Owner’s Manual
RCD-961
Stereo Compact Disc Player
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English
Figure 1: Controls and Connections
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2
3
4
5
6
10 11 12 13
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15 16
17
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Figure 2: RR-D94 Remote Control
OPN/CLS
A
1
4
7
0
2
5
8
3
6
9
TIME
CLEAR
REV
G
H
I
B
10
PROG
J
REPEAT
SCAN
C
D
E
RANDOM
SEARCH
K
L
TRACK
STOP
PAUSE
PLAY
F
M
N
RR-D94
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RCD-961 Stereo Compact Disc Player
Figure 3: Analog Outputs
ROTEL RCD-961
ROTEL RA-1070
EXT REM
IN
IR OUT
12V TRIGGER OUT
COMPUTER I/O
1
2
1
2
INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER
MODEL NO. RA-1070
POWER CONSUMPTION: 400W
AUX
1
IN
TAPE
2
DVD
/VIDEO
OUT
SPEAKER IMPEDANCE
AND OHMS MINIMUM
OR OHMS MINIMUM
A
A
B
–
4
8
B
–
TUNER
IN
PRE OUT
1
2
TAPE
1
SPEAKERS
A
SPEAKERS
B
CD
OUT
LEFT
RIGHT
LEFT
RIGHT
LEFT
PHONO
AUX
2
RIGHT
SWITCHED 200W MAX.
RIGHT
LEFT
RIGHT
LEFT
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK,
DO NOTEXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE
Figure 4: Digtial Outputs
ROTEL RCD-961
D/A CONVERTER
DIGITAL INPUT
COAX OPTI
R
ANALOG OUTPUT
L
ROTEL RA-1070
EXT REM
IN
IR OUT
12V TRIGGER OUT
COMPUTER I/O
1
2
1
2
INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER
MODEL NO. RA-1070
POWER CONSUMPTION: 400W
AUX
1
IN
TAPE
2
DVD
/VIDEO
OUT
SPEAKER IMPEDANCE
AND OHMS MINIMUM
OR OHMS MINIMUM
A
A
B
–
4
8
B
–
TUNER
IN
PRE OUT
1
2
TAPE
1
SPEAKERS
A
SPEAKERS
B
CD
OUT
LEFT
RIGHT
LEFT
RIGHT
LEFT
PHONO
AUX
2
RIGHT
SWITCHED 200W MAX.
RIGHT
LEFT
RIGHT
LEFT
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK,
DO NOTEXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE
5
English
Save the RCD-961 shipping carton and all
enclosed packing material for future use.
Shipping or moving the RCD-961 in anything
other than the original packing material may
result in severe damage that is not covered
by the warranty.
Contents
About Rotel
Figure 1: Controls and Connections
Figure 2: RR-D94 Remote Control
Figure 3: Analog Outputs
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A family whose passionate interest in music
led them to manufacture high fidelity compo-
nents of uncompromising quality founded Rotel
over 40 years ago. Through the years that
passion has remained undiminished and the
family goal of providing exceptional value for
audiophiles and music lovers regardless of their
budget, is shared by all Rotel employees.
Figure 4: Digtial Outputs
Fill out and send in the owner’s registration
card packed with the RCD-961. Also be sure
to keep the original sales receipt. It is your
best record of the date of purchase, which you
will need in the event warranty service is re-
quired.
About Rotel .......................................... 5
Getting Started ..................................... 5
A Few Precautions
Placement
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The engineers work as a close team, listen-
ing to, and fine tuning each new product until
it reaches their exacting musical standards.
They are free to choose components from
around the world in order to make that product
the best they can. You are likely to find ca-
pacitors from the United Kingdom and Ger-
many, semi conductors from Japan or the
United States, while toroidal power transform-
ers are manufactured in Rotel’s own factory.
