| hoshy |
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 |
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| Sonusthree |
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......:D Someone please cure me of this terrible affliction:bawling: |
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| hoshy |
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 ? |
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| hoshy |
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 |
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| WishfulAudio |
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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| carl.stock |
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 |
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| hoshy |
| How loud is the transport on the CD4 - I find the Marantz a little too noisy to be honest. |
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| carl.stock |
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 |
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| hoshy |
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 ? |
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| carl.stock |
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 :faint: :gasp: 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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| hoshy |
| Great, thanks Carl, I'll keep my eyes peeled |
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| carl.stock |
:)
No problem! :) |
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| Sonusthree |
On my CD4SE I added a switch to turn the display light off. I did it as a cheap tweak with no apparent sonic benifits but the display is now sometimes easier to read with it switched off!!
John Westlake is one of my heros but I bet he didn't see that display before it went into production! Seriously ! It's the worst CD display I've ever seen (or not) especially from more than 3 Metres away. :whazzat: |
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| gaust |
| I am trying to get in contact with Carl Stock as I have recently managed to buy a CD4SE second hand but it came without a remote control and was wondering if he had a spare one. I live in the UK (Newcastle upon Tyne). Any help would be appreciated. |
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| carl.stock |
Hi, gaust. :)
I will send this message via PM as well in a few moments.
I do indeed have a few remote controls that will control all of the functions of the CD4SE. I do in fact have one that is very similar visually to the original CD4SE remote.
You can contact me via e-mail, which I will include via a PM. I can send you a couple of remote controls if you like. They are all in good condition.
Hope this helps. :)
Regards,
Carl :)
PS Just realised that I cannot send you a PM. I can’t even send one to myself! LOL My e-mail address is:
carl[dot]stock[at]ntlworld[dot]com
(Hope it’s OK to put my address like that, mods. :))
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| Sonusthree |
Hi Gaust.
The CD4SE will work with any Philips CD remote cheaply available on Ebay and, personally, I would prefer one of those to the original.
My original remote has a very short range and is incredibly directional. It does not have rewind or fast forward but it does have drawer eject?:smash:
I recently got one of these Cyrus bad boys from Ebay to repair and sell on but it works very well on my CD4SE except it's huge and I look like an idiot!:D
 :tons: |
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| carl.stock |
| quote: | Originally posted by Sonusthree
On my CD4SE I added a switch to turn the display light off. I did it as a cheap tweak with no apparent sonic benifits but the display is now sometimes easier to read with it switched off!!
John Westlake is one of my heros but I bet he didn't see that display before it went into production! Seriously ! It's the worst CD display I've ever seen (or not) especially from more than 3 Metres away. :whazzat: |
But it looks so pretty – I’m looking at mine right now. ;) LOL
Mind you, I’ve no idea what is actually on the display… Hang on while I lean over… Oh yes… it says, “no disc”. Bah! :smash:
It is quite difficult to read the display, and you do need to be looking straight at it to see anything, but what a CD player… :cloud9: :)
Carl |
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| Sonusthree |
:yes: I know exactly what you mean Carl.
It looks kind of radioactive! :D
I think I'll try to dim the display soon to see if that helps.
It's amazing just how much the internal temperature drops with the display lights switched off!!:D |
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