Convert CD Player to DAC

poberlin · 9th February 2008, 10:48 AM

Hi All,
I've got a Denon PCM 560 autochanger I don't use much but very much like the sound of. I'd like to use it as an outboard DAC, send the digital out from my PC's sound card to it. It sounds much nicer than my Creative XFI. has anyone successfully done this?

The player has a coax connector for digital output, would that also be an input point? I'm thinking connect the digital out from my soundcard to that.

Cheers,

Obe

rfbrw · 9th February 2008, 02:38 PM

Providing Digital Out to a Nakamichi OMS-5EII
How to get your beloved CD-player from the eighties into the Digital Domain

Jambo · 9th February 2008, 11:04 PM

I'm not sure that either of those links answer the question but I only had a quick look.

I haven't done what you're proposing, but it should be possible. The digital output from your CD player won't be any use as an input I wouldn't have thought, and I can't see a way that you could easily do this without making it useless as a CD player.

You need to find the I2S lines that go between your CD transport and the DAC chip inside your CD player and tap into them. And you'll also need an SPDIF transceiver (such as the Wolfson WM8804) to convert the digital output from your soundcard from SPDIF into I2S.

The only concern I have is that your DAC chip(s) may be under software control inside your CD player and as such they may not be constantly converting.

Let us know how you get on...

rfbrw · 10th February 2008, 08:55 AM

I wouldn't waste time looking for I2S in a Denon of that vintage, you won't find it. It would most likely use a Sony CXD family device as its DSP/Servo and that is the chip you would have to mimick in order to add an input. In short the reverse of what is shown in the two links.

Pulse-R · 10th February 2008, 09:39 AM

a lot of cd players have the DAC built-in to the controller chip (as mentioned). The S/PDIF output is from the same chip.

you may be better off to mimic the output circuitry, and make your own DAC.

there are plenty of USB DAC solutions which work very well.

http://www.coemaudio.com.au/products.php?category=DAC

poberlin · 11th February 2008, 11:06 AM

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Now I just pony up the $$ for a DAC.

Obe

rfbrw · 11th February 2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by poberlin
Thanks to everyone for the replies. Now I just pony up the $$ for a DAC.

Obe

In case you misunderstood me, I meant you will not find I2S formatted data in a Sony CXD type device. They use a different format and you have to be aware of that if you want to add an input.

9th February 2008, 10:48 AM	#1
poberlin diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2008	Convert CD Player to DAC Hi All, I've got a Denon PCM 560 autochanger I don't use much but very much like the sound of. I'd like to use it as an outboard DAC, send the digital out from my PC's sound card to it. It sounds much nicer than my Creative XFI. has anyone successfully done this? The player has a coax connector for digital output, would that also be an input point? I'm thinking connect the digital out from my soundcard to that. Cheers, Obe

10th February 2008, 09:39 AM	#5
Pulse-R diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Melbourne	a lot of cd players have the DAC built-in to the controller chip (as mentioned). The S/PDIF output is from the same chip. you may be better off to mimic the output circuitry, and make your own DAC. there are plenty of USB DAC solutions which work very well. http://www.coemaudio.com.au/products.php?category=DAC __________________ Digital is only on or off

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9th February 2008, 02:38 PM	#2
rfbrw diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: .	Providing Digital Out to a Nakamichi OMS-5EII How to get your beloved CD-player from the eighties into the Digital Domain

9th February 2008, 11:04 PM	#3
Jambo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008	I'm not sure that either of those links answer the question but I only had a quick look. I haven't done what you're proposing, but it should be possible. The digital output from your CD player won't be any use as an input I wouldn't have thought, and I can't see a way that you could easily do this without making it useless as a CD player. You need to find the I2S lines that go between your CD transport and the DAC chip inside your CD player and tap into them. And you'll also need an SPDIF transceiver (such as the Wolfson WM8804) to convert the digital output from your soundcard from SPDIF into I2S. The only concern I have is that your DAC chip(s) may be under software control inside your CD player and as such they may not be constantly converting. Let us know how you get on...

10th February 2008, 08:55 AM	#4
rfbrw diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: .	I wouldn't waste time looking for I2S in a Denon of that vintage, you won't find it. It would most likely use a Sony CXD family device as its DSP/Servo and that is the chip you would have to mimick in order to add an input. In short the reverse of what is shown in the two links.

11th February 2008, 11:06 AM	#6
poberlin diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2008	Thanks to everyone for the replies. Now I just pony up the $$ for a DAC. Obe

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