T+A MP 200 G3 black

CD player, FM tuner and DAB+, Internet radio, online music services, Bluetooth and digital inputs: the source component in the 200 series from T+A brings all this together in a chassis just 32 cm wide. Digital-to-analog conversion is deliberately left to another device. The MP 200 G3 sends a clean digital signal to a converter, an amplifier with a digital input or, ideally, the DAC 200 or HA 200 from the same series.

A source without a converter, by choice

The MP 200 G3 has neither a converter nor an analog output. This approach avoids paying twice for the same stage when pairing the device with the DAC 200 or HA 200 headphone amplifier, and leaves the chosen converter to turn the signal into sound. With another DAC or an amplifier equipped with a digital input, a single connection is enough: the coaxial S/PDIF output, compliant with the IEC 60958 standard.

With the DAC 200 or HA 200, the SYS-LINK connection changes how the two devices behave. Two supplied cables connect the units: a USB SYS cable that carries audio and an RJ45 cable that carries audio and commands. Selecting a source on the MP 200 G3 automatically switches the converter to its system input, pressing the Disc button turns on both devices at once, standby takes a single action, and software updates for both devices go through the same menu. Controlled from the T+A Music Navigator app, the MP 200 G3 becomes the control center for the entire system.

A third-generation in-house network player

The “G3” in the name refers to the third generation of T+A’s streaming client, developed in Herford, at the brand’s headquarters. It integrates Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Amazon Music, Highresaudio, as well as airable Internet radio and podcasts. Those who prefer to start music from their service’s app have Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect and Spotify Connect available, while AirPlay 2 handles anything coming from an iPhone, iPad or Mac. The device is Roon Ready and compatible with Audirvana, and it plays libraries stored on a NAS using the UPnP and DLNA protocols.

For files, the MP 200 G3 supports FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, AAC, OGG Vorbis and MP3, in PCM from 32 to 384 kHz at 16 or 24 bits, as well as DSD (DSD64, DSD128 and DSD256) in DFF and DSF formats. The dual-band Wi-Fi 6 module, with two antennas in a 2 × 2 MIMO configuration, provides reliable reception, but an Ethernet cable remains preferable for high-resolution files: it is unaffected by reception fluctuations or the load on a shared home network, and it automatically takes priority over Wi-Fi as soon as it is connected. Wireless networking can be set up via WPS, the app’s setup wizard or an iPhone’s settings, which transfer its network settings via AirPlay setup.

A slot-loading CD player built into the chassis

The loading mechanism was custom-sized for the space available in the chassis: the disc slides into a slot on the front, with no tray extending from the device. It plays audio CDs, recorded CD-Rs and CD-RWs, and displays CD-Text information when the disc contains it. The slot only accepts 12 cm discs; 8 cm CDs and unusually shaped discs may damage the mechanism.

The player retains the standard playback functions: repeat for a single track or the entire disc, and programming of 30 tracks in any order, retained as long as the disc remains in the device. Programming and playback mode selection are handled from the remote control.

Three ways to listen to the radio

The FM tuner covers the 87.5 to 108 MHz band with RDS (station name and radio text) and allows switching to mono when a distant station produces too much hiss in stereo. DAB+ reception in band III provides access to terrestrial digital radio, with the station’s bitrate shown in the detailed view. Internet radio completes the lineup with its thousands of stations and podcasts. Each of these three sources has its own favorites list, which can be rearranged as desired and accessed by number, allowing a station to be recalled without looking at the screen.

The supplied wire antenna is suitable for strong local transmitters. To receive weaker stations, the 75 Ω antenna socket, shared by FM and DAB+, accepts an outdoor or rooftop antenna.

Connecting the rest of the system

Three digital inputs accommodate other devices: two coaxial inputs up to 192 kHz / 24 bits and one Toslink optical input up to 96 kHz / 24 bits. A television, set-top box or older disc player can thus benefit from the converter connected to the MP 200 G3, and the source can be named freely in the menu for easy identification.

The two USB ports, one on the front and the other on the rear, read flash drives and external hard drives formatted in FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, ext2, ext3 or ext4. A 2.5-inch drive compliant with the USB standard is powered directly by the port, without a power adapter. The Bluetooth receiver, with its dedicated antenna, supports the aptX HD, AAC and SBC codecs, and the AVRCP protocol for controlling playback on the phone from the remote control.

Front panel, screen and app in everyday use

The front-panel screen switches between a large-text view, readable from the sofa, and a detailed view showing the bitrate, CD-Text or radio text. Screen brightness, indicator brightness and lighting color are adjustable, the screen can stay on or turn off after each operation, and unused sources can be hidden to reduce the number of button presses. The front panel provides direct access to each source category (Disc, SCL for the network, Radio, BT, USB, Dig In), and a rotary control is used to browse lists, start playback or go back.

