FRONT PANEL CONTROLS

1. POWER ON/OFF

Press this button to switch on the power to the disc Press again and release to switch the power off. The display will light up to indicate the unit is switched on and ready for use.

2. DISC DRAWER

To play a disc, press the OPEN button to open the disc drawer. Place the CD within the large circular recess in the drawer, with its transparent playing surface facing down. The label must face UP. CD-3 discs (3-inch CD “singles”) can be played without the aid of an adapter. Place the disc in the drawer, centered in the smaller circular recess, with its label facing UP.

NOTE: This player was not designed to accommodate a “damping disc” placed on a CD, nor two CDs stacked together. It plays audio CDs, but not discs identified as CD-V, DVD, CD-I, CD-ROM, or PHOTO CD. Refer also to chapter “A note on CD-R and CD-RW audio discs”.

no dISC When no disc is present or when you load a disc that cannot be read (because it is dirty or is upside-down) “no dISC” lights up in the display.

REMOTEplayer. RECEIVER An infrared sensor, located at the right- hand portion of the display window, receives commands from the remote control. There must be a clear line-of-sight path from the remote control to this window; if that path is obstructed, the remote control may not work.

HDCD® indicator This indicator will light up when an HDCD® encoded disc is played. For more information on HDCD® refer to chapter “HDCD”.

4. OPEN

Press this button to open the disc drawer, and press it again to close the drawer. If this button is pressed while a disc is being played, playback will stop, the pickup will reset to the beginning of the disc and the drawer will open. Opening the drawer will also delete the players memory for Program Play. When the disc drawer is open, the drawer-closing mechanism can also be activated by pressing PLAY or by gently pushing the drawer inward.

3.

 

DISPLAY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: The disc drawer is opened and closed by an internal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

motor. Do not close the drawer by hand with the power off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The display provides information about playback status and about the

 

 

 

optical

pickup’s

location

on

 

the

 

disc.

 

The

displayed

track/time

 

 

 

information is

obtained

by

reading

inaudible

“sub-codes”

in the

When the drawer closes, the player scans the disc’s TOC (Table Of

 

 

disc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contents) and displays the total number of tracks and playing time

 

TRACK

 

NUMBEREach

disc

is

segmented

into

numbered

 

 

on the disc. If you press PLAY to close the drawer this information

 

 

tracks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

is skipped, and play commences immediately at Track 1.

 

when the recording is made; typically each numbered track will

 

 

 

correspond

to

a

different

 

song,

symphonic

movement,

etc.

These

 

 

 

track numbers

are

identified

 

on

the

CD

package

and

are

 

5. PLAY/PAUSE

 

 

 

 

encoded

 

 

 

in the

disc

by

its

manufacturer. In

some

CDs,

at

 

 

 

 

 

This dual-function button alternates between starting and stopping

 

the manufacturer’s

 

 

 

option,

tracks

 

may

be

sub-divided into

sections

identified

 

 

playback. Press to start play or to resume play after Pause. During

 

 

by Index

 

 

 

numbers. This player does not display Index numbers.

 

 

 

play, press this button to stop playback temporarily, keeping the

 

since

optical pickup at its current position on the disc. The PLAY mode

 

TIME Normally

 

this

display

shows

the

 

time

elapsed

 

the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

is identified by a right-pointing arrowhead in the display. The

 

beginning

of

the

current

 

track.

Using

the

TIME

button

you

can

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

switch

the

display

to

show

the

remaining

number

of

 

 

 

PAUSE mode is identified by two vertical bars

 

. To resume

 

tracks

and

 

 

 

playing

time

 

to

the

end

of

the disc.

When

you

load

a

 

 

playback at the exact point where it stopped, press PLAY/PAUSE

 

 

different

disc

 

 

 

and

use

the

 

OPEN

button

 

(No.

4)

to

close

the

disc

 

 

again. If you don’t want to resume play at the same point, you may

 

 

 

drawer,

the

 

 

 

display

shows

 

the

number

of

tracks

and

the

total

playing

 

use the SKIP and SCAN controls to cue the pickup to a different

 

 

 

time

of

 

 

 

all the tracks on the disc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

starting point before pressing PLAY again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GB

REMAIN REMAIN

lights

up

in

the

lower-left

corner

of

the

display

 

 

if

you

have

 

pressed

the

 

TIME

 

button

 

to

show

the

 

 

6. TIME

 

 

 

 

 

 

remaining

 

 

number

of

tracks

and

time

of the

disc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The TIME button alternates between displaying the elapsed or

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

remaining tracks and time of the disc or program being played. In

REPEAT 1 “REPEAT” and “1” light up respectively in the centre

 

 

 

 

 

the

default setting, the display will indicate the

 

current track

 

and

upper-left

 

corner

during

repeat-play

of

a

single

track.

