In any case, all those from philips of the 700 generation are known to get tired over time.
An opinion on marantz or technics?
I discovered this range from Technics late (the series equipped with the CDM4), and it was a real pleasant surprise.
So far mine is very bright but consdering the age of the device, I'm pretty sure it will dimm at some point.
I also have a Technics hi fi system from the same era, and yes it is less and less bright... Took it 20 years ... Nothing is ethernal 😉
I had pretty low expectations for my 1994 SL-P370, and it sounds a bit splashy while tolerable. The 1997 Marantz CD-67SE is obviously nicer in every way. I bought them both only last year for their good track displays and headphone outputs, but I expect to use them with a DAC. Pretty sure I can add a Toslink output to the Technics in the empty spaces.
You will have a hard time finding a DAC for the Marantz. If you find one that sounds better than it's analog out, please report.
With the other IMO this may be simpler, these Technics MASH CD player always sounded a little "special" to me.
With the other IMO this may be simpler, these Technics MASH CD player always sounded a little "special" to me.
So I recommend the A series (P202A 212A 272A 277A 377A 477A) and especially the PGs (400A 420A 440A and 500A).
I mainly tried the two big families of this generation (with CDM4/19 and SOAD) and I only kept the CDM4/19 that I use with or without DAC.
I who was a big fan of the 400 series at philips (cd 471 472 473) I find them (in their original version) quite dark now, on the other hand they are more easily modifiable than the technics and the results are immediately there .
"the ... DAC sounds better." - this kind of dispute is useless 😉
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder and an unmodified 67SE in its original state leaves plenty of room for its improvement.
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder and an unmodified 67SE in its original state leaves plenty of room for its improvement.
I only do modding if I have two identical bits of equipment. Which should be the only way to "improve" something unmeasureable on audio gear.
If in the following A-B test the "modified" sounds better, fine, if not I wasted time, money and molested a perfectly working machine to Zero value...
As I only have one as new CD 67-OSE, I use only the Digital out for A-B comparison and do not mess with the internals. OK, not 100% true. I put some self adheasive damping on parts that sounded like they needed it. Or just my Ego needed it. Don't remember.
If in the following A-B test the "modified" sounds better, fine, if not I wasted time, money and molested a perfectly working machine to Zero value...
As I only have one as new CD 67-OSE, I use only the Digital out for A-B comparison and do not mess with the internals. OK, not 100% true. I put some self adheasive damping on parts that sounded like they needed it. Or just my Ego needed it. Don't remember.
Sometimes changes are measurable - RMAA results of one amplifier form 70-ies after replacing all electrolytic capacitors (except the big ones):
RMAA can also be used for measuring cd-players output signal.
But when changes are small then these measurements show no difference and one way of doing a comparison is to put out both the initial and modded signal(s) and swap between them during live play. This test rig of mine (I used it also for testing different opamps) has 3 signals out: HDAM, pre-HDAM (like CD-63) and NOS-DAC (added):
Are you sure the poor thing was factory spec before you improved it?
Damm, I always knew that Ken Isijawa What guy was an idiot! Should have asked you how to modify this Marantz junk.
Damm, I always knew that Ken Isijawa What guy was an idiot! Should have asked you how to modify this Marantz junk.
I looked for "Khadas Tone Board DAC".
It has the low cost ES9038Q2M DAC inside. I have a very cheap little DAC with it build in. Indeed it sounds quite nice and is an up-grade for many CD player with mediocre analog out.
Like some multi CD player. I use it for an analog flat sounding 100 CD Pioneer changer that got a digital out implanted. Works well.
Still to lazy to put all my CD's on a HDD.
It has the low cost ES9038Q2M DAC inside. I have a very cheap little DAC with it build in. Indeed it sounds quite nice and is an up-grade for many CD player with mediocre analog out.
Like some multi CD player. I use it for an analog flat sounding 100 CD Pioneer changer that got a digital out implanted. Works well.
Still to lazy to put all my CD's on a HDD.
The reference to amplifier measurments is only as a reply to your statement about not being able to measure (if you would read on then then I also wrote that cd-players can be measured). I.e. a reference device is nice to have but measurements help you along also without it.