Control Identification
Placement
AC Power and Control ........................... 6
Use common sense when placing the RCD-961
in a cabinet or when stacking other equip-
ment. Make sure that the shelf or cabinet can
support its weight. Do not stack heavy com-
ponents on top of the RCD-961. Avoid plac-
ing the unit where it may be subject to excessive
heat such as on top of a large power ampli-
fier or near a heat register. For best perfor-
mance, avoid placing the unit where it may
be subject to vibration, such as near a speaker.
AC Power Input
Power Switch
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and Power Indicator
Output Connections ............................... 6
Analog Outputs
Digital Output
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Rotel’s reputation for excellence has been
earned through hundreds of good reviews and
awards from the most respected reviewers in
the industry, who listen to music every day.
Their comments keep the company true to its
goal - the pursuit of equipment that is musi-
cal, reliable and affordable.
Operation ............................................. 6
Infrared Remote Control
Display
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Control Identification
Disc Drawer
The cover of this manual has a fold out panel
that shows illustrations of the front and rear
panels and the RR-D94 remote control. Each
item in the illustrations is identified with a call
out in a gray box. Through out this manual
the items refered to in the text are identified
by the corresponding call out. The items on
the front and rear panels are identified with
Transport Control Buttons ...................... 7
All of us at Rotel, thank you for buying this
product and hope it will bring you many hours
of enjoyment.
OPEN/CLOSE Button
PLAY Button
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STOP Button
PAUSE Button
Getting Started
TRACK Buttons
DIRECT ACCESS Buttons
SEARCH Buttons
Thank you for purchasing the Rotel RCD-961
Stereo Compact Disc Player. Its precision trans-
port is back up by an 18-bit equivalent, multi-
level Delta-Sigma D/A converter with 8x
oversampling and HDCD®. These features,
combined with Rotel’s Balanced Design, en-
sure the RCD-961 will deliver the highest level
of audio performance. When used in a high-
quality audio system, your Rotel CD player
will provide years of enjoyment.
a number call out, such a
the remote control are labeled with a letter
call out, such as
. The items on
.
Additional Features ............................... 7
HDCD®
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PROGRAM Button
REVIEW Button
CLEAR Button
RANDOM Button
REPEAT Button
SCAN Button
TIME Button
, HDCD®, High Definition Compatible
Digital® and Pacific Microsonics™ are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of
Pacific Microsonics, Inc. in the United States
and/or other countries.HDCD system
manufactured under license from Pacific
Microsonics, Inc. This product is covered by
one or more of the following: In the USA:
5,479,168, 5,638,074, 5,640,161,
5,808,574, 5,838,274, 5,854,600,
5,872,531 and in Australia: 669114. Other
patents pending.
A Few Precautions
Please read this manual carefully. In addition
to installation and operating instructions, it pro-
vides valuable information on various RCD-961
system configurations as well as general infor-
mation that will help you get optimum perfor-
mance from your system. Please contact your
authorized Rotel dealer for answers to any
quesions you might have. In addition, all of us
at Rotel welcome your questions and comments.
Troubleshooting ..................................... 9
Power Indicator Is Not Lit
Fuse Replacement
No Sound
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9
Specifications ........................................ 9
6
RCD-961 Stereo Compact Disc Player
AC Power and Control
AC Power Input
Output Connections
Operation
The RCD-961 gives you a choice of two dif-
ferent kinds of output connections — an analog
output signal from the built-in D/A converter
for use with conventional analog audio com-
ponents and a coax digital output which pro-
vides an unprocessed digital data signal for
use with outboard D/A converters or digital
processors.
The RCD-961 can be operated using its front
panel buttons or from corresponding buttons
on the supplied infrared remote control. Spe-
cific instructions for each of these controls are
detailed below. Most of the buttons are du-
plicated on the front panel and on the IR re-
mote control. However, there are a few ex-
ceptions where the buttons are only available
on one or the other. These exceptions are noted
in the instructions.
