California Audio Lab CD Player

patknk939 · 06:54 AM

Recently got this CAL Tercet CD player from my friend. It sounds better in every respects than my other players - CAL DX-1 and Denon DCD1520. Took off its cover and found that it uses Philips TDA1541 DAC in the ouput and CM2 as the transport. Tried searching the internet for more info on this model but without results, except from a DAC/Transport List that says it uses TDA1541A (in fact it is TDA1541) as well as CM2. Other available info are all on Tercet MkII or III. This Tercet "Waveshaping" player looks like the first model of the Tercet series. Anyone has any experience/knowledge in/with this player or can point me to where relevant info is available? Thanks for your help in advance. Pics of this Tercet are as shown.

patknk939 · 23rd December 2012, 07:11 AM

Because of hiccups when attaching pics in my original thread, the pics are re-attached here:

[IMG_3062.jpg

IMG_3063.jpg

powerflux · 23rd December 2012, 07:43 AM

it is a normal cd471 from philips (100% sure), but with I/V thru better opamps + tube buffers and the i2s lines are reclocked (not sure, but seems like it).

freax · 07:46 AM

TDA1541 is my favourite too, I have never heard the A model tho so I cannot critisize.

I wonder though if the non-A does sound better though.

23rd December 2012, 06:19 AM	#1
patknk939 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008	California Audio Lab CD Player Recently got this CAL Tercet CD player from my friend. It sounds better in every respects than my other players - CAL DX-1 and Denon DCD1520. Took off its cover and found that it uses Philips TDA1541 DAC in the ouput and CM2 as the transport. Tried searching the internet for more info on this model but without results, except from a DAC/Transport List that says it uses TDA1541A (in fact it is TDA1541) as well as CM2. Other available info are all on Tercet MkII or III. This Tercet "Waveshaping" player looks like the first model of the Tercet series. Anyone has any experience/knowledge in/with this player or can point me to where relevant info is available? Thanks for your help in advance. Pics of this Tercet are as shown. Last edited by patknk939; 23rd December 2012 at 06:54 AM.

23rd December 2012, 07:44 AM	#4
freax Owner and operator of irc.tenettenba.info diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NSW	TDA1541 is my favourite too, I have never heard the A model tho so I cannot critisize. I wonder though if the non-A does sound better though. __________________ Last edited by freax; 23rd December 2012 at 07:46 AM.

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23rd December 2012, 07:11 AM	#2
patknk939 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008	Because of hiccups when attaching pics in my original thread, the pics are re-attached here: [IMG_3062.jpg IMG_3063.jpg

23rd December 2012, 07:43 AM	#3
powerflux diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2008	it is a normal cd471 from philips (100% sure), but with I/V thru better opamps + tube buffers and the i2s lines are reclocked (not sure, but seems like it).