The ASR crowd must be bumming rather hard this morning in regard to the Schiit URD CD player; there is no internal DAC and that means that they will actually have to listen to it and grade it based on the sonic performance connected to other digital devices.
We are rather big proponents of CD players and especially when the design is rather forward thinking and not limited to only CDs and 16-bit/44.1kHz playback.
When you consider the digital roots of Schiit, the URD makes perfect sense. It is a CD transport, digital hub, and USB to S/PDIF converter. Schiit claims URD is the only CD transport with a USB output and two USB inputs.
Schiit URD Features
Here is a closer look at what the Schiit Audio URD offers.
Product Design: Primarily designed and built in California, with PCBs also made in Utah and Nevada. The URD incorporates a streamlined design and is 16-inches wide, 8-inches deep, and 2-inches high. This makes it easy to place and stack on top of other Schiit Products, such as the Freya and Loki Max.
CD Drive Construction, Processors, Power Supply: The URD’s CD drive uses StreamUnlimited‘s metal tray-loading Redbook CD mechanism. From there, the URD provides four 32-bit microprocessors and a 100% linear supply with separate transformers for both the drive and digital sections.
CD Transport with USB or SPDIF Output: The CD transport plays Redbook CDs, while the provided USB output, allows direct connection to an external DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) with USB input. In addition, Coax and AES outputs allow you to connect the URD to compatible external audio systems.
USB Hub: In addition to its CD and USB playback output capabilities, the URD also has two USB inputs. This allows the URD to switch between CD and USB sources and pass their audio signals out to a USB DAC or the digital inputs of an AVR or integrated amplifier.
Imagine connecting your network streamer to the URD and being able to compare CDs to digital streaming with the press of a button. The streamer gets connected to the same external DAC as the CD transport.
Tip: The provided remote control allows you to switch between CD, USB1, or USB2.
USB to AES or Coax Conversion: In addition to source switching, the URD can also convert the two USB input signals to S/PDIF output. This makes it convenient if you have an external DAC that doesn’t have a USB input but may have a S/PDIF input. This could prove to be very handy for those who use an AVR with those types of inputs.
Warranty and Return Policy: Schiit Audio provides a 5-year limited warranty that covers parts and labor. One exception: the drive mechanism which is covered for 2 years. In addition, if you determine that the URD is not right for you within 15 days of receiving it, you can send it back for a refund, minus a 5% restocking fee.
Specifications
CD Transport:
- Formats Supported: Redbook CD only (no HDCD, SACD, MP3CDs, or FLAC CDs)
- Gapless Playback
Inputs:
- (2) Unison USB™ Inputs
- Maximum Sample Rate/Bit Depth: 32-bit/192kHz (Hi-Res Audio)
- Switchable USB inputs
Outputs:
- (1) Unison USB Output
- (1) AES digital output
- (1) Coaxial SPDIF output
- Simultaneous USB or S/PDIF output option
- Maximum Sample Rate/Bit Depth on all outputs: 32-bit/192khz
Dimensions, Power & Weight:
- Power Consumption: 15W maximum
- Dimensions (WDH): 16 x 8 x 2 inches
- Weight: 8 lbs
Price and Availability
The Schiit Audio URD is priced at $1,299 and is available in a silver or black finish directly from Schiit Audio Online or the Schiit Audio Retail Store.
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Steven D
July 13, 2023 at 11:01 pm
I mean, I’ll be awaiting the reviews for sure, but this appears to be one of the most well thought out pieces of Schiit those guys have done yet. Deliberately high quality parts and engineering decisions all the way through – I’m really impressed! Kinda leaves room for a paired down $600 model too.
ORT
July 15, 2023 at 3:12 am
How doth one pare down that which is already pared to thee bone dry basics? How can this be made more austere in appearance? This is the very essence of what many claim to seek in a CD Player that cannot “play”, i.e., a CD Transport. A transport just “reads” the bits and sends them to a DAC or rather an “OOB-D, Out Of Body-DAC” to turn the bitses into soundses.
Not my choice but it is THE choice for a great many folks, more than a few of whom I am honored to call friend. I have a look that I crave in equipment and Schiit is not that look. BFD. It is the desire of many to own a piece of Schiit and quality Schiit at that and they are loyal to the marque with good reason:
Schiit ain’t crap.
I shall continue to save for the Marantz CD60 in silver. Why? Because it does not look like Schiit but I have no doubt that it will perform as well.
Even with its own DAC. 😉
ORT
Ian White
July 17, 2023 at 2:35 pm
ORT,
I’m sticking with the CD60 as well. I like the design of the URD and don’t think it looks like a polished one.
3 nights in Canada has turned me into a poet laureate.
Ian White