CD 300 with CDM-0 and dual 1540

[tubee]

Hello

I bought on a flee-market a good Philips cd 300. Wanted to use it untill my 4 parallel 1541a project is finished. But after listening it i realized this player is not bad at all.
The 6 cm high transport with glass lens supplied CDM 0 gives a very relaxed sound, sometimes a little analog sounding as far as this is possible?? The highs are a little rough though.

Have a few ideas for the cd 300:

*modifi it (heavily) and keep dual 1540 in it, or

*solder dual 1540 out and solder in dual pcm63k (after 16 bit signal) or:

*dig out on it and use it as a transport

What decision would be best?

And has someone a tip to get a service manual or only a schematic? ( As i am a dutchman, for free??? )

Tubee

 

[tubee]

Found some Philips schematics at:

http://www.wmanshande.nl/PSM SCHEMA 10.htm

Comments: When purchasing PCM 63 (and Dig filter 1700/1704??) it has to be on a separate pcb, not instead of tda1540, but maybe 16 bit PCM 53 or 56 are better choice.

Tubee

 

[Thomas]

Replacing the 1540's are going to be difficoult as the old chipset didn't use i2s, but a earlier format. You would need some glue logic to convert it. If you find a solution, I would certainly like to know.

In the meantime,you could start out by replacing all the old electrolytics, especially those in the psu. The output opamp to something better and the output caps are horrible tantaliums if I remember correctly.

 

[X.G.]

Hi,

Somebody say that Philips LHH2000 which have CDM-0+TDA1540 still is the best sound professional CD player,and better than the SACD player

anybody have more info of LHH2000?

thanks,

X.G.

 

[tubee]

Replacing the 1540's are going to be difficoult as the old chipset didn't use i2s,

When i have a schematic we will see what is possible. Also on this site more information to find.(cd 104 and more have same chipset)

Philips LHH2000 which have CDM-0+TDA1540 still is the best sound professional CD player

Don't tell everyone, the marketprice will raise!!

For example: a studiomix with popular music is not alwais R, L and around middle, but also "twisting" or "phaseshifting effects" and so on (e.g. Lenny Gravitz, Mamma said) they are very obvious with this cd300. Btw experienced those effects more obvious also when connected a 1541 player in non-os mode.

But as i said the highs of 1540 are not perfect, the 1541 outperforms the 1540 in treble in my point of vieuw.

Tubee

 

[guido]

Hello

I bought on a flee-market a good Philips cd 300. Wanted to use it untill my 4 parallel 1541a project is finished. But after listening it i realized this player is not bad at all.
The 6 cm high transport with glass lens supplied CDM 0 gives a very relaxed sound, sometimes a little analog sounding as far as this is possible?? The highs are a little rough though.

Have a few ideas for the cd 300:

*modifi it (heavily) and keep dual 1540 in it, or

*solder dual 1540 out and solder in dual pcm63k (after 16 bit signal) or:

*dig out on it and use it as a transport

What decision would be best?

And has someone a tip to get a service manual or only a schematic? ( As i am a dutchman, for free??? )

Tubee

Why not put your 4*1541a project in there. It should be possible to hook them up in 'parallel' mode before the dig filter (so nos) without using i2s.

Was mentioned before here, but i never heard anybody that tried

 

[TDA1540]

Was mentioned before here, but i never heard anybody that tried

I did. I haven't heard any music yet,only noise.

 

[TDA1540]

What decision would be best?

Keep it original.Just replace the caps.

Why?

It will become a classic.Unmodified that is.
Something like a 304 is far easier to work on,has a groundplane(something a 200/202 or 300/303 lacks),will eventually sound better.And the 304 will never become such a valuable classic.
(just have a look on ebay!)

oh, and work esd-safe.some chips are very sensitive.Most players that have been worked on,without precautions, sound greyish.

 

[tubee]

The chap from-

http://www.wmanshande.nl/PSM SCHEMA 10.htm

-wants 8.80 euri for 65 pages and rounded price to 8,- In a few days wil have pdf

I did. I haven't heard any music yet,only noise.

Maybe someone else who managed this succesful? (put 1541 without I2S in old players)

work esd-safe.some chips are very sensitive.Most players that have been worked on,without precautions, sound greyish.

Thanks for advise tda1540

Keep it original.Just replace the caps.

I wonderded about soundquality with the standard grey RCA cord and connectors, oxidated and worn brass ones!
It is a classic already, so this is probably the best decision.
But have to check for dry solderjoints, last night some tracking problems accompanied with noise on speakers.

Tubee

 

[tubee]

Something like a 304 is far easier to work on,has a groundplane(something a 200/202 or 300/303 lacks),will eventually sound better.And the 304 will never become such a valuable classic.

Which one, 304 or the 304 mkII with 1541?

Tubee

 

[chlo]

Hi Tubee,

certainly Cd304 Mk2 as I have got mk1 with 2 TDA1540s.

Regards.

 

[tubee]

Hello Chlo

Have to wait then till someone is willing to sell a 304 mk II , now 5 or more 304's to be found on ebay, mostly from germany

Tubee

 

[tubee]

Why not put your 4*1541a project in there. It should be possible to hook them up in 'parallel' mode before the dig filter (so nos) without using i2s.

Checked it: The cd-300 is built like a tank, double metal casework and full of pcb's, not easy to put something extra in.

My 4 parallel 1541 dac project is going to be built from a CD-660 with cdm-4, in a new dampened housing, remote control (very convenient) and so on.
The only thing: do not like the long shielded cables from CDM4 to radial drive pcb's. Maybe those long connections are shorter in a 304 with cdm-1?

Tubee

 

[TDA1540]

Which one, 304 or the 304 mkII with 1541?

mkII is a totally different subject

The only thing: do not like the long shielded cables from CDM4 to radial drive pcb's

Why not mount the servoPCB under the cdm?
IIRC the 660/670 were merely fitted with extensioncables to the cdm.

 

[Bernhard]

CD304mkII is technically better because of lower distortion and digital out, but sometimes i prefere CD304 because harmonic and subharmonic distortions add drive to electric guitars

I would stay away from older players like CD100, CD300, CD303, their servo and audio electronics fail more often.

There are 4 mkII in my collection and I could give one away but shipping to the other end of the world would be terrible expensive.

 

[tubee]

I could give one away but shipping to the other end of the world would be terrible expensive.

Hello Bernard

Thanks for your offer, if you want to mis one, i wil be very happy with it!! The costs to send it over would be not that much i think. Can i send you an email to arrange this?

Tubee

 

[tubee]

IIRC the 660/670 were merely fitted with extensioncables to the cdm.

Correct TDA 1540

Why not mount the servoPCB under the cdm?

This """BEEP""" overhere first makes a solid housing for the cd player, and then comes to that same idea!
Because i like "flat" casings there is no room! But made bottom of mdf / acryllic / lead sandwich, maybe when i cut out some mdf and bend lytics down a little it wil just fit, we'll see.

In meantime thought it out: Keep CD-300 original, use with tubed pre-amp to 10W JLH amps or my EL84 SE tubeamp to ML-TQWT's with SPH-60X fullrange, i'm sure this is gonna sing!! Have to build the tqwp's then in future. No mega-buck gear, but when you hear it...

Tubee

 

[electropt]

Tubee,

You just wasted 8€, see?

Cheers

 

[tubee]

Thanks anyway electropt, nice tip for future projects.

Tubee

 

[Bernhard]

Can i send you an email to arrange this?

Yes, just click the email button.