Which CD-rom controller kit to buy?

[jonpet55]

I have recently been looking for a 1U 19"-rack CD-player, but the prices are way too high for my budget. After discovering the possibility of using a CD-rom as a stand-alone CD-player, i have decided to build it myself. The only problem so far is the many different controllers, so now i am asking you about some opinions. The options are:

- Unnamed CD-rom kit:
Another CDROM Controller Kit

- Audiokitlabs CD-rom controller
CDROM control kit

- Another unnamed controller:
http://www.senri.com.tw/shop/product...roducts_id=937

- Another unnamed:
http://myweb.hinet.net/home4/penguin...ROM/CD-ROM.htm

- DIYZone CD-rom controller:
http://www.diyzone.net/article.php?sid=195

If they are any more options, please tell me.

This is what i want the controller to be:
- Cheap
- Without 7-segment display in addition to the HD44780 display(which means i dont want the DIYZone-controller)
- The microcontroller should be programmed with a lucid software and with as little typing errors as possible (i have seen a few chinese controllers with lots of typing errors and unnecessary use of capital letters).
- The vendor must be able to send worldwide (to Norway)

[metaxus]

Originally posted by jonpet55

- Unnamed CD-rom kit:
Another CDROM Controller Kit

I have one of these... The build quality is excellent, pradit_p shipped to me in Australia, and it works ok for the most part.

The firmware seems to be a bit half-baked. Sometimes it does some odd things, and the display is can be inaccurate.

YMMV, of course

[jonpet55]

Thank you for replying. The kit you have bought is the one i wanted most, until i saw the typing errors like "NODISC". Other than that it gives absolutely best value for money (was it 45$ with display included?).

Now i want this one most: http://www.senri.com.tw/shop/product...oducts_id=937.

There is only one huge problem. I tried to mail them, but they doesn't seem to reply. I guess it is because they can't write english, or because they have blocked Hotmail. The price is 700NTD (same as TWD), but that is probably only for the IC. It cant be that cheap for the whole thing.

Excuse me if there are any grammar- or spelling-errors in my posts - I usually write norwegian.

[Cobra2]

http://www.audiokit.ro/cdrom.html

Not always the fastest to reply on mail, but service have been good, and they understand english...

Arne K

[spzzzzkt]

I'd advise reading this post on the audiokits offering before purchasing...

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...444#post982444

Lucifix's comments on the firmware and 5v supply don't inspire confidence.

pj

[jonpet55]

I'll keep that in mind. I thought the DIYAudio kit was perfect and without any bugs, but that was wrong... About the 5V-supply; my Pioneer slot-in draws 1.1A at 5V. With the ìC, display and CD-rom running simultaneously, it would draw way to much for a normal TO-220 7805-regulator. It starts dropping voltage when it passes 1A. I guess i will be using a switch mode PSU. This means the DIYAudio-kit is not an option no more (the price was too high too).

[audio3000]

How about this one http://eshop.diyclub.biz/index.php?cPath=198

I just bumped into them couple of weeks ago while doing Internet search. Don't have experience with it.

[jonpet55]

Great!

It seems like the same as this one:
http://www.senri.com.tw/shop/produc...roducts_id=937
That's the one i liked best too. As i said above, the problem with senri.com.tw was that they couldn't understand my english e-mails. The black PCB looks cool, and the quality seems good.
The price is just incredible. I'll have to mail them a few questions to make sure the price is right. 24USD for the display, remote, PCB and ìC seems too cheap to be true...

[jonpet55]

I ended up buying this one, thanks to aduio3000:
http://eshop.diyclub.biz/product_inf...roducts_id=436

I received it today. It works very well so far. It is small, stable, and well built. The soldering could have been a little bit better, but i am never 100% satisfied with presoldered kits anyway. The black PCB seems to be very good, and the price of the kit was just amazing; 24 dollars. A "low order fee" of $5 will though be added if the order is smaller than $30 or so.
So far i have only found one typing error in the software. When it is plaing, it says "Playing...", when it is paused, it says "Paused.." - with only two dots.

I will maybe post some pictures later when the chassis is made.

[henkel]

I just order the eshop diy.biz CDROM kit as well. Should arriving in about 10 days time. I would look forward to your pistures as my guiding light!

Thanks.