Our new Reference:
ACCUSTIC ARTS® DRIVE II
World premiere! After 10 years of
experience in R&D and production of CD transports and CD players
our brand-new reference CD transport DRIVE II celebrated its incredible
premiere and was received enthusiastically by countless visitors
during the show days at the “High-End 2008” in
Munich / Germany. The DRIVE II is the next high end unit in
the ACCUSTIC ARTS® “REFERENCE SERIES”.
Perfect CD transport
The DRIVE II is a CD transport of the absolute reference
class and works according to the top-loader principle.
The unit is designed exclusively to play CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs in
uncompromising quality.
The core of the DRIVE II is the internationally renowned high-end
CD module CD-Pro2LF. Contrary to most other conventional
designs, this module is equipped with a very solid diecast chassis
in metal and not – as is otherwise the case – with
a simpler chassis made from sheet metal and plastic. The diecast
chassis has excellent damping characteristics and simultaneously
offers high stability and rigidity.
The CD module with its 3-beam laser is fitted in the DRIVE II using
an elaborate construction with mechanical decoupling (subchassis
design principle) and is integrated in its own solid aluminium
housing.
Perfect power supply
In general, the building of a high-end CD drive requires a good
power supply. Therefore, in the DRIVE II, 2 separate generously
dimensioned and magnetically shielded transformers of
the highest quality serve to provide
a perfect voltage feed. These transformers are produced especially
for the DRIVE II and are "Made in Germany" – just
as all ACCUSTIC ARTS® transformers.
In addition, the DRIVE II
has a mains filter located
on the power unit board designed especially for the unit. This
mains filter removes interfering signals from the power supply
and therefore ensures consistent sound characteristics. It
is possible, however, to also switch off the mains filter, which
might be desirable if the DRIVE II is already connected to a filtered
power supply, etc.
In order to further improve the power supply
of the unit is necessary to
correctly pole the mains plug. To ensure this, on the rear
of the DRIVE II there is a polarity indicator for
the incoming voltage. If the signal lamp lights up, the switch
located next to the lamp is simply pressed and the device is
then connected to the power supply with the correct polarity.
Attention
was also given to providing the individual drive components requiring
power such as the motor control, laser control, digital signal
processing, display control and display heating with their own,
generously dimensioned high performance power supply
units. This prevents, for example, the power signal
for the laser control having a negative influence on the power
signal for the digital signal processing. To ensure the correct
function of the individual power units, a high reservoir capacity
(in total approx. 61,000 µF) was selected.
The perfect components
In order to attain absolute perfection, DRIVE II exclusively uses selected
components with narrow tolerances and the highest possible quality
classification. A number of the individual components
are also manually measured and matched together.
There are also
no compromises with the housing: solid,
carefully crafted aluminium plates combined with chrome-plated
turned parts in brass serve to provide a fantastic touch
quality and extreme stability. Stability is important to make
sure that the CD being scanned can be read by the laser without
any interference. Interfering pressure waves are prevented from
reaching the CD through an ultra-stable slide cover (own
weight: 1.6 kg / 3.5 lbs) which is also acoustically damped.
The
laser beam is protected from negative influences by the solid
drive cover produced in aluminium in the inside of the CD bay with
a special, light-absorbing paint (Nextel®). This allows 100%
absorption of any diffused light present. The exact positioning
of the CD is made with a magnetic puck.
Attention was paid
even to the smallest of details during the development phase. For
example, a very special and elaborate
digital cable in pure silver is used. This cable connects
the CD module to the board for the digital signal processing and
although it is approx. 30 cm long, it has a remarkable influence
on the sound. Numerous tests carried out with innumerable types
of cable have clearly shown this cable in pure silver offers the
best solution.
Perfect operation
As with all ACCUSTIC ARTS® devices the DRIVE II impresses
through its easy operation. In modern times, where
most electronic devices are overloaded with unnecessary functions,
this is surely a welcome change for many music lovers.
The DRIVE
II can be operated with most of the basic functions even without
using a remote control through two chrome-plated rotary and button
controls. Both switch types are built to last an eternity. The
switches are incredibly solid and the rotary switches produced
in metal (“Made in Germany”) are equipped with
gold-plated silver contacts which are absolutely corrosion-free
and also allow thousands of switching cycles.
The user who requires
further functions can use the enclosed remote control which is
also easy to use. The remote control also has a brushed and anodised
aluminium housing which optically matches the housing of the DRIVE
II.
The perfect sound experience
The result of the best individual components, thorough development,
careful production, elaborate testing and innumerable listening
sessions is the ultimate sound experience.
In connection with our ACCUSTIC ARTS® D/A converters experience
music with perfect acoustics “Handmade in Germany”.
further information 
DRIVE II highlights
Audiophile
reference CD drive in top-loader design
High-End
CD mechanism (CD-Pro2LF) with heavy die-cast metal frame
and involved mechanical decoupling, embedded in a massive aluminium
housing (subchassis-construction principle)
2 generously dimensioned
and magnetically shielded toroidal core
transformers of premium quality (”Made in Germany“)
Integrated,
especially designed ACCUSTIC ARTS® line
filter for perfect
and extremely clean power supply (line filter switchable)
Separate
generously dimensioned power supply units for laser control,
digital signal processing, display control and display heating
CD
positioning in drive using exceptionally precise clamper, whereby
the integrated magnet inside the clamper guarantees ideal pressing
and smooth running
Polarity switch for correct phase of the mains
voltage
Extremely
fine digital output stage with the following features:
- separate transformer
- separate extra large power supply unit with voltage stabilisation
- output stage with extremely low jitter
- 3 professionally designed digital outputs with HF-transformer
(1 x XLR, 1 x RCA, 1 x BNC)
Very high power supply capacity (61,000 µF)
for perfect power supply
All used components and parts are selected and of
highest quality
Extremely stable, massive and resonance optimized housing,
primarily made of 10 mm thick aluminium plates, ultra stable and
acoustically damped top load cover
2 premium quality rotary switches
(”Made in Germany“)
with gold-plated silver contacts
Standby function
ACCUSTIC ARTS® aluminium remote control
ACCUSTIC ARTS® DRIVE I-MK2 is „Handmade in Germany“
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