cd player

hoshy · 22nd July 2006, 11:45 PM

HI all,

I need a new CD player, currently I have a Cambridge Audio D100 but the transport is too noisy and I suspect the DAC isn't up to much - I can't tell beacuse it's sealed under a heatsink.

I'm planning on buying a half decent DAC but I'd like to know what CD players from the 80s/90s era I can pick up from eBay - the classics, old but still good kind of thing.

Cheers,
Ashley

Sonusthree · 30th July 2006, 02:08 PM

Hi Ashley, From personal experience and a price to sound quality ratio I would recommend a Cambridge Audio CD4SE. (Not the normal version. That's a completely different machine.)
Designed by the famous John Westlake of Pink Triangle fame (and diyaudio member).
It's well known for it's warm yet detailed sound. I don't think I'd ever sell mine. It's a late 90's classic IMO and parts are still available cheaply which is a bonus over the good old 80's Philips machines and similar. Add some bitumen damping and good isolation feet and then enjoy for a while........before adding Black gate and Oscon caps......Audiocom super regulators.......better RCA sockets......

Someone please cure me of this terrible affliction

hoshy · 30th July 2006, 06:33 PM

Thank you very much! Designed by a Pink Triangle man, no-less! Nice

I've had my eye on PT DACS but they're a bit over budget unfortunately. I'll keep my eye out for a CD4SE, thanks

Anybody else have any recommendations ?

hoshy · 31st July 2006, 05:44 PM

Well, A Marantz CD63 came up on eBay and I snapped it up for 30ukp - from this site and tnt-audio it seems there are plenty of mods for this CD player. I'm looking forward to having a play.

thanks again

WishfulAudio · 16th August 2006, 10:50 PM

My question is how practicable it is to get CD transports of the 1990s serviced?

I have my much loved PT CD transport whici is not functional.

Do I search for a specialist repairer or hope to send it to John Westlake in China? Or do I discard it and risk a modern CD transport that is from a differnt generation?

Advice appreciated........

Alistair P
in Scotland

carl.stock · 20th August 2006, 10:44 PM

hoshy,

Still definitely get hold of a CD4SE later if you can. Amazing player.

I have three – just in case! – although one of them no longer has a backlight (it failed).

Have fun with the Marantz.

Regards,

Carl

hoshy · 21st August 2006, 08:55 AM

How loud is the transport on the CD4 - I find the Marantz a little too noisy to be honest.

carl.stock · 21st August 2006, 12:46 PM

Hi, hoshy.

The CD4 uses a Sanyo transport (and a Sony chipset), and I personally think it is quiet. The CD4SE, however, uses a Philips CDM12.1 transport (and a Philips chipset).

I think – I may be wrong – your Marantz also uses the same Philips CDM12.1 transport as the CD4SE.

The trays on the CDM12.1 can be somewhat abrupt when opening and closing – not like the CDM4 or the smooth Sanyo transports on the CD6, DISCMAGIC, etc. – although what matters really is the quality of the transport when reading the discs of course.

Regards,

Carl

hoshy · 21st August 2006, 03:28 PM

The tray was very squeaky when I first got the CD63 but now it's clean up a bit.. The sillicon grease I added may be in part responsible

If the CD4SE uses the same transport as I've currently for I'll probably stick with my CD63 for now, the only reason the noise is a problem is that for practical reasons the CD player is close to my head when listening, as "normal" volumes it's fine, but for late night listening I can hear the CD player in my left ear. Annoying.

As I said, I'll probably stick with the CD63, as there's lots to play with on them in terms of mods,but out of interest what sort of money are you looking at for a CD4SE ?

carl.stock · 21st August 2006, 03:37 PM

Hi again, hoshy.

I can understand your points about the noise. Some CD players can be quite irritating when used close up.
You can pick up a CD4SE on eBay for anything between £20

and £100. I got one for £21! All that is wrong is that the backlight does not work; the other cost £37 and £50, so I was lucky with all three!

I would say not to pay any more than £100, but you could if you wanted to simply because of its great sound quality. Just put a search into eBay – one of the Favourite Searches so that you can be informed when new CD4SE players appear – with something like this:

Cambridge Audio CD4SE
Cambridge Audio CD4 Special Edition
Cambridge Audio CD 4 SE
etc.

Hope that helps.

