPAN
www.denon.com

51640305B