Your RCD-961 is configured at the factory for
the proper AC voltage in the country where
you purchased it (either 115 volts or 230/
240 volts. The AC line configuration is noted
on a decal on the back panel.
Note: Should you move your CD player to
another country, it may be possible to
reconfigure it for use on a different line
voltage. Do not attempt to perform this
conversion yourself. Opening the enclosure
of the RCD-961 exposes you to dangerous
voltages. Consult a qualified service person
or the Rotel factory service department for
information.
Note: To prevent loud noises that neither
you nor your speakers will appreciate,
make sure the CD player is turned off when
you make any signal connections.
Infrared Remote Control
Before using the IR remote control, it is nec-
essary to install two “UM-4/AAA” batteries
(supplied). Remove the plastic cover on the
back of the IR remote, install the batteries (ob-
serving the + and – polarity indications), and
reinstall the cover.
Analog Outputs
[See Figure 3 for wiring illustration]
A pair of standard RCA jacks supplies an
analog output signal from the RCD-961 to the
source inputs of an audio preamplifier, in-
tegrated amplifier, or receiver.
The RCD-961 should be plugged directly into
a 2-pin polarized wall outlet or into the
switched outlet on another component in your
audio system. Do not use an extension cord.
To use the IR remote control, aim it at the IR
sensor
located in the Display area on the
front panel of the RCD-961.
Select high quality audio interconnect cables.
Connect the left channel output of the RCD-961
to the left channel source input on the pream-
plifier or other component. Connect the right
output of the RCD-961 to the right channel
source input on the preamplifier or other com-
ponent.
Be sure the power switch on the front panel
of the RCD-961 is turned off (in the “out”
position). Then, connect the supplied power
cord to the AC power receptacle on the rear
of the unit and the AC power outlet.
Display
A lighted Display on the front panel of the
RCD-961 provides useful information about
the status of the unit, activation of special
features, and track/time information for the
disc being played. Each of these indicators
is described in the detailed operating instruc-
tions that follow.
If you are going to be away from home for
an extended period of time such as a month-
long vacation, it is a sensible precaution to
unplug your CD player (as well as other au-
dio and video components) while you are
away.
Digital Output
[See Figure 4 for wiring illustration]
If you are using an outboard D/A converter
or other digital processor, you will need an
unprocessed digital data stream from the
RCD-961, taken before the built-in D/A con-
verter. This signal is supplied by the RCD-961’s
back-panel digital output jack. Using a stan-
dard 75 ohm coax digital cable, connect the
RCD-961’s coax digital output to the coax
digital input connector on the outboard D/A
converter.
Power Switch
Indicator
and Power
The power switch is located on the front panel
of your CD player. To turn the CD player on,
push the switch in. The LED indicator above
the switch and the Display will light up, indi-
cating that the CD player is turned on. To turn
the CD player off, push the button again and
return it to the “out” position.
Disc Drawer
A motor-driven disc drawer, located in the
center of the RCD-961, slides out to accept a
compact disc and retracts to play the disc. Place
the compact disc in the drawer label-side up.
Make sure the disc is properly centered in the
tray. The drawer can be closed in two ways:
pushing the OPN/CLS button or pushing the
PLAY button.
Note: If you are using a switched outlet to
turn on and off your CD player, you should
leave the power switch in the “on” position.
When AC power is applied to the unit, it
will power up in fully active mode.
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English
There is also a four by four matrix of track
numbers (1 – 16) located at the right side of
the display. This display indicates all of the
tracks on the disc. If there are more than 16
tracks on the disc, all of the digits will light
accompanied by the word OVER, regardless
of which track is playing. This matrix is inde-
pendent of the main numeric area of the Dis-
play, which will always indicate the currently
playing track, even if above 16.
PAUSE Button
Transport Control Buttons
These buttons provide basic control functions
for the disc transport mechanism. Except where
noted, all functions are available on the
RCD-961 front panel and the IR remote con-
trol. The numbered call outs
This button is used to temporarily suspend play.