Carl

22nd July 2006, 11:45 PM	#1
hoshy diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	cd player HI all, I need a new CD player, currently I have a Cambridge Audio D100 but the transport is too noisy and I suspect the DAC isn't up to much - I can't tell beacuse it's sealed under a heatsink. I'm planning on buying a half decent DAC but I'd like to know what CD players from the 80s/90s era I can pick up from eBay - the classics, old but still good kind of thing. Cheers, Ashley

30th July 2006, 02:08 PM	#2
Sonusthree diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Brighton,UK	My two cents. Hi Ashley, From personal experience and a price to sound quality ratio I would recommend a Cambridge Audio CD4SE. (Not the normal version. That's a completely different machine.) Designed by the famous John Westlake of Pink Triangle fame (and diyaudio member). It's well known for it's warm yet detailed sound. I don't think I'd ever sell mine. It's a late 90's classic IMO and parts are still available cheaply which is a bonus over the good old 80's Philips machines and similar. Add some bitumen damping and good isolation feet and then enjoy for a while........before adding Black gate and Oscon caps......Audiocom super regulators.......better RCA sockets...... Someone please cure me of this terrible affliction __________________ Martin + + =

16th August 2006, 10:50 PM	#5
WishfulAudio diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2006	Pink Triangle Cardinal Service My question is how practicable it is to get CD transports of the 1990s serviced? I have my much loved PT CD transport whici is not functional. Do I search for a specialist repairer or hope to send it to John Westlake in China? Or do I discard it and risk a modern CD transport that is from a differnt generation? Advice appreciated........ Alistair P in Scotland

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30th July 2006, 06:33 PM	#3
hoshy diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	Thank you very much! Designed by a Pink Triangle man, no-less! Nice I've had my eye on PT DACS but they're a bit over budget unfortunately. I'll keep my eye out for a CD4SE, thanks Anybody else have any recommendations ?

31st July 2006, 05:44 PM	#4
hoshy diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	Well, A Marantz CD63 came up on eBay and I snapped it up for 30ukp - from this site and tnt-audio it seems there are plenty of mods for this CD player. I'm looking forward to having a play. thanks again

20th August 2006, 10:44 PM	#6
carl.stock diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hertfordshire	hoshy, Still definitely get hold of a CD4SE later if you can. Amazing player. I have three – just in case! – although one of them no longer has a backlight (it failed). Have fun with the Marantz. Regards, Carl

21st August 2006, 08:55 AM	#7
hoshy diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	How loud is the transport on the CD4 - I find the Marantz a little too noisy to be honest.

21st August 2006, 12:46 PM	#8
carl.stock diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hertfordshire	Hi, hoshy. The CD4 uses a Sanyo transport (and a Sony chipset), and I personally think it is quiet. The CD4SE, however, uses a Philips CDM12.1 transport (and a Philips chipset). I think – I may be wrong – your Marantz also uses the same Philips CDM12.1 transport as the CD4SE. The trays on the CDM12.1 can be somewhat abrupt when opening and closing – not like the CDM4 or the smooth Sanyo transports on the CD6, DISCMAGIC, etc. – although what matters really is the quality of the transport when reading the discs of course. Regards, Carl

21st August 2006, 03:28 PM	#9
hoshy diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	The tray was very squeaky when I first got the CD63 but now it's clean up a bit.. The sillicon grease I added may be in part responsible If the CD4SE uses the same transport as I've currently for I'll probably stick with my CD63 for now, the only reason the noise is a problem is that for practical reasons the CD player is close to my head when listening, as "normal" volumes it's fine, but for late night listening I can hear the CD player in my left ear. Annoying. As I said, I'll probably stick with the CD63, as there's lots to play with on them in terms of mods,but out of interest what sort of money are you looking at for a CD4SE ?

21st August 2006, 03:37 PM	#10
carl.stock diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hertfordshire	Hi again, hoshy. I can understand your points about the noise. Some CD players can be quite irritating when used close up. You can pick up a CD4SE on eBay for anything between £20 and £100. I got one for £21! All that is wrong is that the backlight does not work; the other cost £37 and £50, so I was lucky with all three! I would say not to pay any more than £100, but you could if you wanted to simply because of its great sound quality. Just put a search into eBay – one of the Favourite Searches so that you can be informed when new CD4SE players appear – with something like this: Cambridge Audio CD4SE Cambridge Audio CD4 Special Edition Cambridge Audio CD 4 SE etc. Hope that helps. Carl

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