For browsing a library of several thousand albums, the T+A Music Navigator G3 app, on iOS and Android, remains the most convenient option. Firmware updates download directly from the device’s menu. Measuring 320 × 340 × 100 mm and weighing 4.4 kg, the MP 200 G3 can be stacked on the other 200 series components, provided it sits at the top of the stack and has around ten centimeters of clearance around it for ventilation.

Technical specifications

Overview and architecture

• Device type: multisource player incorporating a CD player, a network player, an FM / DAB+ tuner and a Bluetooth receiver
• Streaming platform: 3rd-generation T+A client (G3)
• Conversion: no converter or analog output; connection to a converter, an amplifier with a digital input or a T+A DAC 200 / HA 200
• Operation with the DAC 200 / HA 200 via SYS-LINK:
  • Automatic system input selection
  • Shared standby
  • Software update for both devices

Display and controls

• Display: front-panel screen with adjustable brightness
  • Large-format view or detailed view: bitrate, CD-Text, radio text
• Customization: adjustable indicator brightness and lighting color, unused sources can be hidden, sources can be renamed
• Front-panel controls:
  • Power / standby
  • Source buttons: Disc, SCL, Radio, BT, USB, Dig In
  • SYS and SRC buttons, favorites, display, eject
  • SELECT / OK rotary knob
• Control app: T+A Music Navigator G3, compatible with iOS and Android
• Updates: via the Internet, from the device menu

CD player

• Loading: slot-loading, 12 cm discs only, no support for 8 cm discs
• Supported discs: audio CD, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-Text
• Frequency response: 2 Hz to 20 kHz
• Dynamic range: 100 dB
• Programming: up to 30 tracks in the chosen order
• Playback modes: normal playback, disc repeat, track repeat

Streaming and network

• Built-in services: Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Amazon Music HD, Highresaudio, Internet radio and airable podcasts
• Connect and streaming services: Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2
• Software compatibility: Roon Ready, Audirvana
• Media servers: UPnP 1.1, UPnP AV, DLNA, Windows Media Connect
• Supported formats: MP3 up to 320 kb/s, AAC, M4A (AAC / ALAC), OGG Vorbis, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, DFF, DSF
• Supported resolutions:
  • PCM: 32 to 384 kHz / 16 to 24 bits
  • DSD: DSD64, DSD128, DSD256
• Wired network: Ethernet 10/100, takes priority over Wi-Fi
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), 2 × 2 MIMO, dual-band 2.4 and 5 GHz
• Setup: automatic, via WPS, via the app or via AirPlay setup on an iOS device

USB playback

• Ports: 2 USB 2.0 ports, including 1 on the front and 1 on the rear
• Media: USB flash drives, external hard drives, port-powered 6.35 cm drives
• File systems: FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, ext2, ext3, ext4

Radio reception

• Digital radio: DAB, DAB+ in band III
  • Sensitivity: 2.5 µV
• FM radio:
  • Frequency range: 87.5 to 108 MHz
  • RDS: station name, radio text
  • Switchable stereo / mono reception
  • Mono sensitivity: 0.9 µV
  • Stereo sensitivity: 40 µV
  • Stereo separation: 50 dB
• Station search: automatic or manual, sortable lists
• Presets: separate favorites lists for FM, DAB+ and Internet radio

Bluetooth reception

• Function: reception from a smartphone, tablet or computer
• Codecs: aptX HD, AAC, SBC
• Control: AVRCP

Connectivity

• Digital inputs:
  • 2 coaxial S/PDIF inputs, up to 192 kHz / 24 bits
  • 1 optical Toslink input, up to 96 kHz / 24 bits
• Digital output: 1 coaxial S/PDIF output, compliant with IEC 60958
• System connection to the DAC 200 or HA 200:
  • USB SYS: audio
  • SYS OUT RJ45: audio and control
• CTRL port: reserved for future developments
• Network connections: 1 Ethernet port, 1 Wi-Fi antenna socket
• Antenna connections: 1 75 Ω radio socket for FM and DAB, 1 Bluetooth antenna socket
• Mains connection: IEC inlet

Included accessories

• FM200 remote control:
  • CR2032 battery
  • Range: 4 to 5 m
• Power cord
• USB SYS cable, RJ45 SYS-LINK cable for DAC 200 or HA 200
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas with bases, dedicated Bluetooth antenna
• FM antenna with adapter

Power supply and consumption

• Power supply: 115 to 240 V, 50/60 Hz
• Maximum power consumption: 25 W
• Standby power consumption: less than 0.5 W
• Automatic standby: after 90 minutes without a signal or operation, in ECO mode

Dimensions and weight

• Dimensions (W × D × H): 320 × 340 × 100 mm
• Weight: 4.4 kg