Unitra CSH-801, the persistence of memory

If anything makes me laugh sarcastically, it is the proliferation on social media of prophets predicting the demise of any given technology. Eye-catching images that seem to be shouting and warning the world that something is ceasing to exist, while praising the virtues of the new product, yet to be born for the general public...

And there is a big difference between losing dominance in a sector and ceasing to exist. Compact discs were a great advance at the time because of their silence and more relaxed musical passages. Where vinyl failed in most systems. And it was terrible compared to vinyl, where vinyl worked like a charm, that is, with all other music. It was born prematurely, and this weighed it down for a long time. At first, due to the technological limitations of that period. Later, due to the compatibility of what already existed.

And, no less important or significant, due to the necessary change in mentality within the world of sound technicians. It was not a matter of putting the analog signal into the digital spectrum, but of thinking and living in the digital environment, just as had been done for decades in the analog environment. This necessary transition gave rise to most of the criticism of the format and the stubborn refusal of a significant portion of enthusiasts to adapt.

Add to all this the disproportionate retail prices of albums released in this format, and you have the perfect recipe for a resounding failure. And yet it was a success. Because it was, and is, good.

A few days ago, I published a detailed article on another product from the Polish brand Unitra, in which I wrote about the Unitra WSH-605 integrated amplifier. Today it is the turn of its dance partner in that analysis, the Unitra CSH-801 CD player.

Unitra CSH-801 CD player

Maintaining a vintage aesthetic throughout the product, and with perfect visual integration with the Unitra WSH-605 integrated amplifier, although those lucky enough to want to further enhance the look of their music system should not overlook the Unitra WSH-805 with its VU meters moving to the beat of the music. I'm from the eighties and that's where my heart lies. Many things have improved since then, but so what?

In the previous article on the Unitra integrated amplifier, I talked about the reliability and durability of its components to ensure a long life. Well, here too, they have not overlooked this element and have equipped their transport mechanism with a system that needs no introduction. I am referring to the TEAC CD5020B-AT, possibly the best CD transport available in the conventional tray format. We will leave aside other much more expensive systems based on the immobility of the CD during playback, using heavy components with transport systems that can weigh many kilos. Returning to the TEAC tray, this is a component that several internationally renowned manufacturers use in their creations, including, of course, TEAC, but also Atoll, Primare, Tascam, and Musical Fidelity. I'm sure I'm forgetting some brands, but these are the ones I can remember.

The variety of brands that rely on this mechanism should be enough, but I want to highlight the least audiophile of them, Tascam, as it comes from the professional world and its priority is the reliability and durability of its components. Unitra also uses these parameters, although it logically incorporates its own signature to provide a finish and product that matches the price.

Continuing with the most striking features of the CD player, we have its e-ink display screen. Yes, like the e-books we all have. The reason, however, is not the same. Screens and high fidelity are a problem. Screens produce a lot of electrical noise that is easily transmitted to the online audio signal. For this reason, it is not quite correct to think that all-in-one devices with large color screens are very respectful of the music signal. They are extremely beautiful and aesthetic, but not very audiophile. The solutions adopted by different manufacturers who have it in their DNA to maintain strict control over electrical contamination at the most critical points of their systems are varied, although they all seek the same thing. From simple, monochrome screens like calculators to the total absence of them, with only a track number display.

Unitra has adopted a 3.69-inch screen with a resolution of 480 x 280 pixels. Due to its topology, it is practically silent in terms of electrical noise. It is also reasonably practical. It displays basic information about the CD inserted, or extended information if the CD is of the latest generation, such as the name of the album and the track currently playing, as well as the typical time counter, track position, etc. I use the term reasonably practical because if you are close to the player, you can read everything correctly, but at listening distance, you only get an illuminated screen, nothing else.

As part of the integrated system's ease of use, we have a remote control that can control both products, the amplifier and the player, allowing us to do what we love so much, which is to operate our music system without getting off the couch. Never do anything that doesn't need to be done while enjoying music; this is almost a motto in my life.

