Marantz CD43/53/63/67 questions

[monguz]

Hi,

I'm going to buy either a Marantz CD4000/5000 (Philips CD723/753) or a Marantz CD43/53/63/67. A used one, of course. Then mod it to no end

While I have sufficient information about the first group above, I do have a few questions about the latter ones.

- What are the main differences between Marantz CD43/53/63/67 models? I think they use the same transport. New features, improved circuitry? Honestly, I'm mostly interested in purchasing the CD63 or CD67, as they are more recent models and probably have less miles behind.

- How good are they reading CDR and even CDRW? Reading computer burnt CDR is a must for me, so wouldn't like something too picky.

Thank you, your help will be greatly appreciated.

Regards


monguz

[Zombie]

I have a CD63mkII KIS and it reads CD-R music formats, it can be problems at the end if I stuff them close to the limit...haven't tried CD-RW...
Did you do a search on the site? There's lots of info about the 63/67 here...
sokolom
Tom

[monguz]

Tom,

Thank you for the speedy reply. Yes, I browsed the posts and now I have the answers to almost all of my original questions. Only those asked were left.

Btw., I also got the CD43/53/63 service manual meanwhile.

Thank you,

regards

monguz

[Leeuwarden]

You could also consider a cdm12 from www.steinmusic.de

It wil cost you 189 Euro and the upgrade is 130 Euro.

Holger Stein says the quality is the same as a cd-67. (without the upgrade that is)

Jan

[Dennis Hui]

Monguz,

On my CD63SE, I've had no trouble with CD-R's.
The one CD-RW I tried didn't work.

Cheers,
Dennis

[SimontY]

Hi Monguz,

I bought a 2nd hand CD63mkIIKI and playing stock I found the sound pretty awful. There are plenty of guides to modifying this and similar players, and I can easily reccommend it.

See this recent thread, for my list of mods and others' mods too: Marantz CD63KI - XO clock in, sound bad...

When largely modified the sound can be fantastic; really smooth, sweet, and detailed, not like the original which I found harsh, bright, painful to listen to, and with thudding one-note bass. (basically the sound that gives digital playback a bad name)

Hope this helps.


-Simon

[SimontY]

Ooh, forgot to add:

1 - cdm12.1 (iirc) is the transport in the cd63 and cd67 and mine and my friends play cd-rs just fine, but it isn't overly enthusiastic about so-so cd-rs and dirt/scratches - worse than others I've seen, probably due to aging...

2 - differences between cd63se and ki are copper shielding, and some better components including a toroidal transformer: my friend has a cd67mk2-se and it's almost identical inside to my cd63ki, except for transformer, shielding, his having 1,000uf analogue psu caps over 470uf in the older players (63), and larger and heatsinks on regulators, presumably to reduce noise.


-Simon

ps- what does anyone think about heatsinking all the regulators in the player? (in the cd63ki only one regulator is heatsinked)
I ask because I have some spare heatsinks from some pc psus...

[monguz]

Jan, Dennis, Simon and others,

Thank you for your advices, I greatly appreciate it. diyAudio.com is a fantastic place, it's so good to be with you!

Honestly, I haven't decided yet which way to go, Philips 723/753 or Marantz 53/63/67. Anyway, I will have to come to the decision latest this upcoming week.

And sort of a silly question now. Bear with me, I'm new to this all. Actually this will be two questions

- I read about such as VAM1201/1202 and also CDM12.1 sometimes. Which refers to the transport itself? Or maybe one refers to the transport while the other one the laser unit. Humm.

- Do these cd players above (Philips 723 and Marantz 63) use the same transport model?

Thanks if someone would shed some light on these...

regards


monguz

[EC8010]

My CD63mkIIKI fuel injection etc is currently quite cheerfully playing a CDR.

[SimontY]

Err, not sure, but I reckon the transport as a whole unit in the cd63/67 is called CDM 12.1. I think it's the same as CD723. Did the 53/63/67 evolve from the 723 even? Someone will know all this Personally, I'd say lookout for a CD63ki or 67se on the cheap Sooo much fun to mod!


-Simon