 

 

number and time elapsed since the beginning of the track. Press

 

“REPEAT” and “ALL” light up during repeat-play of the entire

 

 

 

 

 

the button once to display the total number of remaining tracks

 

program or disc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the

C 542’s

 

random

mode

has

been

 

 

 

and time of the disc or program being played. Press again to

 

RANDOM When

 

selected,

 

 

 

 

“RANDOM” will be shown in the Display Panel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

revert to the default, elapsed time display.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CALENDAR DISPLAY TRACK LISTING Displays a list of tracks

 

 

7. STOP

 

 

 

available

on

the disc. As each

track

is

played

its

number

is

 

 

Press the STOP button once to stop playback, and re-sets the

 

blanked out on the Track Listing, giving a simple indication of how

 

 

 

 

 

pickup to the beginning of the disc. The display reverts to showing

 

much of the disc has been played and how much remains. The

 

 

 

 

 

the number of tracks and total playing time on the disc. If the CD

 

number for the current track being played blinks. The display

 

 

 

 

 

player was programmed to play a selection of tracks, the program

 

shows up to 16 numbered tracks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

will be retained in the player’s memory. Pressing STOP a second

 

OVER If the loaded disc contains over 16 tracks, “OVER” will light

 

 

 

 

 

time will also delete the program. Pressing STOP twice will also

 

up in the bottom centre area of the display.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

disengage Repeat and Random play if these were engaged.

 

MEMORY During Program Play or programming for Program

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Play, MEMORY will light up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. REPEAT

 

 

 

PROGRAM Together with MEMORY, PROGRAM will light up during

 

 

This

button engages the Repeat Play mode, an

 

endless-repeat

 

playback of a selection of pre-programmed tracks of the disc.

 

 

 

cycle. Press the Repeat button once to select the REPEAT 1 mode,

 

STATUS A right-pointing arrowhead

 

 

, located near the left

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in which only the current track is repeated over and over again.

 

edge of the time display, lights up during PLAY. Two vertical bars

 

 

Pressing the Repeat button once again selects the REPEAT ALL

 

 

 

 

indicate

that the

player is

in

PAUSE. In STOP mode the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mode, in which the entire disc is played from beginning to end,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

display reverts to showing the total number of tracks and playing

over and over again. Press the Repeat button a third time to cancel

time of the disc.

the repeat cycle and return to normal operation.

 

5

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NAD C 542 owner manual Front Panel Controls Power ON/OFF, Disc Drawer, Open, Display, Play/Pause, Time, Stop, Repeat
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C 542 specifications

The NAD C 542 is a high-quality CD player that epitomizes NAD's commitment to delivering superior audio performance through innovative design and advanced technology. Designed for audiophiles and music enthusiasts alike, the C 542 stands out with its meticulous attention to detail, providing a rich listening experience that brings out the best in your CD collections.

One of the main features of the NAD C 542 is its high-performance digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The unit employs state-of-the-art circuitry that ensures accurate signal conversion, resulting in a dynamic range that captures the nuances of music more effectively. This allows listeners to experience depth and clarity in their audio that other CD players may not deliver.

The C 542 also incorporates NAD's proprietary technology known as "NAD's proprietary disc reading system." This feature enhances the player’s ability to read discs with precision, reducing errors that can arise from scratches or dirt. The result is more reliable playback and a seamless listening experience, even with older CDs that may have seen better days.

Another notable characteristic of the NAD C 542 is its ability to handle various disc formats. In addition to standard audio CDs, the player is compatible with CD-R and CD-RW formats, giving users the flexibility to enjoy their custom mixes. The C 542 also supports MP3 playback, allowing users to enjoy their digital music collections directly from discs.

The front panel of the C 542 is thoughtfully arranged for ease of use, featuring a bright display that provides essential information about track number, elapsed time, and disc status. Users can easily navigate through their tracks with a responsive remote control, which enhances usability and makes listening more enjoyable.

In terms of build quality, the NAD C 542 boasts a solid construction, which minimizes vibrations that can affect sound quality. This attention to detail in the physical design reinforces NAD's philosophy of creating products that perform exceptionally well while remaining durable over time.

In summary, the NAD C 542 is an exceptional CD player that combines advanced technologies, user-friendly features, and robust build quality. With its impressive DAC, proprietary reading system, and compatibility with multiple disc formats, it caters to the needs of discerning listeners who demand high fidelity and reliability in their audio equipment. Whether you are revisiting classic albums or enjoying modern recordings, the C 542 truly enhances your listening experience.
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