TASCAM's best-selling line of single-rackspace CD players has been updated with the CD-500B. The CD-500B is a slot-loading CD player with a new transport, featuring brushless motors and an edge-grabbing mechanism to prevent disc damage. A front-panel 10-key pad is available for instant access to CD tracks, and flash start is available for instant playback.

The CD-500B supports MP3 and WAV file playback from CD-ROM as well as traditional audio CDs. The CD-500B includes 16% pitch control for CD playback speed. Other features include incremental play, fader start, Call/return to last play point, fade in/out, power on play and more.

A variety of control and interface ports are found onto the rear panel. Both RCA unbalanced and XLR balanced analog outputs are provided, as well as S/PDIF and AES/EBU digital outputs. The CD-500B can be controlled through RS-232C, Parallel, wireless remote control or an optional RC-3F foot switch.

Slot-loading mechanism

RCA unbalanced output

Optical and Coaxial S/PDIF digital outputs

All, single, random, A/B and 99-track program play

Incremental play

Track elapsed, track remain, disc remain time display

Call function: return to last play start point

Intro check

Fade in/out (0 to 10 sec., in 0.5 sec. steps)

Power on play

Frame-accurate search

Skip back play

Activate or deactivate the wireless remote

Relay play with multiple units through 1/8" relay in/out jack

Index search (CD-DA discs) and directory search (MP3 discs)

Mono output

Resume

Fader start / event start

EOM (End of message)

WAV file (up to 48kHz/16bit) and MP3 file (up to 320kbps VBR) playback

Headphone output

RS-232C control

Wireless remote controller included

Footswitch input (for optional RC-3F footswitch)