Modifying a CD Player to be used as a DAC?

Puunda · 21st February 2006, 07:30 PM

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I've been looking and haven't been able to find anything.

I have a Sony XA7ES, and an Arcam FMJ CD23. I believe both have very good DAC's in them. In fact, in Stereophile's review of the CD23, they mentioned the DAC was so good, they wonder why Arcam never put a digital in to use it as a DAC - This is exactly what I'm wanting to know.

The reason I ask is because I have a multi disc change, plus all of my music which I listen to is actually stored on my PC. Currently I'm using the DAC in my AV Processor to do the job. It is a good processor, but I am led to beleive that the DAC in the cd players are much better.

Is it possible to modify either of the CD Players to accept a raw PCM bitstream so I can use them simply as DAC's so I can listen to all the music I want all day without changing discs?

In the past I have thought that CD players and DAC didn't make too much difference to the sound, but after some research, I am led to believe that the DAC does have quite an effect, which is why I am wanting to use a good DAC without spending the money.

Thanks in advanced.

Puunda

rfbrw · 21st February 2006, 11:15 PM

It is possible in both players. The Teac VRDS players have such an option. A schematic or service manual would help when determining the required circuitry.

Puunda · 22nd February 2006, 03:53 AM

I have the service manual for the Sony XA7ES, but have only enough knowleage to actually do the mod, but able to figure out what to do.

rfbrw · 22nd February 2006, 01:36 PM

In the FMJ CD23 what chip precedes the PMD100, i.e. the equivalent of the CXD25xx chip in the XA7ES?

21st February 2006, 07:30 PM	#1
Puunda diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Auckland	Modifying a CD Player to be used as a DAC? I'm sure this has been asked before, but I've been looking and haven't been able to find anything. I have a Sony XA7ES, and an Arcam FMJ CD23. I believe both have very good DAC's in them. In fact, in Stereophile's review of the CD23, they mentioned the DAC was so good, they wonder why Arcam never put a digital in to use it as a DAC - This is exactly what I'm wanting to know. The reason I ask is because I have a multi disc change, plus all of my music which I listen to is actually stored on my PC. Currently I'm using the DAC in my AV Processor to do the job. It is a good processor, but I am led to beleive that the DAC in the cd players are much better. Is it possible to modify either of the CD Players to accept a raw PCM bitstream so I can use them simply as DAC's so I can listen to all the music I want all day without changing discs? In the past I have thought that CD players and DAC didn't make too much difference to the sound, but after some research, I am led to believe that the DAC does have quite an effect, which is why I am wanting to use a good DAC without spending the money. Thanks in advanced. Puunda

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21st February 2006, 11:15 PM	#2
rfbrw diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: .	It is possible in both players. The Teac VRDS players have such an option. A schematic or service manual would help when determining the required circuitry.

22nd February 2006, 03:53 AM	#3
Puunda diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Auckland	I have the service manual for the Sony XA7ES, but have only enough knowleage to actually do the mod, but able to figure out what to do.

22nd February 2006, 01:36 PM	#4
rfbrw diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: .	In the FMJ CD23 what chip precedes the PMD100, i.e. the equivalent of the CXD25xx chip in the XA7ES?

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