CD players that beg modification

[andrew_whitham]

Hi All

Can we start a list??

Looking for CD players that have a very specific feature - a separate servo / control board and Audio board. By separate I mean that the audio / DAC section is separate from the 'making it work' side.

I've looked at datasheets and service manuals galore now, mostly focussing on Sony Mech's as that was what was in the player I want to upgrade.

So far I have ONLY two candidates 🙁
Teac - CD-5 (SAA7350GP – SM5840AP and KSS210A)
AIWA - XC-950 (SAA7350GP – SM5840DS and KSS210)

The Teac I know all about as I bought it already 🙂 But it seems to be the only player they made that way - despite the fact there are lots of unused parts on the control and audio Boards (for balanced OP), I can't immediately find another TEAC that has the same separation of church and state.

Can anyone add to that list? Absolutely not Limited to Sony transports at all. Just looking for players where the control can be got out of the way and the fun can begin.

Andy

 

[mlloyd1]

i'm not sure what you're asking. it sounds like you might be asking about machines with the transport in the center and the transport electronics pcb on one side of the chassis and the audio/digital electronics pcb on the other side, maybe even with two separate power transformers; one to drive each side?
some of the old onkyo top line integra models: DX6800, DX-708, DX-706, etc.?
here's some peeks into a DX-708:
http://img.canuckaudiomart.com/uploads/large/264831-onkyo_integra_dx708_single_disc_player.jpg

IMG_2001.jpg Photo by renaudmumu | Photobucket

IMG_1954.jpg Photo by renaudmumu | Photobucket

DSCN0935.jpg Photo by sylviegael | Photobucket

 

[mlloyd1]

the laser assembly for those is NLA unless you happen upon NOS, for these it's been my experience that the platter motor and ribbon cable needs replacement before the laser does.

a decent transport and lots of room for modifications ...
mlloyd1

 

[Mooly]

Always wished that I'd kept my original Sony CDP101. Separate PCB's, and all highly tweakable given what we now know.

 

[srinath]

Always wished that I'd kept my original Sony CDP101. Separate PCB's, and all highly tweakable given what we now know.

+1, I thought I was getting an "upgrade" when I gave it away in 1993 and bought a Kenwood M5550 which I got a remote for and I used it till 2 years ago, and only traded away last week - anyway, 101 or 201, I am not sure, but I think 101. Bloody heavy it was.
Cool.
Srinath.

 

[stephensank]

Top of my head, units w/separate servo/audio pcbs:
Nakamichi OMS-5/7/5ii/7ii
Kyocera DA910/810(mostly same unit as above naks)
Nak CDC-4A, CDPlayer1, MB1, 1000mb(w/dac card)
McIntosh MCD7000/7008
Revox B225/226/226SE
Sony CDP-X707ES/X779ES
I could go on for a while, but not right now.

 

[andrew_whitham]

thanks all for the responses - been offline with the dreaded Man Flu

Mlloyd1 - yep that's exactly it, basically a cd player of two halves. The Onkyo looks great, makes me wonder how far down range the Philosophy went, will investigate service manuals.

Sony 101 - WOW! Rather a lot in that box..

Stephensank - will look, honestly more at the Sony end than the McIntosh - because money. but looks like there are plenty of options actually and its not as much of a challenge as I've been finding. 🙂

Again - Thanks for the pointers

 

[andrew_whitham]

I have a few more:

Teac VRDS 7
Teac VRDS 10
Quad67*
Arcam CD92
Arcam CD70.2
Marantz cd7300
Rotel RHCD 10

* is where it's entirely possible I misinterpreted the service manual. In fact, given my level of expertise here I should assume that you need to check. Especially if you're buying..

I've noticed that MOST of these are Sony Mech's. Is there a known reason that manufacturers using the sony transports seem more inclined to separate all the control system from the DAC and audio output?

cheers

Andy

 

[andrew_whitham]

By way of a bump - add Rotel RCD990
but NOT RCD991 or RCD971.

Not that it matters much as those are rarely rare anyway...

 

[zgtc]

Hi,

I know the thread is 4 years old, but I'm also looking for CD players with that specific feature, that is, separate servo and DAC boards. I've found some Cambridge Audio (CD100 or 640C).

Any help appreciated

 

[Simon1972]

All that gen of CA units do, 640, 740 and 840. The 840 is a very good second hand buy for mods. Split the rails, local regs, better clock and supply, class a output stage mods. You can even squeeze an xmos usb input in there.

 

[zgtc]

thank you!

 

[zgtc]

well, the 840 is A LOT more expensive though 😀

 

[zgtc]

I finally got a CA 640c on ebay, let’s see

 

[poynton]

Or in battleship class, you could try the Revox B126 or B226.

Separate boards and loads of space inside for mods.



If you can afford one, that is ......




Andy

 

[zgtc]

I just received the Cambridge Audio 640c mkI and it sounds awesome, MUCH better compared to a micro system I had around (no surprise here). Positive side as well is my wife is really impressed and soon forgot the "uhhh bought another **** for your DIY hobby? how much this one?" 😀

 

[Mooly]

Well that sounds like a result 🙂

 

[zgtc]

she’s even asked me to keep this one and buy another one for dismantling if I “need” to. literally “want to really open and break this thing?”

 

[Ian Greenhalgh]

Cambridge Audio CD5, D100 too, probably most other Cambridge Audio players.

 

[zgtc]

Yes, CA also have great, very clear service manuals. Problem was that CD5 doesn't play gapless