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Creek Wyndsor Turntable



Creek AR4 Audio Rack

Creek OBH 11 Headphone Amp

Creek OBH 15 Phono Pre-Amp

Creek OBH 18 Phono Pre-Amp

Creek OBH 21 Headphone Amp

Creek OBH 21SE Headphone Amp

Creek OBH 22 Passive Pre-Amp

• External, the front panel product designator now says Creek EVOLUTION 2 Integrated Amplifier
• Functionality the pre-amplifier now provides a separate AV input. Selecting AV switches the input signal direct to the power amplifier. This allows the front channel of a 5.1 Receiver to be amplified by the Creek EVOLTION 2 conveniently.
• The power amplifier section has been upgraded to provide better sonic and measured performance.
• The power amp's open loop gain has been increased by more than x2. This has been achieved by altering the current through its input and voltage gain stages to improve the high frequency gain. Therefore, negative feedback has been reduced, to allow the amplifier to have a higher closed loop gain. The effect is lower distortion and noise.
• The preamplifier has been modified to remove a gain stage after the volume control. This has reduced unwanted noise, improved signal handling and lowered distortion. The distribution of gain in the pre-amp and power amps is now similar to Creek's higher-end Destiny model.
• Unwanted or unnecessary capacitors have been removed from the signal path, in keeping with standard Creek practice.
• Signal paths have been shortened or rationalised to make improvements to cross-talk and interference suppression.
• The power supply has been optimised to improve speed and timing of audio signals.
• Mains transformer size has been optimised to improve performance.

The CREEK EVOLUTION 2 CD Player, which went into full production at the beginning of 2009, is the latest incarnation of Creek Audio's successful entry level Creek EVOLUTION CD Player.The Creek Evolution 2 builds upon the strengths of the original by replacing older technology parts and retaining the best bits, to enhance its overall performance. It is designed to cosmetically match the Creek EVOLUTION 2 Integrated Amplifier, although it will work perfectly with any make hi-fi amplifier.

Casework
The Creek EVOLUTION 2 CD player is housed in a large steel and aluminium case and finished in either a brushed silver or black 12mm thick front panel. Rubber isolation feet help to prevent mechanical vibrations from interfering with its high quality performance. It is physically the same size as the earlier model and matches the tuner and slightly larger integrated amplifier.

Transport
At the heart of a good CD Player is a high quality transport mechanism. The Creek EVOLUTION 2 uses a dedicated CD transport mechanism comprising of custom made drawer loader and high quality laser assembly. Soft rubber bushes help to maintain playability under conditions of mechanical vibration. This brings improved playability strength and smoothness to its operation not bettered by CD players at any price.

CD Decoding
CD decoder and servo motor control functions are performed by a new Philips Compact Disc chip-set. This is now located on a dedicated circuit board mounted directly under the laser assembly for the shortest possible signal routing. This provides the Creek EVOLTION 2 with a self-contained CD transport module. Power supply, digital control, SPDIF output and I2S signals to the DAC are connected to the main board with only two connectors. 

Power supply
The Creek EVOLUTION 2 uses a single high current C core mains transformer, with multiple low voltage output windings, fed from the mains IEC connector via a common mode filter. An external voltage selector allows it to be easily used in all countries. Mains connection is via a standard, fused, IEC chassis plug. A high quality power cord, with suitable mains plug for the country of use is supplied.
To stabilise and isolate the voltages to the various analogue and digital circuits the Creek EVOLUTION 2 uses eight voltage regulators. Digital and analogue power supplies are kept completely separate and even the master clock circuit uses its own power supply.

Low Jitter clock
Essential to a good sounding CD player is a low jitter master clock. The Creek EVOLUTION 2 has been designed to use a highly accurate oscillator module that clocks the data from the CD decoder to the D to A converter and also clocks the system microcontroller with the same frequency. This is done to reduce the internal interference that would otherwise cause sonic performance reductions if allowed to run at a different, asynchronous frequency. The digital I2S data from the decoder is re-clocked to provide a low jitter signal to the DAC.

Digital to analogue converter
Every CD player needs a DAC to recover the analogue signal from the digital recording. The Creek EVOLUTION 2 now has a Burr-Brown PCM 1796 DAC circuit, which is capable of 24 bit/192kHz operation. It provides a balanced current output, so it is necessary to convert this into an unbalanced voltage output before it can be used. Creek do this by using a high grade op-amp.

To eliminate digital artefacts from interfering with the analogue sound quality, analogue filtering and impedance buffering are applied to the signal, also with a high grade op-amp. A gold contact relay is used at the output to mute the signal to ground when the player is stopped and paused.

Gold plated RCA analogue and digital output sockets have been chosen to provide a good connection and appearance for a product at its price point. Optical digital output is also available via a standard TOSLINK connector.

