I am a noobie for DIY, but am keen to start. This is mainly a discovery trip more than anything else for me.
I have been toying for sometime with a project of building a DAC/streamer/CD ripper. Had quite a few ideas, but today thought of something and since I could not find a lot of advice on the web (I was probably using the wrong key words) I decided to pose the question here.
I have lying around a Sony CDP-970 CD player. At the moment it is not used. I wonder if it's worth while repurposing it for my project. I have a lot of questions but will keep it now on the more generic level: Is it an idea worthwhile looking at? I guess I will need to replace the back and front pannel, but the question is if I can reuse parts in the Sony (CD drive, power supply, anything else)? My idea is to inject an RPI, DAC and potentially a screen. Is the case reusable or I should strat directly with a new case. Any comment/advice (including that of "not worth it, think of somehting else") is welcome. If anyone ever did something similar, I am delighted to get some tips!
I have been toying for sometime with a project of building a DAC/streamer/CD ripper. Had quite a few ideas, but today thought of something and since I could not find a lot of advice on the web (I was probably using the wrong key words) I decided to pose the question here.
I have lying around a Sony CDP-970 CD player. At the moment it is not used. I wonder if it's worth while repurposing it for my project. I have a lot of questions but will keep it now on the more generic level: Is it an idea worthwhile looking at? I guess I will need to replace the back and front pannel, but the question is if I can reuse parts in the Sony (CD drive, power supply, anything else)? My idea is to inject an RPI, DAC and potentially a screen. Is the case reusable or I should strat directly with a new case. Any comment/advice (including that of "not worth it, think of somehting else") is welcome. If anyone ever did something similar, I am delighted to get some tips!
I spent some time trying to find some information on this that would help somebody with zero practical experience achieving as a first build what you want ----and failed.
While I admire your high hopes practical reality insists you do a bit of studying first of all on soldering, recognizing electronic parts ,knowing how they interact with each other etc etc .
There is no easy way to learn you start from building simple projects --make mistakes and learn from them .
Maybe I have you wrong -- maybe you have an electronics degree /electrical degree / technical diploma in electronic/electrical theory and its just the practical side you are short on knowledge of ?
I don't want to sound patronizing as that puts people off but it took me many decades of learning to get to where I am now, unless somebody is a child genius its a hard slog .
I would never attempt what you want to do without at least a solid basis in electronics and a bench full of test equipment which I have.
I wish I could be more positive but I am a realist .
Maybe somebody here can give you more positive advice ?
Dont be put off just please start simply in this.
While I admire your high hopes practical reality insists you do a bit of studying first of all on soldering, recognizing electronic parts ,knowing how they interact with each other etc etc .
There is no easy way to learn you start from building simple projects --make mistakes and learn from them .
Maybe I have you wrong -- maybe you have an electronics degree /electrical degree / technical diploma in electronic/electrical theory and its just the practical side you are short on knowledge of ?
I don't want to sound patronizing as that puts people off but it took me many decades of learning to get to where I am now, unless somebody is a child genius its a hard slog .
I would never attempt what you want to do without at least a solid basis in electronics and a bench full of test equipment which I have.
I wish I could be more positive but I am a realist .
Maybe somebody here can give you more positive advice ?
Dont be put off just please start simply in this.
Even if there's no CDP-970 thread on here, there are lots of threads in the digital-line-level forum that address at least one aspect or another of your project idea. It would be worth investing some time reviewing, say, a few dozen pages of as many of them as you have the time and patience for. The stumbling blocks and pitfalls are many and can tax even someone with plenty of electronics experience.
In digital audio, there are times when there simply is no sound -- and no apparent reason why.
I really don't intend to discourage you, but maybe there's a headphone amp or pre-amp project that would provide a respectable challenge, a reason to get your feet wet, and still give a satisfying payoff at the end ..😉
Best Regards
In digital audio, there are times when there simply is no sound -- and no apparent reason why.
I really don't intend to discourage you, but maybe there's a headphone amp or pre-amp project that would provide a respectable challenge, a reason to get your feet wet, and still give a satisfying payoff at the end ..😉
Best Regards
If it were me, all I would do is add a S/PDIF (digital coaxial) output to that player and call it a day.
al2813:
We were all where you are at some point, trying to cobble together our concept for a first project. Your goal makes good sense, but I doubt you can get there starting with your old CD player. I agree with Rick PA Stadel's premise, and suggest the following course of action:
1. Assemble a server to rip, store and play your music. Take a look at the Daphile and Raspberry Pi-based threads in the digital forum. My preference would be the Daphile route.
2. Obtain a DAC. I find surface mount projects to be very difficult -- the parts are tiny, the solder points are tinier still and my eyes aren't great. Moreover, DACs are complicated. As a result, I would avoid building a DAC (though in time you might want to try doing so) and instead would look for an inexpensive USB DAC. There are plenty out there. My personal recommendation would be for one of the Schiit Modi DACs, but that's just because I've had good experience with them.
Once finished with these steps, consider building an amplifier and preamplifier to pair with your music server. Again, you'll find terrific options, resources and opinions on amps and preamps here at diyAudio. My personal preferences: look in the Pass forums for great-sounding Class A options.
Regards,
Scott
We were all where you are at some point, trying to cobble together our concept for a first project. Your goal makes good sense, but I doubt you can get there starting with your old CD player. I agree with Rick PA Stadel's premise, and suggest the following course of action:
1. Assemble a server to rip, store and play your music. Take a look at the Daphile and Raspberry Pi-based threads in the digital forum. My preference would be the Daphile route.
2. Obtain a DAC. I find surface mount projects to be very difficult -- the parts are tiny, the solder points are tinier still and my eyes aren't great. Moreover, DACs are complicated. As a result, I would avoid building a DAC (though in time you might want to try doing so) and instead would look for an inexpensive USB DAC. There are plenty out there. My personal recommendation would be for one of the Schiit Modi DACs, but that's just because I've had good experience with them.
Once finished with these steps, consider building an amplifier and preamplifier to pair with your music server. Again, you'll find terrific options, resources and opinions on amps and preamps here at diyAudio. My personal preferences: look in the Pass forums for great-sounding Class A options.
Regards,
Scott
Hi Scott, thanks for the feedback. Indeed I reached to the same conclusions as yourself after further reading and agree as well with Rick PA Stadel.
I do have two USB DACs at home. I was thinking of a dac as a project, but there I think I still need to learn. Building a server as something I can do and so SW tinkering - have been doing this for 20 years 🙂
Am now trying to assemble a BOM. Thanks again for the feedback
I do have two USB DACs at home. I was thinking of a dac as a project, but there I think I still need to learn. Building a server as something I can do and so SW tinkering - have been doing this for 20 years 🙂
Am now trying to assemble a BOM. Thanks again for the feedback
al2813:
To be sure, assembling a music server is sort of a cheat, in that you'll be bolting a handful of parts together rather than soldering. Indeed, you'll probably spend more time configuring the server than assembling it. However, it's a great way to get started in DIY audio and would appear to fulfill the goals you posited in your first post. It's also incredibly rewarding.
Regards,
Scott
To be sure, assembling a music server is sort of a cheat, in that you'll be bolting a handful of parts together rather than soldering. Indeed, you'll probably spend more time configuring the server than assembling it. However, it's a great way to get started in DIY audio and would appear to fulfill the goals you posited in your first post. It's also incredibly rewarding.
Regards,
Scott