Yamaha CD-2 CD player (ad., Oct. 1984)

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YAMAHA CD-2 Natural Sound Compact Disc Player

Compact 3-Beam Laser Pickup

New, Improved LSI Circuitry

High-Precision Digital Filter

Simplified 10-Key (Plus Index) Operation

Easy Memory Programming/Convenient Music Search

Versatile Play Mode Selection/Handy Repeat

Disc Remaining Time Indicator/Cordless Remote Control

Behind the Superior Sound

Yamaha's foundation as a manufacturer spans more than a hundred years in a number of specialized fields. Since the company began as a producer of reed organs, it has expanded steadily until today, Yamaha music instruments, sound reinforcement gear, music education and popularization programs, motor products, sports equipment, and of course, audio products, are renowned worldwide for their highly refined performance. Naturally, the many years spent in intensive research and development in all these fields has resulted in a vast and varied store of technology. Moreover, the finely balanced interrelationship between the many Yamaha in-house technologies, production facilities and product groups creates a highly efficient network that makes it possible to achieve optimum quality and performance in every product.

Yamaha audio know-how, however, does not stop at technology. Each and every new audio product must face the most demanding challenge imaginable: the critical ears of Yamaha music instrument designers. Unless the reproduced sound is exactly like the real thing, the product is not considered finished. Yamaha gives you vast technology tamed by musical sensitivity--a claim no other audio manufacturer can honestly make.

SOPHISTICATED OPERATION COMPLEMENTS SUPERB SOUND--BEAUTIFULLY

If you've been waiting to see just how good "second generation" compact disc players could be, your wait is over. Because the exciting Yamaha CD-2 is here, now.

One look at the CD-2 proves that the wait was worth it. First, you see significant new audio technologies--a new, compact laser pickup system; two new LSIs which replace hundreds of ICs; high-precision filters--the works. Next you notice the sophisticated front panel layout, with a stunning array of controls which allow faster, more versatile and convenient operation than ever before10-key data input, memory store/cancel/check, three-way music search, three-mode playback, multi-function and remaining time indicators, even an automatic 3-second inter-song spacer function.

Plus the unsurpassed convenience of a full-function remote control unit.

Then there's the final payoff--sleek, modern styling. The CD-2 looks every bit the sophisticated audio component it is. Adding it to your stereo system will show the world that it has come of age. The digital age. The Yamaha CD-2 audio performance age.

Advanced New Yamaha LSI Circuitry

The CD-2 embodies the special capabilities that separate Yamaha CD players from conventional products. All of our technologies are developed in-house, which means our engineers have complete freedom in producing the kinds of advanced new technologies that meet their exacting requirements-and standards. The original LSIs incorporated in the CD-2 are a prime example of this. Because we're one of the few audio manufacturers to produce our own LSI circuits, we applied that know-how to develop two new super LSIs that do the job of hundreds of semiconductor chips. And do it better. They handle the enormously complicated functions of signal processing, servo control, and digital filtering with unsurpassed accuracy and reliability, resulting in audibly superior sound quality-the high musical standard that only Yamaha can reach.

High-Resolution Digital Filter

Another important advantage of Yamaha's new LSIs is the incorporation of a unique digital filter system that doubles the 44.1 kHz sampling frequency to 88.2 kHz, effectively doubling the playback resolution. By placing the sampling frequency so far above the highest audio frequency to be reproduced--4 times higher instead of 2 times higher--a relatively simple filter circuit with a gentle cutoff slope can be used to remove the sampling frequency from the music signal.

This not only eliminates the need for complex filtering circuitry, but the filter itself greatly reduces phase distortion, which can be a problem with conventional filtering systems. You'll notice more natural, vibrant sound, especially in the high frequency range.

Compact 3-Beam Laser Pickup

The microscopic tolerances required in laser pickup systems leave absolutely no room for error-deviations of a few microns can result in degradation of sound quality. Again, Yamaha has provided a superior system for the CD-2. A 3-beam laser pickup so exceptionally high in tracking accuracy that distortion caused by "spurious data" pickup is virtually eliminated. Every bit of precision performance built into compact discs is delivered with stunning clarity and fidelity--digital audio at its fantastic best.


above: The advanced LSIs developed for the CD-2 incorporate the performance of hundreds of individual ICs mounted on huge circuit boards. This complex circuitry has been refined into just two integrated circuits. The resulting LSI chips provide the CD-2 with extremely high precision and outstanding reliability, unobtainable with conventional circuit configurations.

Unsurpassed Operating Sophistication

The advanced circuitry developed for the CD-2 does more than provide exceptional musical reproduction performance. They bring incredible sophistication to operation, s well. But don't confuse "sophisticated" with "complicated." There's not one feature on the CD-2 that doesn't contribute directly to easier, more flexible operation, giving you greater flexibility in controlling playback than ever before. The CD-2 elevates the state of listening to state of the art.

