Marantz CC-38U BL 5 Disc Carousel CD Changer Player

The Marantz CC-38U BL is a 5-disc carousel CD changer from the late 1990s. It was designed to offer the "Marantz Sound"—known for its warmth and musicality—within a high-capacity carousel format. The "BL" designation typically refers to the black finish of the unit.

1. Audio Quality & Processing

• Digital-to-Analog Conversion: Uses a high-quality 1-bit bitstream DAC, which provides a very smooth, natural sound reproduction compared to the harsher digital sound of budget players from the same era.

• Filter: Features a 20-bit 8-times oversampling digital filter, which helps eliminate ultrasonic noise and ensures a cleaner signal before it reaches your amplifier.

• Frequency Response: 2 Hz – 20 kHz (pm 0.5 dB).

• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >90 dB.

2. Playback & Operational Features

• Carousel Design: Holds up to 5 discs. You can change up to two discs while a third is currently playing, allowing for uninterrupted music sessions.

• Play Modes: Standard, Shuffle (across all 5 discs), and Programmed playback (up to 30 tracks).

• CD-Text Support: If the CD was mastered with CD-Text, the CC-38U can display the track and artist names on its fluorescent display.

• Synchro Recording: When connected to a Marantz tape deck via the D-Bus system, it can synchronize the start of the CD playback with the start of the recording.

3. Connectivity

• Analog Output: 1 set of gold-plated Stereo RCA jacks for high-quality signal transfer to receivers like your Sony STR-DB930 or Marantz Cinema Series.

• Digital Output: 1 Coaxial (RCA) digital output. This allows you to bypass the internal DAC and send the raw digital signal to an external processor or the high-end DACs.