The disc continues to spin and play will be
resumed from the current position. The PAUSE
indicator will light in the Display. To resume
playing the disc, press the PAUSE button again
or press the PLAY button.
OPEN/CLOSE Button
TRACK Buttons
When the transport disc drawer is closed,
pressing this button automatically opens the
drawer. To close the drawer, press this but-
ton again. The drawer can also be closed by
pressing the PLAY button
These buttons are used to select tracks on the
disc. When a disc is playing, pressing the right
TRACK button advances to the beginning of
the next track. Pressing the left TRACK but-
ton returns to the beginning of the current track.
Pressing twice quickly in succession returns
to the beginning of the previous track. The new
track number appears in the Display.
The DIRECT ACCESS buttons may also be used
to memorize tracks in PROGRAM mode (see
below).
SEARCH Buttons
When the drawer is open, the Display will read
“OPEN”. When it is closed with no disc, the
display will read “NO DISC”. When the
drawer closes with a disc inserted, the Dis-
play will indicate the number of tracks on the
disc and the total time of the disc in minutes
and seconds.
These buttons fast forward or fast reverse
through the currently playing disc as long as
they are pressed. While the buttons are
pressed, you will hear high-speed audio.
Releasing the buttons returns to PLAY mode.
These buttons are also used to select a track
before pressing the PLAY button or when
memorizing tracks for the PROGRAM play
mode (see below). These selections are made
by continuously pressing the TRACK buttons
until the desired track is reached.
Additional Features
PLAY Button
These convenience features add extra func-
tionality to the RCD-961, including the abil-
ity to play high-definition HDCD discs, to
memorize a group of tracks to be played, to
repeat a disc, program, or track over and over,
to play the tracks on a disc in random order,
to automatically play the first 10 seconds of
each track, and to select from several avail-
able time displays.
In PROGRAM mode, the TRACK buttons ad-
vance or reverse to the next track in the memo-
rized selection list.
Press the PLAY button to start playing the disc.
If the disc drawer is open, it will close auto-
matically. The number of the track being played
and the elapsed time will be shown in the
display, along with the PLAY indicator. Nor-
mally, the disc will start playing with the first
track. However, you can select a different track
using the TRACK buttons or the DIRECT AC-
CESS buttons (see below) before pressing the
PLAY button to start playing a different selec-
tion.
DIRECT ACCESS Buttons
(remote only)
These eleven numeric buttons (labeled 1
through 10 and >10) are used to directly ac-
cess a track from the IR remote control instead
of stepping through the tracks using the TRACK
buttons.
HDCD®
HDCD® is an encoding technique that allows
a CD to have greater effective dynamic range,
reduced distortion, and increased detail. When
playing HDCD encoded discs, the RCD-961
can reproduce as much as 18-bit dynamic
range. HDCD discs are indentified by an
HDCD logo on the package.
The first ten tracks on a disc can be selected
by pressing the corresponding button. For
example, to play the third track, press the 3
button on the remote control.
STOP Button
This button stops a disc that is playing and
resets the player, i.e. if play is resumed, the
disc will start over from the first track. Press-
ing the STOP button twice quickly in succes-
sion cancels any programmed selections (see
below).
When accessing track numbers greater than
10, press the>10 button followed by the track
number. For example, to select track 12, press
the >10 button followed by the 1 button and
then the 2 button.
No user action is required to play an HDCD
recording. The CD player automatically senses
HDCD encoding and enables the circuitry. The
HDCD LED on the front panel will light to in-
dicate that an HDCD disc is being played.
The number of the selected track will appear
in the main numeric area at the center of the
Display.
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RCD-961 Stereo Compact Disc Player
PROGRAM Button
When a PROGRAM has been memorized,
most functions that would normally effect
the entire disc operate on just the memo-
rized program. For example, the TRACK
buttons advance to the next track in the
memorized program, not the next track on
the disc. Likewise, the REPEAT button (see
below) continuously plays the memorized
program, not the entire disc.
