Marantz CD63 & CD67 mods list

[BossyLars]

Hey guys!

I'm new here, won't bother you for a long time. I'm Lars. From The Netherlands.
I've got a complaint about you ;-)

Just want to say, that after a long day of working [since I have a few days off ;-) ] I see at 01:15 AM local time (I can't get asleep) that my collegae at work Ray, has a thread with 14290 posts.... Unbelievable. And because I bought 6 (!!) second hand Elektor Crescendo amps last week (tweaking Crescendo's is another project of Ray), I'm now sure I can't impossibly get asleep for the rest of the WEEK, because YOU ALL keep my friend Ray to busy to help me!!

Regards (and kind greetings to Ray) from The Netherlands,

Lars (#14291....)

[6h5c]

That sure sounds VERY bossy, Lars

Any of those amps up-and-running yet? We're into the DOS-CFP-thing over here.

Ray

[poynton]

Ray,

can you re-post your website address, please.


Andy

.

[BossyLars]

Originally Posted by 6h5c

That sure sounds VERY bossy, Lars

Any of those amps up-and-running yet? We're into the DOS-CFP-thing over here.

Ray

Hey Ray, no amps running yet (to busy with administration over here). Must be my lack of education, but what is DOS-CFP-thing? I only know my own BOS (Bossy Operating System)

Regards,

Bossy.

[Chivvyp]

Originally Posted by shepperd

Just thought I'd drop ths into the mix
NewClassD Discrete OPAMPs
I guess that's uncouth of me but it's not often I find something.

Very clear diagram explaining the benefits of upgrading

Pete

[6h5c]

Originally Posted by poynton

Ray,

can you re-post your website address, please.

Andy.

Of course, here it is (english version). You can also click on my public profile, it is listed under contact information.

Ray

[6h5c]

Originally Posted by BossyLars

Hey Ray, no amps running yet (to busy with administration over here). Must be my lack of education, but what is DOS-CFP-thing? I only know my own BOS (Bossy Operating System)

Regards,

Bossy.

DOS is short for Discrete Output Stage. It's an output stage for CD-players that replaces the opamp filter that is often used after the DAC-chip. I have a page dedicated to it here.

The CFP-part stands for Complementary Feedback Pair, a tweak to the DOS circuit that replaces the input transistors by two pairs in CFP arrangement. I've just started a page for this CFP-tweak, there's not much info there yet, but I did place an interesting link about this subject.

Ray

[BossyLars]

Originally Posted by 6h5c

DOS is short for Discrete Output Stage. It's an output stage for CD-players that replaces the opamp filter that is often used after the DAC-chip. I have a page dedicated to it here.

The CFP-part stands for Complementary Feedback Pair, a tweak to the DOS circuit that replaces the input transistors by two pairs in CFP arrangement. I've just started a page for this CFP-tweak, there's not much info there yet, but I did place an interesting link about this subject.

Ray

OK, got it. Thanks. Besides this, why so much to talk about these Marantz series CD players? Is there more interesting quality in it than the TDA1541 DAC that is applied to some (most?) of them?? That can't be the main reason, since you build your own DAC's...

Lars

[6h5c]

Yes, there is

Guys, here is a man that never heard a properly tweaked CD63/67 before . These players are very tweakable, and sound very good once you put in some decent components. The DAC chip is one of the few that has PWM outputs, without any (sound murdering) analog filters or opamps integrated on the chip. And the transport and laser mechanism, the well known CDM12.1, is simple and effective, cheap, and still available today.

You are invited to pick up a CD67 here in Heerhugowaard some day Lars, and do some listening!

Regards,

Ray

[6h5c]

Hi everyone,

Remember I was testing Brent's C2 clock? Well, testing is finished, and the final results are in. Slightly delayed, due to family expansion over here, but no less interesting because of that .

To get right to the point: the performance is very good!

First a disclaimer: measuring jitter in the pico-second range is not a problem nowadays, with a suitable (expensive) analyzer. Unfortunately, the possibilities in my case were limited by the available equipment: an Agilent Infiniium oscilloscope model 54835A. Because it's functionality regarding jitter is limited, it is not possible to filter the jitter-signal. The scope will therefore display the entire jitter-spectrum, while the area of interest for audio is actually only the low-frequency portion. The results will be a bit higher because of this, and that's why this measurement is only a relative comparison.

Brent has kindly donated a C2 for testing purposes, thanks again Brent! I used The Flea with a 24.576MHz low-jitter Tentlabs XO module from my ezDAC for comparison and the C2 with both 16.9 and 33.8MHz oscillators. The result: the performance of all three is very good, AND very close!

From the C2, the lowest jitter clock signal can be obtained directly from the oscillator output, at point T1 on the PCB. This is no surprise of course, because at this point there is no extra logic in the signal path that can cause jitter. The outputs F/1 through F/4 show slightly more jitter, but only a little bit. The extra divider logic has an extra benefit: a nicely squared-up waveform with steep flanks, and this keeps the rise in jitter limited.

I also tested the C2 in my CD63mkII-KI and clocked the servo with the F/2 output. The result was clearly audible: a more controlled low-end, more quiet background and increased soundstage depth, to name a few.

So my conclusion is: the C2 is a highly recommended upgrade!

Regards,

Ray