TL 0-3.0

TL 0 – 3.0

The TL0 3.0 is the latest version of a device considered the benchmark among CD drives. Years of experience by CEC’s engineers with analog devices and the proven solutions from its predecessors have resulted in a drive that can be called a “CD turntable.” The TL0 3.0 was designed to prevent the micro-vibrations that occur on the surface of the disc, which are amplified by the distance the laser beam must travel. These occur in most CD drives, causing light scattering and affecting the continuity of the data stream. Thanks to the three-part design of the housing, these vibrations and other resonances are significantly reduced, which minimizes fluctuations in the data stream. As a result, the TL delivers exceptional musicality rarely found in other CD designs. 
          The drive mechanism used here by CEC consists of a stack of non-magnetic materials with different natural resonances—a 20-mm-thick aluminum plate and a 10-mm-thick brass plate. To ensure uninterrupted operation of the laser head, all sources of electromagnetic interference are fully isolated from one another, and the power supply is housed in a separate enclosure. 
         The drive electronics are enclosed in a 20mm-thick, non-magnetic anodized aluminum housing, which is also separated from the main mechanism. The drive motor features a gearless design with low friction levels, which eliminates the vibrations inherent in other drive systems. As with turntables, the platter’s inertia is achieved through the use of a 460-gram stabilizing disc with a diameter of 125 mm. This platter is supported by a high-quality thrust bearing. This eliminates the need for constant electronic corrections, which are present in other drives, and ensures the stability of the disc.

Dubbed the company’s “flagship” model, the TL0 X served as the basis for the TL0 3.0, and its most significant improvements include:
The servo has been redesigned to shorten the signal path and improve the grounding configuration. This minimizes signal dropouts and distortion from the CD.
A Word Clock input has been implemented.
The height of the stabilizing disc has been lowered by 5 mm to improve the disc’s rotational stability.

CEC’s Superlink connection was first used in a model from the TL0 series. When the TL0 3.0 is connected to a DAC via Superlink, it provides the shortest and most direct signal path, bypassing the encoding and decoding process. 
              The TL0 3.0 is a worthy successor to the best CD player in CEC’s lineup and a strong contender for the title of the world’s best CD player.

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