Off-Print from STEREO 5/2009 - Einstein - Audio Components

MAGAZIN FÜR HIFI • HIGH END • MUSIK
Hot Source
Einstein’s new CD player
is simply called “The
Source”. No pretense here:
the Bochum based
company designed a superlative
disc player without
apparent consideration
for cost.
Off-Print from STEREO 5/2009

instein_0509_sonderdruck-Englisch.qxp:STEREO 28.08.2009 13:54 Uhr Seite 50
supplied metal puck centers it and voila,
you are ready to go.
The CDM2 pro houses both the spindle
and laser unit on top of a sprung, massive
aluminum base plate. This construction
usually offers a well balanced
approach to a stiff chassis through effective
decoupling of the transport. Of
course, this wasn’t enough for the Einstein
crew: instead, they placed the CDM2
pro on top of yet another, weight optimized
and suspended steel plate, yielding in
effect a cleverly constructed twin chassis
player.
a classic OTL design, which are visible
through the unit’s rear mounted tube cage.
Until the signal reaches the output
stage however, it passes through a considerable
path. It all begins with the unit’s
side sweeping black acrylic CD cover, underneath
which you find Philip’s tried and
true CDM2 pro disc drive. Unlike say for
example Esoteric’s VRDS design, which
clearly lies in an even higher league, this
classic disc drive mechanism is leaps and
bounds above the mass manufactured
DVD-ROM based transports available on
the market. Two depressions next to the
disc allow for an easier placement and
handling of the disc inside the player; alas,
this task is still somewhat finicky. Once
a disc is placed on top of the spindle, a
By Matthias Böde
t seems that Einstein jumped the gun
somewhat with their 2003 release of
their then new CD player, appropriately
labeled “The Last Record Player”. Good
then that the word caution wasn’t part of
Einstein’s latest creation. Aptly named
“The Source”, it is quite clear that Einstein
intends to position their latest disc player
at the very top of source components.
Prerequisite for such a task are this 38
pound unit’s two large, well formed selector
switches, perfectly set against Einstein’s
classic black acrylic faceplate. It
yields a true double-mono construction,
which in Einstein’s classic fashion boasts
a tube analog output stage. Each channel
utilizes two double triode 6N30 tubes in
I
The tube
outputstage clearly
shows the high standard of
this real balanced double mono concept.
converter section via an opto-coupler.
This galvanic
separation ensures that the
drivetrain, electronics and
controller are free of
electric mains hash. In
typical Einstein fashion,
the unit’s
power supply
is controlled
and regulated
via 14 voltage sources,
separated each into the
analog and digital section. Each
voltage source is supplied via 3 separate
transformers, one for the drive mechanism
and logic, and two for the digital to
analog converter and output stage. Interestingly,
there is only a single on / off
mains switch, located at the back of the
unit. According to Einstein, a third switch
would have looked misplaced on the
unit’s otherwise simplistic acrylic faceplate.
Thus if someone wants to switch
3 Transformers, 14 voltage sources
The data collected off the disc reaches the
sed individually inside an aluminum
chassis situated directly before the tube
section. Sure, you may find some manufactures
who laugh at the chosen path; a
high part count and an overall perceived
antiquated design usually means lots of
headaches. In the end, it’s all well worth
it, as the sonic revelations clearly showcase.
We were forewarned as we played the very
first disc and The Source left Lindemann’s
SACD player outclassed, outgunned. The
Einstein played so free, full of explosive
energy, that the Lindemann 820 by comparison
appeared small, average and otherwise
rather simplistic. The Source
presents are large, well organized and defined
sound stage: each instrument takes
it’s own place; image sizes are well proportioned
and played back with realistic
plasticity. That Einstein placed correct
group delay equalization and phaseshift
at the top of the design goal becomes
quickly evident.
Outstanding sonics demand superior
design
No one should be confused by
CATCHWORD the unit’s 24 bit, 192khz Burr-
The group delay Brown digital to analog con-
(time):
verters. A unique upsampling
This parameter des-
or word length conversion tacribes
how fast all
frequencies pass the kes place in this unit, ie. The
device. High syn- data remains true to the 16 bit
chronicity is impor- 44.1khz CD standard. In the
tant for a perfect
stereo performance. end, you find the same relationship
with pretty much
everything else: to merely get
good sound, simplicity simply works.
Getting great sound however, involves a
much higher set of skills.
Another example of this higher order design
calling is the unit’s atypical fully discrete
built digital filter section. Typically,
custom made op-amps would handle
this task; Einstein however felt that this
solution results in a loss of about 4 decibel
in signal to noise ratio, hence their decision
to utilize this fully symmetrical filter
design. Two of these filters are hou-
The Source on and off, they
have to reach well behind the
unit. That’s “high-end” for
you!
TEST EQUIPMENT
(SA)CD-PLAYER: Accuphase DP-700, Lindemann
820S, Nagra CDC
PRE-/POWERAMP.: Linn Klimax Kontrol/Soulution 710
LOUDSPEAKER: Ayon GyrFalcon, Dynaudio Contour
S5.4, Vienna Acoustics „The Kiss“
CABLE: HMS Gran Finale Jubilee, Lindemann
„Kind of Blue“, Nordost Valhalla
RACK: Finite Elemente Pagode Reference
The rock solid, suspended via conical
helical springs, Philips drive sits on top of yet
another suspended steel plate to
minimize any vibrations

