PSU for PC cd writer

[tubenut]

Hi all

I recently purchased a cheap and cheerful Samsung CD-R/RW drive.
I would like to get the best possible performance for reasonable effort out of it. (when recording)

I am considering building it into a separate case with its own PSU and a proper buffered SPDIF out.
I would probably also use an IDE extension cable trailing out of the box so I can easily disconnect it from the PC and use it in the main system to play CDR etc. I have heard rumours from one of my eastern audiophile friends that there is a definite belief that playing CDR "wears" a cdp laser more then a normal CD does.

The real question is, what kind of juice does one of these beasts draw on the 5 and 12 Volt supply lines. Can I get away with simple 78xx regulators for a start?

Thanks
Guillaume

[OliverD]

I have heard rumours from one of my eastern audiophile friends that there is a definite belief that playing CDR "wears" a cdp laser more then a normal CD does.

Depends. CD-R and expecially CD-R/W have a much lower reflection ratio than red book CDs. When reading CD-R/Ws, either the laser intensity or the gain of the HF amplifier is increased. Increasing laser intensity wears out the laser faster, switching the HF amplifier's gain has no influence on laser life.

The real question is, what kind of juice does one of these beasts draw on the 5 and 12 Volt supply lines. Can I get away with simple 78xx regulators for a start?

Normally a label on the drive states the power requirements. If not, it might be mentioned in the installation instructions.

I think a 78Sxx should be fine in most cases with a bigger buffer capacitor at the output.

[tubenut]

I would really like to know about this. CDM9 lasers being a bit of a treasure like vintage tubes.....