Fisher DAC-Z1 CD Changer Review

The Fisher DAC-Z1, one of the components in Fisher’s Professional Digital Reference Series, is a somewhat unconventional and feature-laden CD changer whose performance specifications rank with those of some of today’s most highly regarded single-disc CD players. It can be loaded with up to five discs (3-inch discs can be used without adaptor rings). Unlike CD changers using removable loading magazines or rotating carousels, the DAC-Z1 system resembles a fixed magazine. Pressing one of the DISC eject buttons on the front panel causes a door to hinge down and the selected disc tray to emerge for loading or unloading.

The DAC-Z1 uses two 18-bit digital-to-analog (d/a) converters with eight-times-oversampling (352.8-kHz) digital filtering and a linear-phase analog filter. In addition to the usual analog audio outputs and a front-panel headphone jack with its own level control, the changer has both coaxial and optical digital outputs on its rear apron. (The instruction manual indicates that Fisher’s companion RS-Z1 receiver contains its own D/A conversion circuits and accepts a digital output from the DAC-Z1.)

Among the features of the DAC-Z1 is a disc-title memory that can store titles of up to eight characters for up to 170 discs. Since the titles are linked to the discs’ internal digital coding, whenever one of the discs is played, its stored title appears in large characters in the front-panel display window. The window normally shows the current disc, track, and index numbers and the elapsed playing time on the track. A display button toggles the readout to show the total number of tracks and playing time or the number of unplayed tracks and the remaining playing time on the selected disc. Other displayed information includes the presence (and size) of discs in the five loading trays and the status of the player’s operating features, including intro scan (the beginning of each track on a disc, programmable from 1 to 99 seconds), repeat of one or all tracks or all programmed selections, and random play of up to fifteen tracks from all loaded discs.

The DAC-Z1 allows direct access to any portion of a CD by entering the disc, track, and index numbers. It can be programmed to play up to thirty-two tracks from any or all of the loaded discs in any order. The usual track-stepping and bidirectional, two-speed fast search with audible sound are provided. The compact remote control duplicates all front-panel functions except power switching and headphone volume control, although the procedure for opening the disc compartment is slightly different: Instead of pressing a numbered disc eject button, you press the open/close button and then one of the five disc NUMBER buttons.

The Fisher DAC-Z 1 is a large, handsomely styled, and solidly constructed machine. Its black front panel contrasts with its polished brass feet and trim and wood-grain side panels. The changer measures 19 inches wide, 15 inches deep, and 5-1/8 inches high, and it weighs about 20-1/2 pounds. Price: $899.95.

Lab Tests

The frequency response of the Fisher DAC-Z 1 was +0, —0.3 dB from 10 to 20,000 Hz, and channel levels were matched within 0.025 dB. The output was 2.04 volts from a 0-dB recorded signal. The deemphasis was accurate within ±0.2 dB from 100 to 16,000 Hz.

The total harmonic distortion (THD) plus noise at a 0-dB level was between 0.0024 and 0.0018 percent for frequencies between 20 and 20,000 Hz. At 1,000 Hz, the distortion was typically about 0.0014 percent between —20 and —70 dB, reaching 0.002 percent at 0 dB. The channel separation, identical for both channels, was 95 dB at 20,000 Hz, improving to 120 dB at 1,000 Hz and 128 dB at 100 Hz. The low-level linearity of the d/a converters was very good down to —70 dB, with about a — 1-dB error at —80 dB. At — 90 dB, one channel was almost perfectly accurate while the other showed a — 2-dB error.

The A-weighted noise was — 115 dB (a spectrum analysis showed that this was mostly low-level power-line hum at 60, 180, and 300 Hz). The quantization noise was —97 dB, and the dynamic range (EIAJ) was 99 dB. The frequency (speed) error of the player was a mere —0.0024 percent. The interchannel phase shift ranged between —0.2 and —0.4 degree from 5,000 to 20,000 Hz.

The DAC-Z 1 was impervious to blows on its side plates but would mistrack and shut down if hit moderately hard on the top cover. We tested its error correction with the Pierre Verany #2 test disc; the player tracked the 1,250-micrometer error without a problem, but the 1,500-micrometer error produced brief dropouts. Surprisingly, when playing the tracks containing two closely spaced errors it was able to handle 1,500-micrometer errors without audible mistracking.

The player mechanism was quiet except when changing discs (a characteristic of every changer we have tested). The slew time from the beginning to the end of a disc, and vice versa, was about 3 seconds, an average figure. As with other changers, an appreciable time was required to change discs; depending on the specific tracks accessed at the beginning and end of the change, the elapsed time ranged from 11 to 15 seconds. The headphone volume (with medium-impedance AKG K340 phones) was lower than we prefer for serious listening.

Comments

The Fisher DAC-Z 1 was a pleasant surprise, since we had not seen a Fisher component in recent years whose performance was at or near the state of the art. We hope its companion components are designed to the same standards.

In fact, taking into account its measured performance, features, and quality of construction, the Fisher DAC-Z 1 is one of the better CD players we have used. It is different from most other changers in its control features and layout, but with a little practice it was easy to operate. The “fixed-magazine” changer system makes it as convenient to use for playing a single disc as for a stack of five CD’s. And the disc-title function, though not an exclusive feature, can be useful. Its memories are retained indefinitely, or for up to a month if the player is unplugged, and can be changed at any time.

We were glad to see that the DAC-Z1’s random-play feature randomizes the sequence of discs as well as of tracks. It can also randomize a programmed sequence of selections, providing complete control over program choices.

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