CD player with analog timbre
The Source plays back each digital disc
with a familiar analog like tune. Highs
are silky smooth, without a hint of any
hardness or artificial tone. Voices are
equally natural and lifelike without any
signs of harshness. Bass is another
strong suit of the Einstein player: dependent
on the source material it always
appears tonally correct, with superb timing.
Even our now two year old reference,
Nagra’s CDC disc player appeared
to have been put in
it’s place. Sure, it is pretty
much the equal of the
Einstein when it comes
to recreating great
sounding three dimensional
aural landscapes;
the Einstein however
outclasses it
The clock generator packaged
in silver sits close to the converter section.
Complex power supply design
when it comes to picture
perfect tonal colors and
a natural, authentic
musical aura. Ultimately,
the Nagra
sounds more like a
CD player - a very fine
one at that; alas, The Source sounds
more like a reference record player, managing
to extract almost hypnotic
soundscapes of amazing musical qualities.
Only Accuphase’s DP700 comes close
to that level of quality music playback,
albeit when fed with SACDs.
The sensation is thus perfect. Nagra’s otherwise
outstanding sounding disc play-
Along with the pre amplifier
“The Tube” and the
mono amplifiers “The Final
Cut”, “The Source”
completes Einstein’s tube
based line. STEREO – Test
01/2003
Each channel has its
own discretely built digital filter
built inside this aluminum chassis
er has been dethroned and has to make
way for the new Einstein player. Not only
does The Source sit on top of the sonic
ladder, it seems to somehow act as a link
between both analog and digital worlds.
The Source is rightfully named as the
source of sonic bliss - for those looking
to get a new player simply a must!
Stereo’s summit of reference CD players
resulted in a massive shootout
EINSTEIN THE SOURCE
um €9900
Dimantion 43x18,5x43 cm (BxHxT)
Guarante: 5 Jahre
Vertrieb: Einstein Audio Components
Tel.: 0234/9731512, www.einstein-audio.de
Einstein’s new disc player is full of clever
design elements. The Source plays back
music with uncanny reality and musical insight.
Since the measurements are equally
outstanding, The Source easily lays claim
to the top reference spot of CD players.
Well deserved!
LABOR
The Einstein player displays a very linear
frequency response curve, marred only marginally
by a drop of 1 decibel with rare emphasis
enabled discs. It passes the trusted
square edge and impulse tests well
enough; of course, we always look closely
at distortion and signal to noise ratio numbers.
Interestingly, The Source is nearly indistinguishable
from reference level solid
state designs in this respect. 0,19% distortion
(400hz / -60db) and merely 0,012%
aliasing distortion (-30db) are simply exemplary.
Equally outstanding are the signal to
noise ratios of 106db at digital zero
and 90db quantization noise.
Note that these numbers correspond
to measurements achieved
from the non balanced outputs;
they would be about 6 db higher if
measured through the balanced output
stage. Converter linearity is also
outstanding, achieving a maximum
0,1db of error at -90db. Philip’s quiet
transport has no problems reading CDR
and CDRW discs or discs with scratches
and other surface issues. Output impedance
is 114 Ohms and it draws 73 Watts
of power at idle. There are no provisions
for a standby modus.
LAYOUT
One output each balanced and non balanced,
coaxial digital output, wireless remote
control.
SOUND
100 %
PRICE/PERFORMENCE
VERY SEHR GOOD
GUT