RANDOM Button
This button, labeled PROG, allows you to
memorize as many as 20 tracks on the cur-
rent disc for playback in a specific order. For
example, you could instruct the RCD-961 to
play track 5, followed by track 3, followed
by track 8. To begin a program:
This instructs the CD player to play tracks from
the entire disc in random order. Once all of
the selections have been played once, the disc
will stop playing, unless the REPEAT Button
(see below) has been engaged, in which case
the random play will continue until the STOP
button is pressed. When the RANDOM but-
ton is engaged, the word RANDOM appears
in the Display.
1 Insert a disc and press the OPEN/CLOSE
button to close the drawer. The RCD-961
will read the contents of the disc.
REVIEW Button
2 Press the PROGRAM button on the front
panel or the remote control. The PROGRAM
indicator will light up in the Display, along
with “P:00” indicating that the unit is wait-
ing for the first track to be memorized.
This button is used to review the memorized
tracks in PROGRAM mode. Press the button
and the first memorized track number will
appear in order in the Display, flashing for
approximately five seconds. Pressing the
REVIEW button again while the track num-
ber is flashing will continue the review se-
quence, showing the next memorized track.
Continue pressing the REVIEW button to see
the complete memorized track list.
REPEAT Button
This button allows you to repeat the current
track or the entire disc continuously until the
feature is cancelled by disengaging the RE-
PEAT button or pressing STOP. The REPEAT
button steps sequentially through the avail-
able options. Press the button once and the
RCD-961 will repeat just the current track, dis-
playing the indicators REPEAT 1 in the Dis-
play. Press the button a second time and the
RCD-961 will repeat the entire disc, display-
ing REPEAT ALL in the Display. Press the but-
ton a third time to cancel the REPEAT func-
tion.
3. To program tracks from the handheld re-
mote control, enter the first track number
using the DIRECT ACCESS buttons. Your
selection will be memorized automatically
and the Display indicator will change to
“P:01”, indicating that one track has been
memorized. Continue entering the rest of
your selections using the DIRECT ACCESS
buttons. Note that there is no need to press
the PROGRAM button as each selection
is memorized as it is entered.
If you do not press the REVIEW button while
the track number is flashing, the review pro-
cess is terminated and the unit resumes what-
ever mode it was in before you started to
review, except that the last reviewed track
number will remain active and shown in the
display.
As noted above, REPEAT can be used in con-
junction with the RANDOM play feature.
4. To program tracks from the front panel, select
the first track number using the TRACK
buttons. The track number and the pro-
gram number in the display will flash for
3 seconds. While the display is flashing,
press the PROGRAM button to memorize
your selection. Note that once the flash-
ing stops, you will no longer be able to
memorize your selection. To memorize
additional tracks, select them with the
TRACK buttons, pressing the PROGRAM
button after each selection.
Note: The REPEAT function is automati-
cally cancelled when the disc drawer is
opened.
Note that you may remove a selection from
the play list during the review procedure us-
ing the CLEAR button, as described below.
CLEAR Button
(remote only)
SCAN Button
This feature automatically plays the first ten
seconds of each track on the disc (or the memo-
rized program). To activate the feature, press
the SCAN button. The word INTRO appears
in the Dis play. To stop scanning and resume
normal operation at the current track, press
the SCAN button again or press the PLAY
button.
This button allows you to remove a track se-
lection from the memorized program play list
during the review procedure described above.
Follow the review procedure until the desired
track number is flashing. Then, instead of
pressing the REVIEW button to continue, re-
move the displayed track by pressing the
CLEAR button while the number is still flash-
ing. You may then continue the review pro-
cedure.
Once you have memorized a play list, the
RCD-961 remains in PROGRAM mode until
you open the disc drawer or press the STOP
button twice in succession. If you press the
PLAY button, the memorized program will
play instead of the entire disc, starting with
the first selection in the memorized list.