Function controls
The Creek EVOLUTION 2 operates with soft touch buttons on the front panel for Play and Pause, Stop, Open and Close, Track forward, backward and power On/off.  Software controls functions, display and remote control. A visual indication of its status is displayed on a large blue Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD).

A dedicated remote control handset is supplied to operate both the Creek EVOLUTION 2 integrated amplifier and CD player. It cannot operate the Creek EVOLUTION Tuner, which has its own remote control that can control limited amp and CD player functions. It has all the features you would expect, including the ability to dim the brightness of the display. Creek Evolution 2 uses different remote codes to Creek's Destiny products.
Creek have combined a superior set of electronics with sophisticated styling to provide you with a quality product that delivers everything you have come to expect from products manufactured by Creek Audio.

One of the great strengths of Creek Audio through the years has been the ability to produce exceptional tuners. The Evolution AM/FM Tuner carries on that tradition. Styled to complement the Creek Evolution range of integrated amplifier and CD player, and released in 2006, this tuner is the perfect match.

The Creek Destiny integrated amplifier produces world beating audio performance through its use of a unique MOS-FET power amplifier circuit and passive or active pre-amplification. This circuitry continues to outperform alternatives and together with Creek's policy of continuous development, is now better than ever.

The Creek Destiny amplifier is Creek's high-end model which uses all the analogue sound optimisation techniques and components collected over many years in the industry by Mike Creek. Here is what makes the Creek Destiny special:

Power Is Nothing Without Control

Power Supply
300VA low noise toroidal transformer with separate windings for high and low current analogue circuit requirements. Separate ultra-fast Schottky diode full wave bridge rectifiers for each channel. 10 x 2200uF low impedance high temperature reservoir capacitors for each channel to provide 44,000uF in total for maximum isolation and good dynamics. Separate toroidal mains transformer for both standby operation and digital circuit requirements. This keeps standby power consumption below 1W.

Pre-Amp
Volume is adjusted locally and by remote control by a motorized 27mm ALPS Blue Velvet potentiometer.

The Creek Destiny has 5 unbalanced inputs, plus a single tape loop, via gold plated high quality RCA connectors, selected by gold contact relays and indicated by tricoloured LED's.

To separate the pre-amp and power amplifier in the Creek Destiny, a semi-hidden push switch on the rear panel switches signal paths to and from the pre and power amplifier and is carried by double shielded custom audio-grade wiring. The Destiny can be used either with a passive pre-amp or a gain selectable active pre-amp. Selection is in three steps - 3dB, 6dB & 9dB. The gain is adjustable from underneath the pre-amp section with a 3-way slider switch. To select active or passive operation a push button on the front panel and a remote control button switches between the two and is indicated with an LED on the front panel.

The Creek Destiny amp can only accept the high-end plug-in Destiny Phono amplifier. Being fully isolated from the input ground, it is possible to input either MM or MC cartridges in balanced mode. The early range of Phono boards which suit Creek's EVOLUTION 2 & EVOLUTION integrated amp and earlier Creek amplifier models will not fit the Destiny amplifier.

Most types of dynamic headphones can be connected to the standard size 1/4" jack socket on the front panel, for high performance reproduction. Loudspeaker connections are available for 2 pairs of speakers. 8 extremely strong, touch-proof binding posts are bolted to the rear panel and are selected either from the front panel switches or remote control. Loudspeaker connection is controlled locally and by remote control by 2x 8 Amp gold contact relays.

Power-Amp
The Creek Destiny power amplifier section uses an evolution of the unique MOS-FET output stage developed by Alex Nikitin for Creek in 1993. It follows in the path of the famous 5350SE, but uses mostly surface mounted components to reduce the size and increase the quality. Output power from this circuit has been increased to greater than 200W into 4 Ohms, which is substantially greater than the 5350SE.

Amplifier Control Circuitry
The Creek Destiny amp uses a microcontroller that controls the protection of the amplifier and ancillary products under fault conditions. Protection of the amplifier under fault conditions is facilitated by an array of sensors and precision measurement circuits feeding-back information to the microcontroller. It monitors the amplifier constantly for over-temperature, over-current, DC offsets and power supply status and remote control commands. If any of fault conditions is exceeded the microcontroller will take the appropriate corrective action. This can include, muting the input signal, disconnecting the speaker outputs and in extreme cases, switching off the mains supply to the power amplifier circuitry.

Case Design
The Creek Destiny amplifier's metal case has substantial thickness and weight. The casework design uses heavy, custom extruded, aluminium sections which bolt together to make a very rigid and elegant structure. Control knobs and buttons, machined and polished by computer aided manufacturing techniques achieve a very high quality finish. The front panel itself is machined from solid 10mm thick aluminium. Groups of function buttons are clustered together within a machined circle to make it more intuitive to use. 9 tri-colour LED's indicate the functionality. Custom moulded feet are also used to isolate mechanical vibration and improve sonic resolution.

