Underneath its 3mm thick aluminium cover lays an ingenious electronic solution to the ever more difficult task of manufacturing a high-end CD player.

The Destiny CD player has been designed ideally to be partnered with the Destiny Integrated Amplifier. It shares the same cosmetic style and also works from a Creek SRC2 System Remote control handset.

Some technical stuff...

Unlike other makes of CD player that use ROM drives, the Destiny does not compromise performance by converting its digital signal into an SPDIF format and back to I2S before its DAC converts the signal into analogue.

The Destiny CD player uses a FPGA programmed by Creek Audio to extract and decode the digital data from the disc, correct reading errors and translate the data into an I2S format that can be read by its internal Digital-to-Analogue-Converter (DAC).

Creek Audio has a long association with Cirrus Logic products and continues to use their Delta-Sigma CS4396 digital-to-analogue-converter, long after it has been superseded by other devices. This decision was made purely on the basis of sound quality, since with its 24bit 192kHz reading capability, the CS4396 far exceeds the resolution of the 16bit 44.1kHz CD format. Re-clocking circuitry is used to eliminate jitter, or timing errors, from corrupting the performance of the Destiny player.

A total of 16 voltage regulated, low-noise, power supplies are used in the Destiny player. All rectifier diodes used in the power supply are Schottky-Barrier types, for low noise, which do not require RF snubbing capacitors. All other power supply decoupling capacitors are audio grade low-impedance 105 degree Centigrade types. Audio signal path passive components are selected for sonic purity, such as high-stability MELF type resistors and film and polypropylene type capacitors.

DAC performance has been enhanced by careful attention to PCB layout. The Destiny CD player uses a modular, low phase noise (5pS) and temperature controlled, master clock oscillator. It also uses separate, instrument grade, OPA134 Op-Amps in the audio output to buffer each channel and the filtering of unwanted digital artefacts is improved. The op-amps in the output are also powered separately from their own low noise voltage regulators. Un-balanced audio output RCA sockets are high quality, solid metal and gold plated. Digital SPDIF output is by co-axial RCA and optical TOSLINK sockets.

To maintain the isolation between digital and analogue supplies, Creek has designed a truly stunning mains power supply for the Destiny, with all components mounted on a thick double sided plated-through-hole PCB. Three separate fully encapsulated PCB mounted toroidal mains transformers are used to completely separate digital and analogue supplies. A multi-element, common mode mains filter is used to prevent interference to, or from, the Destiny power supply. The mains IEC plug with built-in double fuse holder is mounted on the power supply PCB together with the double pole mains switch. A voltage selector switch is accessible from under the case for multiple country operation. All the power supplies are separately connected to the mother and display boards for improved serviceability.

A brief history of CD...

From its European introduction in 1983, CD audio has undergone few fundamental revisions. CD audio is still a 16 bit 44.1 kHz digital replay system. There have been several attempts to kill CD off by introducing compatible and non-compatible high-definition reply systems, such as SACD and DVDA, but they have never really reached market acceptance with consumers. Good old CD has won the day as a music storage medium, due to its high quality-to-cost ratio.

Various attempts have been made by manufactures to increase the performance of the Red Book (audio CD standard) CD player, such as sample rate conversion, but the basic system has always remained the same. Some recording publishers have introduced non Red Book standard discs that have confused the market and have often made CD Player manufacturer's work more difficult, because software revisions are often required to updated or make older CD Players playable. These hurdles have to be overcome before a new CD player is launched and the Destiny CD Player was no exception.

To begin with, in the late 90's and early 2000's the source of good quality, reasonably priced, CD player transports became as rare as hen's teeth. Creek Audio, in 2003 in collaboration with Jeff Kalt of Resolution Audio, produced the CD50mk2 which used an ATAPI DVD-ROM to play CD's and extract raw digital data from the disc. These types of mechanisms were used extensively in DVD replay systems and were therefore thought more likely to be around after all dedicated CD transport manufacturers had disappeared. This hasn't transpired exactly as planned, but many audio manufacturers continue to use DVD drives to extract CD information.

All functions for the CD Player are remotely controllable and a slim European made system remote control handset called SRC2 is supplied to operate the Amplifier, CD player and Power amplifier.

Technical Specifications