Rotel RCD-971 as a DAC?

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Mayday

Mayday

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Joined 2004
#1
I'm looking at the possibility to put a digital input (usb, spdif) in a working Rotel RCD-971.
I would like to keep the HDCD capability when used as a DAC as well as when playing CD's.
Is this a pipe dream, or can it be done by a non-electrical engineer? 😅
I don't want to wreck the CD-player in the effort.
TIA
 
#3
No one has done this Jonas, you'll be the first on the planet to try! I guess you have scoured the internet to look for something like this attempted before.

Thinking out loud here: you want to introduce a second I2S input to the DAC board, one from CD, one from SPDIF/USB. Then something like the Twisted Pear I2S input selector here - with a SPDIF/USB module here.

How you break into the DAC board I'm not sure, it might not be pretty, possibly via the CD connector but likely after the HD chip. Not sure the SPDIF will accommodate full HD playback through the decoder chip. A switch is needed somewhere, both inputs will be permanently 'on'

This is a very rare challenge, especially for such a good player. Perhaps buy a cheap player sometime to try the idea. If the player had this option built in as standard I think there would be a microcontroller MCU to take care of switching inputs. This might be beyond a simple DIY project.
 
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#4
You could take a look at this thread. You have the advantage that the service manual for the Rotel is easily available. I have an RCD-991 but use it as a transport into a Res. Audio Opus 21. The 2000's era CD players usually used cheap DVD drives in them as their transport. The Rotel's user experience is far superior, but the Opus is better sounding and was one of the few CD players with a digital input (SPDIF).

Bigun

Thread 'adding digital input to a YBA CD player for use as a DAC ?'

I have a YBA Lecteur CD player that sounds amazing. I've never heard a 'modern' CD player or outboard DAC so I don't know if the DAC in my CD player sounds so good because it's the only one I have, or because it really does sound good. Anyhow, it does not have a digital input. I'm wondering if it's a big project to add a digital input to this thing so that I can use it as both a CD player and an outboard DAC ????
 
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#9
rfbrw said:
Have to disagree. It is pretty simple. Lego made more complicated stuff before they started catering to rich old farts.
Click to expand...
Can you advise Mayday? How would you introduce the second I2S input to DAC board - would you suggest after the HDCD chip?

I considered he might have to run the 3 I2S data lines direct to the PCM63 input pins, maybe under the PCB.
 
#12
Not all that keen to ride this bus to nowhere.
Here is the last time the RCD-971 came up.
S

Thread 'Modifiying CD player to accept external I2S signal'

Hello,


I have a Rotel RCD-971 CD player that I would like to modify so it can accept I2S signal from an external digital inputs receiver switch that has a I2S output.
In this way I will be able to connect external digital sources and use the Rotel's PCM63 DAC chip and have the anlalog output from the Rotel's analog outputs.
I need your help to understand where should I connect the DATA, BCK, LRCK, MCK outputs from my digital input selector to the PMD100 in the Rotel.


I'll appreciate any suggestions.


Thanks
 
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