Used CDP recommendation for use as transport.

[dublin78]

I am looking for a secondhand CDP to buy in order to strip it down and use the parts in a diy system.
I need a unit with a digital coax output that I can then feed into a 1545 NOS DAC. I will then add a modded T-amp, and put it all in a single custom (homemade) housing
My budget for the CDP is probably up to £100, but I would rather spend less (the goal is low cost - high end). I will be making some matching speaker cabinets for Fostex FE127E.
My main requirement is to have the best possible signal from the digital out.
I also need a unit that has a cd drawer that can be opened and closed by the remote.
Current ideas: Marantx cd67/63 SE.
I welcome ideas and opinions.
Thanks in advance.
Michael

[dublin78]

No opinions?
Some folk on Audiogone have suggested using a DVD player as a transport.
Thoughts??
TIA

[martin clark]

Stretching your budget somewhat, but a Mk.1 Rega Planet makes a good transport. teh digital output is properly buffered /reclocked and has an isolation transformer, too. It's very easy to fit your own clock to reclock the digital output and then disconnect the entire onboard dac/audio stage.

That will give you an excellenttransport, for maybe £150 + clock cost.

DVD players are generally a noisy mess electrically, especially the cheap ones.

[quantran]

I would go for a Marantz or Philips and modify them. These are cheap and realiable. Parts are easy to find except for old machines with CDM0 or CDM1. These two mechanisms are very good but it' difficult to find spare parts.

I am using a modified CD-53 MKII + XO clock. Sound is good.

Low end DVDPs usually have loudsy power supplies. Good power supply is the key requirement for a good transport.

[dublin78]

Thanks for the help.
Martin: Which rega planet version? The one with the transport located on the left or centrally?
The DVD player suggested on Audiogone was the Oppo 970, or a mid range Sony unit with upgraded power supply.
Opinions?

[martin clark]

I meant the Mk1, ' Forman Grille' style with the transport on the left.

In these, the clock is built around a gate in the PCM1710 DAC,from which it is fanned-out to the decoder and SPDIF section via a resistor. Find inductor 'OF12' next the ribbon cable bridge and remove the resistor immediately adjacent. With a new clock, you can simply connect the new signal wire to the left end of OF12, and then simply disconnect the dac/output stage intirely by lifting the ribbon. The decoder is the transport mech baord, and the SPDIF output stage on the main PCB will have a clean clock signal and the power supply to itself.

IIRC there was a version of the Planet called the Jupiter which was - basically this, but at a higher price

[Fin]

Originally posted by dublin78
I am looking for a secondhand CDP to buy in order to strip it down and use the parts in a diy system.
I need a unit with a digital coax output that I can then feed into a 1545 NOS DAC. I will then add a modded T-amp, and put it all in a single custom (homemade) housing
My budget for the CDP is probably up to £100, but I would rather spend less (the goal is low cost - high end). I will be making some matching speaker cabinets for Fostex FE127E.
My main requirement is to have the best possible signal from the digital out.
I also need a unit that has a cd drawer that can be opened and closed by the remote.
Current ideas: Marantx cd67/63 SE.
I welcome ideas and opinions.
Thanks in advance.
Michael

If it ALL going to be in the same box/housing....why bother with the digital output and SPDIF?????

I think that the optimal solution would be to get something with a Philips CDM2 or CDM4/11 or CDM4/12 (not CDM4/19). These will have a nice Hall Effect motor and provide I2S output that you can connect directly to your TDA1545 DAC....without having to convert SPDIF - pick up lots of jitter - and convert back to I2S.

The CDM2 and some CDM4 mechanisms can be easily removed from the original CD player and house elsewhere. However, if you find a nice CD player that you like the look of and the build quality - you might find that there is enough space inside to add your DAC and T-amp.

[imperfectcircle]

Sony DVP-S7000 or DVP-S7700

These dvd players are the best your gonna get for an inexpensive transport. I remeber a few years back people were comparing them favorably to some very high end transports. They can be had for around $100-$150 usd. I tried a bunch of inexpensive transports including the Marantz cd63, cd67, NAD 520, Toshiba 3950 and a few others, the Sony was by far the best sounding.

[dublin78]

Hi Fin
Thank you for your input.

If it ALL going to be in the same box/housing....why bother with the digital output and SPDIF?????

Simply because I did not know that this was not optimal. Your suggestion seems to have very clear advantages if I can implement it simply.
I have nearly decided upon the Monica 2 NOS DAC from diyparadise http://diyparadise.com/dackit/1545bdackit.html
This has an input that requires SPDIF. Can I input 12S at the same point, or somewhere else on the PCB?
Please also can you suggest some CDPs that use the CDM2 and CDM4 mechanisms? I have had a look on google with no results.

Hi impefectcircle
Thanks for your suggestion.
I will look into the Sony unit. It probably has a high quality power supply, but it is surprising that a 1st generation dvd player from 10 years ago is still well regarded (in terms of its transport).

Best wishes.

Michael

[Fin]

Ah...The Monica 2....that does not use I2S....it uses TDA1545"A" with a different type of input....I think.

Of course - if you go for a CD player with CDM2 or CDM4 - it will probably have a TDA1541 (A) in it....and it is easy to convert it to Non Oversamplig!!! This chip is generally regarded as the best of the TDA chips. So - I've just saved you more money :-)