Three-Way Play Mode Selection

The CD-2's versatility becomes readily evident as soon as you load a disc. After the disc has been loaded into the slide-out tray, you can close it in any of three ways--by gently pressing the tray front, touching the Open button again, or pressing the Play button. But the convenience is just beginning, because you now have three playback modes to choose from to get your music off to the right start. In the Auto mode, playback begins as soon as the tray is closed. In he Normal mode the CD-2 waits until you press the Play button-this is the mode used o program the CD-2. Finally, the Single node plays one song at a time and pauses, which makes it handy for taping selected parts of discs.

Simplified 10-Key (Plus Index) Operation

10 music input keys, plus a special index key, make selecting the songs or sections of selections you want to hear a smooth, pushbutton operation. After you've loaded the disc, you can begin playback from any election just by keying in the appropriate number. During playback, too, you can skip to any other selection at any time merely by pressing that number. These keys also permit easy programming of songs merely by pressing the numbers of the songs you want to hear. These keys also allow easy cueing of index points in discs which contain these points.

Easy Random Memory Programming

It seems that even our favorite discs contain a selection or two that we don't particularly like. Or maybe our favorite song is somewhere toward the end, but we want to hear it first. No problem with the CD-2, as its random memory playback function allows you to "reprogram" a disc to get just the playback order you want--up to 12 songs in all. That's enough capacity to even let you hear your favorite songs more than once. What's more, programmed selections can be easily cancelled with the Memory Cancel button, and the numbers and total remaining time of the programmed selections can be checked while in the stop mode merely by pressing the Memory Check button.

Convenient 3-Way Music Search

Sometimes it's not practical, or even possible, to find certain portions of the disc by referring to the information on the disc jacket and re-keying the player. That's why the CD-2 offers you three ways to scan the disc with pushbutton ease and accuracy. The first of these is with the "+-" bar, which permits locating the pickup at the beginning of any selection or index point on the disc. Say you're playing a song and decide you want to skip to the next one (or the next programmed selection, or the next index point in the index mode)--merely press the "+" end of the bar and playback will start from the next song immediately. Pressing it again will advance the pickup to the beginning of the next song or index point, right on to the end of the disc. Pressing the "-" side returns the pickup to beginning of the selection, and pressing it again moves it to the start of the previous song. The " << >> " bar controls fast forward/reverse, but in two ways. When the CD-2 is in the Play mode, the search operation starts slowly for three seconds, then increases to high speed. While this is happening, playback sound is muted 20 dB to allow you to hear when the desired section is found. With the CD-2 in the Pause mode, one minute of disc time is covered in one second for extremely fast forwarding and reversing.

With all music search functions, the current selection number and elapsed time location of the pickup on the disc are displayed for real-time visual confirmation of these operations.

Three-Way Music Repeat

There are times when we want to hear a disc, or certain parts of it, over and over, such as during a party, or after purchasing a favorite artist's latest album. Again, the CD-2 provides all the versatility you want, with 3-way repeat. To repeat the entire disc, just engage the repeat button. Or program the CD-2 first for selected songs or index points-the CD-2 will repeat-play the programmed selections. Or designate any A-B segment of the disc for playback-the choice is yours with the CD-2.

Full-Information Multifunction Indicators

With turntables and most tape decks, you have no indication of such useful information as remaining playback time, for example. The CD-2 provides this, and much, much more-all the information you need, instantly and accurately.

When you load a disc, you get an automatic display of total disc playback time and the number of selections on the disc. As the disc is being played, elapsed time is displayed in minutes and seconds--and remaining time is available at the push of a button, a handy feature when making tapes. Also, memory programs can be reviewed at the touch of a button, showing both the selection numbers and total remaining playback time in sequential order.

Other indicators tell you whether or not a disc is loaded, play, pause, or stop operating status, and whether program sequences and repeat play sequences are preset into memory--everything you need to know, at a glance.

Space Play Function for Flawless Taping

Today's sophisticated cassette decks often incorporate a music search function. To work properly, however, a gap of at least three seconds must be left between selections on the tape. The CD-2 will make these gaps for you, automatically, allowing you to create recordings that will perform flawlessly in audiophile class cassette decks.

Relaxed, Cordless Remote Control Operation

We've explained the major operating features that make using the CD-2 an audiophile's delight. Now here's a feature every user will enjoy-cordless remote control. All of the CD-2's main operating functions can be controlled from across the room, with pushbutton ease and convenience. But there's more good news--the RS-2 remote control unit is supplied as standard equipment. What would be an attractive option with other CD players, if it were available, is part of the CD-2 package. Which makes it even more irresistible.


above: RS-2 Cordless Remote Control Unit

The CD-2 is available in the standard Yamaha silver front panel finish for stylish compatibility with any audio system, and any listening environment. An RS-2 cordless remote control unit is standard equipment with every CD-2 CD player.


(Audio magazine, Oct. 1984)

Also see:

Yamaha CDX 1120 CD player (Jan. 1990)

Yamaha -- more second-generation CD technology (Sept. 1984)

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