Remote Control
All functions for the Creek Amplifier are remotely controllable and a slim European made system remote control handset called SRC2 is supplied to operate the Creek Amplifier, CD player and Power Amplifier.

   Creek Destiny CD Player

The Creek Destiny CD Player has, over the last 3 years production, established itself as a benchmark in quality standards for CD reproduction. Creek Audio wished to express its desire to produce a truly high-end product range and created Creek Destiny to achieve that aim. One look at its custom-extruded casework will confirm that it is truly a luxury product. Touching its smooth polished lines will also provide a reassuring sense quality and pride of ownership. The brushed 10mm thick aluminium front panel is available in either silver or black finish.

Underneath its 3mm thick aluminium cover lays an ingenious electronic solution to the ever more difficult task of manufacturing a high-end CD player.
The Creek Destiny CD player has been designed ideally to be partnered with the Creek Destiny Integrated Amplifier. It shares the same cosmetic style and also works from a Creek SRC2 System Remote control handset.

Some technical stuff...
Unlike other makes of CD player that use ROM drives, the Creek Destiny does not compromise performance by converting its digital signal into an SPDIF format and back to I2S before its DAC converts the signal into analogue.

The Creek Destiny CD player uses a FPGA programmed by Creek Audio to extract and decode the digital data from the disc, correct reading errors and translate the data into an I2S format that can be read by its internal Digital-to-Analogue-Converter (DAC).

Creek Audio has a long association with Cirrus Logic products and continues to use their Delta-Sigma CS4396 digital-to-analogue-converter, long after it has been superseded by other devices. This decision was made purely on the basis of sound quality, since with its 24bit 192kHz reading capability, the CS4396 far exceeds the resolution of the 16bit 44.1kHz CD format. Re-clocking circuitry is used to eliminate jitter, or timing errors, from corrupting the performance of the Destiny player.

A total of 16 voltage regulated, low-noise, power supplies are used in the Creek Destiny player. All rectifier diodes used in the power supply are Schottky-Barrier types, for low noise, which do not require RF snubbing capacitors. All other power supply decoupling capacitors are audio grade low-impedance 105 degree Centigrade types. Audio signal path passive components are selected for sonic purity, such as high-stability MELF type resistors and film and polypropylene type capacitors.

DAC performance has been enhanced by careful attention to PCB layout. The Creek Destiny CD player uses a modular, low phase noise (5pS) and temperature controlled, master clock oscillator. It also uses separate, instrument grade, OPA134 Op-Amps in the audio output to buffer each channel and the filtering of unwanted digital artefacts is improved. The op-amps in the output are also powered separately from their own low noise voltage regulators. Un-balanced audio output RCA sockets are high quality, solid metal and gold plated. Digital SPDIF output is by co-axial RCA and optical TOSLINK sockets.

To maintain the isolation between digital and analogue supplies, Creek Audio has designed a truly stunning mains power supply for the Creek Destiny, with all components mounted on a thick double sided plated-through-hole PCB. Three separate fully encapsulated PCB mounted toroidal mains transformers are used to completely separate digital and analogue supplies. A multi-element, common mode mains filter is used to prevent interference to, or from, the Creek Destiny power supply. The mains IEC plug with built-in double fuse holder is mounted on the power supply PCB together with the double pole mains switch. A voltage selector switch is accessible from under the case for multiple country operation. All the power supplies are separately connected to the mother and display boards for improved serviceability.

A brief history of CD...
From its European introduction in 1983, CD audio has undergone few fundamental revisions. CD audio is still a 16 bit 44.1 kHz digital replay system. There have been several attempts to kill CD off by introducing compatible and non-compatible high-definition reply systems, such as SACD and DVDA, but they have never really reached market acceptance with consumers. Good old CD has won the day as a music storage medium, due to its high quality-to-cost ratio.

Various attempts have been made by manufactures to increase the performance of the Red Book (audio CD standard) CD player, such as sample rate conversion, but the basic system has always remained the same. Some recording publishers have introduced non Red Book standard discs that have confused the market and have often made CD Player manufacturer's work more difficult, because software revisions are often required to updated or make older CD Players playable. These hurdles have to be overcome before a new CD player is launched and the Destiny CD Player was no exception.

To begin with, in the late 90's and early 2000's the source of good quality, reasonably priced, CD player transports became as rare as hen's teeth. Creek Audio, in 2003 in collaboration with Jeff Kalt of Resolution Audio, produced the CD50mk2 which used an ATAPI DVD-ROM to play CD's and extract raw digital data from the disc. These types of mechanisms were used extensively in DVD replay systems and were therefore thought more likely to be around after all dedicated CD transport manufacturers had disappeared. This hasn't transpired exactly as planned, but many audio manufacturers continue to use DVD drives to extract CD information.

All functions for the CD Player are remotely controllable and a slim European made system remote control handset called SRC2 is supplied to operate the Amplifier, CD player and Power amplifier.