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English
TIME Button
Fuse Replacement
Normally, the RCD-961 displays the elapsed
time of the currently playing track. The TIME
button allows you to step through two al-
ternative time displays. Pressing the button once
displays the time remaining in the current track,
which counts down as the track continues play-
ing. Pressing the button a second time displays
the time remaining on the entire disc (or memo-
rized program). Pressing the button a third
time reverts to the standard elapsed time dis-
play. When the TIME feature is activated, the
word REMAIN appears in the Display.
If another electrical device works when plugged
into the power outlet, but the Power Indica-
tor and the Display still will not light when the
RCD-961 is plugged into the wall outlet, it in-
dicates that the internal power fuse may have
blown. If you believe this has happened, con-
tact your authorized Rotel dealer to get the
fuse replaced.
No Sound
Check the cables between the RCD-961 and
the amplifier inputs to be sure they are con-
nected properly. Be sure the amplifier input
that the RCD-961 is selected. Be sure the tape
monitor system of the amplifier has not been
activated. Check the wiring between the
amplifer and the speakers.
Troubleshooting
Most difficulties in audio systems are the re-
sult of incorrect connections, or improper
control settings. If you encounter problems,
isolate the area of the difficulty, check the con-
trol settings, determine the cause of the fault
and make the necessary changes. If you are
unable to get sound from the RCD-961, re-
fer to the suggestions for the following con-
ditions:
Specifications
Power Indicator Is Not Lit
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise
Intermodulation Distortion
Frequency Response (± 0.5 dB)
Channel Balance
0.0045% @ 1kHz
0.0045% @ 1kHz
20-20,000 Hz
± 0.5 dB
The Power Indicator and the basic items in
the Display window should be lit whenever
the RCD-961 is plugged into the wall power
outlet and the Power button is pushed in. If it
does not light, test the power outlet with an-
other electrical device, such as a lamp. Be sure
the power outlet being used is not controlled
by a switch that has been turned off.
Phase Linearity
± 0.5 degree
> 98 dB @ 1kHz
> 100dB
Channel Separation
Signal to Noise Ratio
Dynamic Range
> 96 dB
Digital to Analog Converters
18 bit equivalent, multi-level Delta-Sigma DAC with
8x oversampling digital filter and HDCD
Speed Accuracy, Wow & Flutter
Output Impedance
Digital Output
Quartz Crystal Precision
100 Ohms
0.5 Volt, Peak to Peak
75 Ohms
Load Impedance
Power Requirements
USA Version
AC 115V, 60 Hz
AC 230V, 50 Hz
European Version:
Power Consumption
Dimensions (W, H, D)
20 Watts
173/8 x 27/8 x 127/16 inches
440 x 72 x 316 mm
Weight (net)
5.4 kg, 11.9 lb.
All specifications are accurate at the time of printing. Rotel reserves the right to make improvements without
notice.
Rotel and the Rotel HiFi logo are registered trademarks of The Rotel Co, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.
, HDCD® High Definition Compatible Digital® and Pacific Microsonics™ are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Pacific Microsonics, Inc, in the United States and /or other countries.
The Rotel Co. Ltd.
10-10 Shinsen-Cho
Shibuya-Ku
Tokyo 150-0045
Japan
Phone: +81 3-5458-5325
Fax: +81 3-5458-5310
Rotel of America
54 Concord Street
North Reading, MA 01864-2699
USA
Phone: +1 978-664-3820
Fax: +1 978-664-4109
Rotel Europe
Meadow Road
Worthing, West Sussex BN11 2RX
England
Phone: +44 (0)1903 524 813
Fax: +44 (0)1903 524 831
Rotel Deutschland
Kleine Heide 12
D-33790 Halle/Westf.
Germany
Phone: +49 05201-87170
Fax: +49 05201-73370
www.rotel.com
082 OMRCD-961 012501
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