The Studer D731 (commonly referred to as the D731 rather than DT731) is a legendary, ultra-premium professional CD player launched in 1993. Built in Switzerland by Studer, it was designed specifically for heavy-duty radio broadcasting and recording studios.
Key Specifications
Disc Format: Standard Audio CD
CD Transport Mechanism: Premium Philips CDM-4 Industrial / CDM-4/39 PRO
Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC): Advanced bitstream setup featuring a Philips TDA1547 converter with noise shaping (Note: Some early production variants utilized the iconic TDA1541A-S1 chip).
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): 100 dB
Dynamic Range: 95 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): 0.006%
Analog Outputs: Balanced XLR studio connections (2V Line Out)
Digital Outputs: Professional AES/EBU connection
Form Factor: 19-inch rack-mount chassis (2U vertical space)
Weight: 7.7 kg to 8 kg
Build and Performance Review
The Studer D731 was engineered to run continuously for decades under harsh studio conditions. While its sister model (the D730) was a flat desktop console, the D731 was optimized for tight rack spaces in radio stations and outdoor broadcast vans.
