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icon Audio
Instruction Manual Covering:
X1 Compact Disc Player
Contents
1 Introduction & Final Inspection
2 Set Up Guide
3 Connecting inputs & outputs
4 Getting the best performance
5 Trouble Shooting
6 Valve Replacement
7 Specifications
8 Guarantee
9 Packing Instructions
1 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the
CDX1
. This is an
advanced CD player using the latest digital
technology to decode the optical digital signal
coming from the Laser pickup using 192 kHz
upsampling and 24 bit resolution. That is where any
similarity to other CD players ends. In order to get
the best results from digital sound David Shaw and
the Icon team believe that the pure valve analogue
part of the sound needs the same careful treatment
as our famous PS1 and PS3 phono pre-amps. The
CDX1 is the result of years of design in order to offer
the same relaxed, warm sound that we offer from
vinyl and our amplifiers. This required some radical
thinking.
Apart from some of the better known befits of valves
in audio, we have paid great attention to eliminating
Radio Frequency interference from the audio output,
something ever present in the high speed digital
processing.
To do this we have no less than six unique
features:-
1. A large dedicated valve power supply
completely isolated from the two digital
power supplies.
2. A large high value choke (smoothing
transformer) is employed, this allows the
rectifier to operate without drawing sharp
spikes of current.
3. Valve Rectifier. Valve amplifiers always
sound better if a valve rectifier can be
employed. The slow start during warm up
also avoids “cathode stripping” of the
6SN7s.
4. The 0D3 valve regulator ensures a constant
HT voltage to the output stage, and is also
excellent at absorbing RF noise.
5. The venerable 6SN7 output valve is
probably the best sounding hi fi valve ever.
Its warm tonal balance is an excellent
counter to some of the less desirable
characteristics that digital systems present.
Also very reliable and long lasting to
maintain performance.
6. Like our other amplifiers the pure valve
analogue section is completely hard wired.
This allows the use of full sized components
and future upgrading with the large Jensen
capacitors act.
