The GLD1.0 Deluxe Media Player from CEN.GRAND represents a premium streaming and server solution that replaces conventional USB output with a specialized PCIe-based transmission system. As stated by the manufacturer, the GLD1.0 is the first consumer audio transport in the world to utilize a dedicated PCIe transmission system. This system is engineered to eradicate jitter, timing inaccuracies, and packet loss—issues that have historically affected even the most advanced USB systems. The GLD1.0 is designed to achieve bit-perfect playback and maintain flawless digital signal integrity, thanks to a fully customized PCIe interface developed internally.
How does this function? Instead of depending on reclocking or asynchronous data buffers to address USB’s constraints, the GLD1.0 presents a strong end-to-end solution. The audio data stream, consisting of zeros and ones, is transmitted through CEN.GRAND’s exclusive POW (Parting of the Ways) dual-channel protocol, utilizing fiber optic and BNC connectors to guarantee accurate clock synchronization. According to the company, this setup allows for native DSD512 and PCM384kHz playback without any sample drops or timing issues.
At the core of the GLD1.0 is a 64-bit Windows platform featuring an x64 CPU architecture and 500GB of internal SSD storage, designed for optimal performance and a user-friendly experience.
The GLD1.0 includes an HDMI video output for easy display integration, supports headless control setups, and operates smoothly with remote desktop solutions such as JRiver applications like JRemote and Gizmo, as well as Windows RDP.
It also offers compatibility with SPDiF digital output (DoP mode), accommodating DSD64 and PCM192 through coaxial, BNC, optical, and AES connectors, while HDMI I2S output is available for DACs with compatible pin configurations.
The transition from USB to PCIe is central to the innovation of the GLD1.0. While USB audio protocols focus on seamless playback, PCIe implements more stringent regulations, even if it necessitates the elimination or interpolation of corrupted data. With PCIe, data is either delivered flawlessly or not at all – there is no smoothing over missing information or making assumptions about what has been lost. Initially created as a high-speed serial interface for computers, PCIe incorporates strong error correction that was once deemed impractical for audio applications.
In contrast to USB audio protocols that prioritize continuous playback (even if it results in occasional data loss), PCIe mandates strict data integrity. With PCIe, data is either received or retransmitted in its entirety – there is no speculation or filling in of gaps. Unlike isochronous USB transfers, PCIe guarantees that all data is accurate before it is utilized.
By addressing the issue at its origin instead of merely compensating for it later, CEN.GRAND asserts that true sound quality is not solely dependent on higher sample rates or high-end DACs, but rather on the initial transmission of the signal. With the introduction of the GLD1.0, the company claims to have not only released a new product but also to have fundamentally reimagined the delivery of digital audio itself.
In terms of music playback, this approach proves beneficial, as stated by CEN.GRAND. The outcome is the retention of micro-dynamics and spatial precision, the removal of interpolation artifacts, and the complete restoration of harmonic content, resulting in a level of realism and coherence that is frequently compromised by more lenient transmission methods. CEN.GRAND’s PCIe solution is not merely a standard PC component. The GLD1.0 employs a unique, custom PCIe device that connects directly with the specially designed hardware and software ecosystem, establishing what the creators describe as a zero-loss digital transport.
Details regarding pricing and delivery have not yet been disclosed.