As it is a player, not just a CD transport, it has a built-in 32-bit DAC. In my tests, I also used an external DAC to compare the results, and I was very surprised by them. This is not clickbait, as you can read a little further down.

Equipment used in testing

Sound source:
» Unitra CSH-801
»NuprimeDAC 9X
» Roon Server
» Qobuz Studio
Power amplification:
» Unitra WSH-605
Speakers:
» RadioTehnika Giant FS-100N
Cables:
» Wires4Music for wiring:
    » Horus Hybrid RCA interconnect
    » Evolution in speakers and power supply
HiFi rack:
» Artesanía Audio Exoteryc Rack PRO

Impressions of using the Unitra CSH-801

The opening and closing of the CD tray gives the first and lasting impression of a product in this range. It operates smoothly, with a feeling of stability and without rattling. As the tray is removable, you don't get the unpleasant feeling you get with players that mechanically insert the CD. The care and attention we give to our discography is maintained with this tray format.

Reading and getting ready to play is reasonably fast, without standing out in any way; we could say it's normal for audio. I want to point out here that multi-purpose reading devices, designed for computing, are much faster at starting up... and errors. This is another world.

Internal DAC or external DAC?

Since the Unitra CSH-801 can be used as a CD transport, I wanted to try using an external DAC to assess the differences and, at the same time, the quality of the DAC included in the CD player itself. My initial premise was as follows: "With a high-quality DAC that I have thoroughly tested, such as the NuPrime DAC 9X, I will be able to listen to music in a similar way to what I am used to, with albums that are reference points for me." Wrong, that was not the case at all.

Here I want you to read everything I write carefully, because the information is in the details. We have to take two types of albums and recordings:

The first: recordings with which I am very conditioned and accustomed to a type of sound and sonic result. This point is unfortunate for those of us who write and test things, as we have to fight against this every day. Ordinary fans succumb to this mistake and problem.

The second: historical recordings; however, they are not part of our usual listening habits. They are in our memory, although more forgotten. In this group, there is no such strong conditioning component, as it is the most distant memory that keeps the memory of that music alive. This is where I would like to live constantly and not have to fight my personal ghosts.

Well, in the first case, my response could not have been more disappointing using the external DAC. My NuPrime DAC sounded vulgar and simple. I had to connect it to my Roon Nucleus One server and listen to what happened, keeping the Unitra amplification. The result was once again satisfactory, with the characteristics I described in my previous article dedicated to the Unitra WSH-605. Without abandoning my determination to get as close as possible to the truth—my truth!—I retrieved the same recording, but played it back using the CD player's line output, that is, using its internal DAC, and my face lit up with satisfaction once again.

To finish off this matter, I had to connect the transport to another external DAC and get to the end, but... life gives you gifts that are not so nice. For personal reasons, I was unable to find the time or the motivation to do anything else for a long time. For this reason, I consider my analysis in this regard to be incomplete and can only note the poor synergy between Unitra and NuPrime in my room.

And in the second case, with recordings with little recent experience, as they are all quite old, the obvious choice was to use the internal DAC, no matter what. Not because of everything mentioned above, but because of my connection and love for that wonderful sound that filled us with joy years ago and which, incomprehensibly, has been lost. I demand and claim it publicly. Let's forget about the single path and enjoy the many paths that music and its reproduction give us. To avoid repeating myself, please read the previous section on the Unitra integrated amplifier and consider this one its blood brother.

Final conclusions

If the signs point the way, without a doubt, the Unitra CSH-801 CD player has all the elements to be a durable and reliable device over the years. In a world where things expire two days after leaving the factory, it is a pleasure to be able to feel secure in a product.

Its vintage aesthetic is a constant attraction within the music system. Paired with one of the brand's two integrated amplifiers, they achieve guaranteed synergy, which can be more delicate with other products.

For all enthusiasts who have an extensive discography in this format and want to experience another way of listening to and understanding music, this is a product to be valued and taken into account.

Recommended discography