Teac PD301XB CD Player / FM Tuner (Black)

TEAC PD-301-XB CD Player and FM Tuner

The TEAC PD-301-XB is a slot-loading CD player and FM tuner from TEAC (Tokyo, Japan), part of the Reference 301 series, available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Winner of the VGP 2022 Summer Pure Audio Gold award, the PD-301-XB combines a high-precision slot-load CD drive mechanism with a BurrBrown PCM5142 32-bit DAC, a front-panel USB input for MP3, WMA, AAC, and WAV file playback, and a built-in FM tuner covering 76.0 to 108.9MHz with 20 station presets. Both coaxial (75Ω, RCA) and optical (TOS-link) digital outputs deliver PCM audio from the CD drive and, uniquely, from the FM tuner as well, making the PD-301-XB one of the few players of its type that can route FM reception through an external DAC. The full-aluminum chassis measures 215 x 61 x 238mm and weighs 2.1kg, fitting comfortably on the smallest desktop. Browse our CD players at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada.

BurrBrown PCM5142 32-Bit DAC and Slot-Load Drive

The BurrBrown PCM5142 (Texas Instruments) is a high-performance 32-bit DAC selected for the PD-301-XB for its low distortion characteristics and clean analog output. Via the analog LINE output, the PD-301-XB measures 113dB signal-to-noise ratio and 0.005% total harmonic distortion at 1kHz. The slot-loading CD drive mechanism accepts standard CDs, CD-R, CD-ROM, and CD-RW discs (12cm only; 8cm mini-CDs are not supported), with quick loading times and optional automatic playback initiation on disc insertion. TEAC specifies the slot-load mechanism as designed for professional audio applications, providing a more rigid disc path than a conventional tray and reducing susceptibility to disc wobble during playback. The PD-301-XB is powered by an external AC adapter (GPE-152-120125W), keeping power supply circuitry outside the chassis and away from the analog signal path.

FM Tuner with Digital Output and Full-Metal Chassis

The built-in FM tuner covers 76.0 to 108.9MHz with 20 programmable station presets. A distinguishing feature of the PD-301-XB is that its coaxial and optical digital outputs carry PCM 44.1kHz/16-bit audio from all sources, including the FM tuner, allowing the FM signal to be processed by any external DAC connected downstream. The digital output format is fixed at PCM 44.1kHz/16-bit regardless of source. The full-aluminum body uses aluminum panels for the front, top, and side surfaces, providing an enclosure that is substantially more rigid than plastic-bodied compact players and that minimizes the effect of external vibration on disc reading. The chassis occupies a footprint of 215 x 238mm and stands 61mm tall. The LC display shows ID3 tag information including song title and artist name for MP3, WMA, and AAC files. An auto power-saving mode and automatic CD playback on insertion are both on/off selectable.

Key Features

• BurrBrown PCM5142 32-Bit DAC: Texas Instruments high-performance converter delivering 113dB SNR and 0.005% THD via the analog LINE output.
• Slot-Load CD Drive: High-precision slot-loader for CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW (12cm only). Automatic playback on insertion is selectable. Designed for professional audio applications.
• Built-In FM Tuner: FM 76.0 to 108.9MHz with 20 station presets. Digital output of FM audio available via both coaxial and optical outputs.
• Coaxial and Optical Digital Outputs (Including FM): Both outputs carry PCM 44.1kHz/16-bit from all sources including FM tuner, enabling external DAC processing of FM reception.
• Front-Panel USB Input: MP3 and WMA from disc or USB; AAC (.m4a) and WAV (16-bit, 44.1/48kHz) from USB only. Up to 300 files and 50 folders, FAT16/FAT32.
• Full-Metal Aluminum Body: Aluminum front, top, and side panels. Chassis footprint 215 x 238mm, height 61mm.
• External AC Adapter Power Supply: Included GPE-152-120125W adapter isolates power circuitry from the chassis interior.
• ID3 Tag Display: LC display shows song title and artist name from ID3 tags on MP3, WMA, and AAC files.
• VGP 2022 Summer Pure Audio Gold: Award-recognized performance in the Reference 301 series compact format.
• Card-Type Remote Control: Compact RC-1323 remote included as standard.

Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TEAC PD-301-XB?

The TEAC PD-301-XB is a slot-loading CD player and FM tuner from TEAC's Reference 301 series. It uses a BurrBrown PCM5142 32-bit DAC and measures 113dB SNR and 0.005% THD via the analog LINE output. It includes coaxial and optical digital outputs for CD and FM audio, a front-panel USB input for MP3, WMA, AAC, and WAV files, and a built-in FM tuner with 20 presets covering 76.0 to 108.9MHz. The full-aluminum chassis measures 215 x 61 x 238mm and weighs 2.1kg. The PD-301-XB is available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada.

Does the TEAC PD-301-XB have a digital output for the FM tuner?

Yes. Both the coaxial (RCA, 75Ω) and optical (TOS-link) digital outputs on the PD-301-XB carry PCM 44.1kHz/16-bit audio from all sources, including the built-in FM tuner. This allows the FM signal to be routed to an external DAC or to an integrated amplifier with a digital input, enabling higher-quality digital-to-analog conversion of the FM reception than the internal BurrBrown converter alone. The digital output format is fixed at PCM 44.1kHz/16-bit regardless of source.

What CD and file formats does the TEAC PD-301-XB support?

The PD-301-XB plays CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW discs (12cm standard; 8cm mini-CDs not supported). From disc it plays MP3 (MPEG1/2 Layer-3, 32k to 320kbps) and WMA (ver.9, 32k to 320kbps). From a USB flash drive (FAT16 or FAT32, up to 300 files and 50 folders) it adds AAC (.m4a, MPEG4 AAC-LC) and WAV (16-bit, 44.1kHz or 48kHz). Song title and artist name are displayed via ID3 tags on MP3, WMA, and AAC files.

What is the slot-load mechanism on the TEAC PD-301-XB?

The PD-301-XB uses a slot-loading CD drive that accepts discs directly through a slot in the front panel rather than on an extendable tray. TEAC specifies this mechanism as designed for professional audio applications, with quick disc loading and optional automatic playback initiation on insertion. The slot-load format is inherently more compact and rigid than a tray mechanism, appropriate for the PD-301-XB's small 215 x 238mm footprint. Automatic playback can be switched on or off according to preference.

Can the TEAC PD-301-XB be used as a CD transport with an external DAC?

Yes. The PD-301-XB's coaxial and optical digital outputs both carry PCM 44.1kHz/16-bit audio from the CD drive, allowing connection to any external DAC with an S/PDIF input. Using the digital output bypasses the internal BurrBrown PCM5142 DAC, letting a higher-specification downstream converter handle digital-to-analog conversion. Note that the digital output is fixed at PCM 44.1kHz/16-bit; high-resolution PCM or DSD is not supported.

How many FM station presets does the TEAC PD-301-XB have?

The TEAC PD-301-XB supports 20 FM station presets covering the FM band from 76.0 to 108.9MHz. An FM cable antenna is included in the box for connecting to the rear-panel antenna input. The FM tuner module is integrated into the compact aluminum chassis alongside the CD drive, USB section, and BurrBrown DAC without requiring a separate tuner component.

Where to buy the TEAC PD-301-XB in Toronto, Canada?

The TEAC PD-301-XB is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorized TEAC dealer in Toronto, Canada. Vinyl Sound carries TEAC source components and matching integrated amplifiers and can assist with system pairing and demonstration. Visit vinylsound.ca or call 647-977-1100 for current availability.