Sony 502ES CDP Modding.

[Raymond]

Hi to All

I would like to know if it would be at all possible to add a digital coaxial output to my Sony 502ES CDP? The player has only analogue outputs?!
I was considering buying a Digital to analogue converter and just using the 502ES as the transport. The transport fitted to the 502ES is quite exceptional in my estimation and far better than the transport's fitted to the majority of modern players. Would the task be feasible?

Best Regards

Ray

[herewegoagain]

It is going to depend entirely on the chipset used inside your Sony and whether an SPDIF signal is available. Do you have a service manual for it? I would try to get hold of one as it will make the process easier and it's always good to have a copy.

Do you know what chipset it uses? - or perhaps just have a look at the pcb to identify the set used - download a datasheet for the relevant chip (usually the decoder) and see what's available - I'd be surprised if an usused SPDIF wasn't available in there somewhere.

Assuming it is available you might also need to use a signal transformer or a simple potential divider to get the impedance correct.

[stephensank]

While I do agree that the CDP-102/302/502/520/620ES transport mech is one of the nicest Sony ever made, the models pre-date SPDIF by a few years, so the chipset does not have any built in means for it. Only way to do it would be to build a peripheral circuit board with a DIT4096, YM3613 or other digital output translator chip, in order to take the separate data & clock signals from the CX23034 dsp chip and turn them into proper spdif. A substantial project. It would be far easier to seek out a Museatex Meitner CD3, which uses the same transport mech, but adds a high mass, dynamically balanced disc clamper for way lower wow/flutter(intrinsic jitter) as well as digital output capability.

[Raymond]

Hi Graeme and Stephen
Thank you so much for your valuable replys.
I guess i'll have to ditch the idea but it was worth enquiring.

Building the peripheral board etc is way too complicated for me i'm afraid Simon! but at least it's put my mind at rest!



Best Regards

Ray

[musicomputer]

Don't give up on the idea just yet.

I got hold of a CDP-502es a month or so ago and agree that this is one of the best cd players ever made both in terms of build quality and aesthetics. It reads toc's rapidly as well, easily beating my beloved Philips CD880 (which is no slouch).

I've been looking into adding SPDIF as well and found a circuit here that will get you a digital out on the cdp-502es. The only slight issue is that the DIT4192 is a surface mount IC. I got some TSSOP to DIL adapter boards off eBay to make construction easier - I just hope the circuit will work on veroboard!

The first ever CD player with digital output, the CDP-552esD, is just a CDP-502es with an digital out board and very bulky isolation transformer added. There's an unpopulated space on the CDP-502es pcb for a header to be fitted which has most of the signals needed for the circuit linked above.

Hopefully, I'll get round to building this interface very soon.