Quad Platina CDT: A Dedicated CD Transport for Audiophiles

Quad has expanded its premium Platina series with the introduction of the Platina CDT, a dedicated CD transport designed to complement the existing Platina Integrated amplifier and Platina Stream network player. This new component caters to audiophiles who still value their physical CD collections and seek the highest possible sound quality.

What is a CD Transport?

Unlike a conventional CD player, which incorporates both the disc-reading mechanism and a digital-to-analogue converter (DAC), a CD transport focuses solely on accurately extracting the digital data from the CD. This data is then sent to an external DAC – either within an amplifier or a standalone unit – for conversion into an analogue signal. By separating these functions, manufacturers can optimize each stage for superior performance.

Key Features of the Platina CDT

• Design and Build Quality: The Platina CDT shares the robust steel chassis and anti-resonance feet found in other Platina series components, minimizing unwanted vibrations. It features a thick aluminium front panel and a 4.3-inch colour display, consistent with the aesthetic of the Integrated and Stream models.
• Digital Outputs: The transport provides digital outputs via coaxial and TOSLINK connections, allowing compatibility with a wide range of DACs.
• Precision Engineering: Quad has incorporated a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) to minimize jitter – unwanted timing errors in the digital signal – and an isolated linear regulator for the servo and decoder section.
• Power Supply: Separate power supplies are used for the motor and laser servo circuits, the decoder stage, and the microcontroller/display, reducing interference and maintaining signal purity. A Noratel toroidal transformer is employed.
• Disc Compatibility: The Platina CDT supports standard CDs, as well as CD-R and CD-RW discs.
• USB Playback: A USB-A port allows playback of audio files (FLAC, WAV, WMA, AAC, MP3, and APE) from USB storage devices at their native resolution.

Synergy with the Platina Integrated

The Platina CDT is particularly well-suited for use with the Quad Platina Integrated amplifier, which already features a high-quality ESS Sabre ES9038PRO DAC with coaxial and TOSLINK inputs. This combination provides a seamless and optimized listening experience for CD enthusiasts.

Pricing and Availability

The Quad Platina CDT is priced at £1499 in the UK and is scheduled to ship in April. It is available in either black or silver finishes.

Further information can be found on the Quad website.