MBL C31 CD Player
Condition Report
Score: 4 / 5 Excellent
Extremely clean. Shows only minimal, subtle signs of use.
- Fitted with the current specification Sanyo Laser Mechanism.
- ✓ Original box and packing.
- ✓ Original remote control.
Highly Commended
Product Overview & Specifications
The MBL Corona C31 is a high-performance CD player and digital-to-analogue converter engineered to integrate Red Book compact disc playback with modern high-resolution computer audio streaming. Designed around a slot-loading V111/r2 LT2 drive mechanism, the C31 incorporates a multi-bit delta-sigma DAC topology derived from MBL's Reference Line, processing digital streams up to 24-bit/96kHz with psychoacoustically optimized oversampling filters and a dual-nested digital/analogue PLL jitter-reduction architecture.
Housed in a dual-enclosure chassis featuring an outer solid aluminium body surrounding an inner reinforced steel casing, the unit magnetically shields internal signal boards and provides galvanic isolation across transformers and power supply circuits. In addition to optical Toslink and 75-ohm coaxial S/PDIF inputs and outputs, the C31 features a galvanically isolated asynchronous USB Type-B input operating in Master Clock Mode Interface (MCMI) without driver requirements. Intelligent system integration is supported via the proprietary MBL SmartLink communication network, enabling synchronized power management, unified source selection, and low-power standby consumption below 1 VA.
KEY FEATURES & PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGIES
- V111/r2 LT2 Slot-Loading CD Mechanism: Dedicated high-precision CD transport designed specifically for accurate Red Book digital disc reading and reduced tracking errors.
- Dual-Chassis Magnetic & Electrical Shielding: Solid aluminium outer shell enclosing an internal reinforced steel chassis with isolated power supply compartments for RF and magnetic suppression.
- 24-Bit Multi-Bit Delta-Sigma DAC Architecture: Derived from MBL's Reference Line, incorporating dual-nested PLL jitter reduction, a 4/5 minimum phase / 1/5 linear phase digital filter, and a group-delay-optimized Bessel analogue filter.
- Asynchronous Master Clock USB Interface (MCMI): Galvanically isolated USB Type-B input operating in Master Clock Mode for driverless, jitter-suppressed high-resolution computer audio playback up to 24-bit/96kHz.
- Comprehensive Digital & Analogue Routing: Features optical Toslink, 75-ohm coaxial S/PDIF, and USB inputs alongside balanced XLR and single-ended RCA analogue line outputs.
- MBL SmartLink System Integration: Proprietary inter-component network bus enabling coordinated standby management, display sync, and remote switching with a Green Standby power draw under 1 VA.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product Category | CD Player & High-Resolution Digital-to-Analogue Converter |
| Brand / Model | MBL — Corona C31 |
| CD Transport Mechanism | V111/r2 LT2 Slot-Loading CD Drive |
| D/A Converter Topology | Multi-Bit Delta-Sigma (24-Bit Resolution) |
| Jitter Reduction System | Digital/Analogue Dual-Nested Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) |
| Digital Oversampling Filter | Psychoacoustically Optimized 4/5 Minimum Phase / 1/5 Linear Phase Filter |
| Analogue Output Filter | Group-Delay Optimized Bessel Filter (> 40 kHz Cutoff) |
| Supported Sampling Frequencies | 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz (16–24 Bit) |
| Digital Audio Inputs | 1x Asynchronous USB (Type-B, MCMI Mode), 1x S/PDIF Coaxial (RCA, 75 Ω), 1x Optical (TOSLINK) |
| Digital Audio Outputs | 1x S/PDIF Coaxial (RCA, 75 Ω, Galvanically Isolated) |
| Analogue Audio Outputs | 1x Stereo Balanced XLR Pair, 1x Stereo Single-Ended RCA Pair |
| Maximum Output Level | Balanced XLR: 4.0 Vrms @ 0 dBFS | Unbalanced RCA: 2.0 Vrms @ 0 dBFS |
| Output Impedance | Balanced XLR: 200 Ω | Unbalanced RCA: 100 Ω |
| Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) | < 0.001% (@ 0 dBFS) |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) | > 110 dB (A-Weighted, @ 0 dBFS) |
| Channel Separation | > 100 dB (@ 1 kHz) |
| Absolute Phase | RCA: In-Phase | XLR: Pin-2 In-Phase |
| System Bus / Automation | MBL SmartLink Inter-Device Communication Network |
| Standby Power Consumption | < 1 VA (Green Standby Mode) |
| Dimensions (W |
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