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- Digital

The first digital products from Sugden appeared in 1993, the English company has now released two new dedicated compact disc players.

Sugden Fusion 21 Precision Compact Disc Player

The new players are the third generation and incorporate a fusion of technologies, hence, the

classification Fusion or ‘F’ in the product name.

The two models are:

Sugden Fusion 21 Precision Compact Disc Player.

Sugden Masterclass PDT-4F Precision Digital Transcriptor.

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Sugden Masterclass PDT-4F Precision Digital Transcriptor (Note the upgraded PDT-4F model code

only appears on the rear as part of the serial number label)

The Sugden Fusion 21 can be partnered with the Sugden Mystro Integrated Amplifier,

Sugden A21a Series 2 Pure Class ‘A’ Integrated Amplifier and Sugden A21SE Pure Class ‘A’

Integrated Amplifier. The Sugden Masterclass PDT-4F partners the Sugden Masterclass

Pure Class ‘A’ amplifier series.

At the heart of the players is a precision loader/laser assembly usually found in a Digital

Versatile Disc (DVD) player and driven by custom software designed by Sugden. The laser

assembly spins at twice the speed of normal CD transports enabling the reading of the disc

several times and calculating the original values from the data. The interconnected front-end

servo board has a short-term data cache, which stores the signals and clocks them out with

quartz accuracy.

The buffered output from the servo is passed to a dedicated digital interface transceiver. The

transceiver is also able to clean up (de-jitter) the received digital audio signals. The data

signal is re-formatted and the output status bits are selected before being sent to the multi-bit

digital to analogue converter.

The new set-up eliminates the use of steep-edged filters that radically eliminate frequencies

above 20 kHz as well as other side effects. Sony/Philips patented compact disc player

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loader/laser assemblies previously used by Sugden required these filters. That is why

without the filters and the extended frequency ranges the players performance is equal, or

better than, quality analogue LP turntables.

Sugden Fusion 21 Precision Compact Disc Player rear view

Sugden Masterclass PDT-4F Precision Digital Transcriptor rear view showing single ended and XLR

balanced outputs

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The Masterclass PDT-4F has state of the art dual Class ‘A’ amplifier discreet component

output stages with optional phono/assymetric or XLR balanced output options.

The players also can be used as a stand alone digital to analogue converter. When in stand-

by mode, it automatically activates the digital input, accepting data with sampling frequencies

of up to 192kHz. Therefore, you can connect docking stations, music streaming devices, etc.

Both the new Sugden players are hand made in England, the cases are fabricated at the

factory using non-magnetic materials and 10mm thick high grade machined aluminium front

panels and select quality components. The Masterless PDT-4F has gold plated circuit

boards is silver soldered and has silver cable for critical signal paths.

Sugden Masterclass PDT-4F Precision Digital Transcriptor

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