16.9344MHz LOW JITTER CLOCK KIT...

[bleachershane]

So, I've done a bit of work on my Philips CD620, and I really like the sound the TDA1541A but... (and so the quest for better begins AGAIN!)...
As everyone loves the CD-63 I decided to try picking up one up on eBay and yesterday I managed to get a CD-63 SE for £35 + P&P, working and with remote.

So, there's millions out there on this venerable player, it has to be THE easiest CD player to mod in the world for all the information on here and the rest of the world wide web.

My first question relates to clocks. It's something I haven't got 'round to trying on my CD620, but I want to give it a go on the CD-63.

I understand it's a 16.9344MHz clock. So while it seems everyone goes for those branded and expensive Audiocom/Tent/Trichord clocks isn't this pretty much the same sort of thing? 16.9344MHz LOW JITTER CLOCK KIT
Or as I could build something up from scratch, would I be better off to buy something like this and doing the rest myself? PRECISION +/-1PPM 16.9344MHz TCXO

Both of these are from tubeshunter in China, and if anyone has had dealings with them I'd like to know how it went.

I will of course be experimenting with the CD-63 mods list PDF I got from here to get me started, but when it comes down to it, clocks have always fascinated so I want to get it as right as I can on my limited budget so your opinions on my options are greatly appreciated!

[poynton]

Perhaps ths is not the best on the market, it is better than the standard clock by far. Supply it from its own transformer.

I have one in a CD63 and it definately improved the sound.

Andy

[bleachershane]

Brilliant, just the kind of reply I needed.

I'm definitely not looking for (can't afford in other words) what is the best on the market, but better than the stock clock setup is the way to go.

Am I right in thinking you got yours from tubeshunter?

(PS, I love your signature, always reminds me of my mum who'd constantly tell me "If it ain't broke don't fix it!" when I was in my teens and opening up every electronic box I could to figure out how they worked and what I could twiddle to improve them...! In most cases, they never quite worked the same again...! Nowadays, thank goodness for service manuals, schematics, the internet and my electronic engineer of a mate! lol)

[Extreme_Boky]

I'm not sure if anyone's aware that there are 2 clocks in CD63. The one controlling the transport section focus, sled & spindle speed is as important.

With external oscillators, what you need is very low jitter at frequencies at around 10Hz. Good luck finding manufactures who specify this value....

Boky

[bleachershane]

Thanks for the reply boky... I've not got my CD-63 SE as yet, so I've not started looking through the service manual in depth so I'm not all that clued up on it's clock setup as yet...

[poynton]

Originally posted by Extreme_Boky
I'm not sure if anyone's aware that there are 2 clocks in CD63. The one controlling the transport section focus, sled & spindle speed is as important.

On the extremely long CD63 and CD67 mods thread, one of the early suggestions (for the CD63) was to run both from one master clock using a divider to produce the 8Mhz clock for the transport section. (similar to the CD67)

Quick lashups proved this made good music although there can be problems due to grounding.

Gains can also be made using 2 external clocks.

A clock setup for the CD63 is available from a forum member through his commercial website. (http://www.audioupgrades.co.uk/)

=================================

On the CD63, greater gains than a second clock gives, can be had by adding more regulators and generally improving the power supplies. Standard 3-leg regulators can be used although low noise discrete ones give better results.

More tweaks...

Bypass the HDAM circuit and replace the opamps with high quality ones.

Remove the muting circuit and convert to relay muting.

Go all the way with a tube or discrete output stage.

See....... http://home.quicknet.nl/qn/prive/ra..../index_en.html

(Ray started the CD63/67 thread )


Good luck
Andy

[hotiron]

Originally posted by bleachershane




My first question relates to clocks. It's something I haven't got 'round to trying on my CD620, but I want to give it a go on the CD-63.

I understand it's a 16.9344MHz clock. So while it seems everyone goes for those branded and expensive Audiocom/Tent/Trichord clocks isn't this pretty much the same sort of thing? 16.9344MHz LOW JITTER CLOCK KIT


Both of these are from tubeshunter in China, and if anyone has had dealings with them I'd like to know how it went.

Be aware of this with these clocks!
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...59#post1720659

[bleachershane]

Just a quick reply to say I bought one of these clock kits and fitted it and it seems to my ears that there is an improvement good enough to justify the initial outlay!

I gave the circuit it's own power supply from it's own transformer (one I had kicking around from a digital alarm clock that had gone to the other side... recycling parts is good!), encountered absolutely none of the problems from the other posts.

They had soldered most of the components on already (didn't expect that as it's meant to be a kit you do yourself) and had put on one of the caps the wrong way 'round, if you know what you're doing you will of course check the whole circuit to make sure everything is as should be before powering up!

Anyway, once the whole board was sorted and I was happy everything was working as it should I implemented it into the CD-63 SE and voila, first time working absolutely perfectly!

I should post some photos as I'm quite proud that my first dabble with clocks went so well!

[UV101]

Next thing to do cheap is replace the op amps and caps in the middle of them. Something like these below would be ideal as a cheap hop up.

OP Amps
Definately a recommended seller! Lee is a regulare user of this forum and post on the cd63/67 mods thread. He can also halp you with the caps.


You should also bypass the output caps (they are there to remove DC offset not normally a problem for this player)

There is plenty to do cheap in this player!

Enjoy

Ian

[.45 GAP]

sorry to bump this thread, didn't want to make a new one

I am trying to install the 27mhz version in a DVD player, what type of 12-15V AC power supply would be good for this tubeshunter kit?, what about this:

http://www.mouser.com/Search/Product...p%252bX%2fU%3d

didn't want to have to use a separate PS but it should give better performance anyway

thanks