Hi all,
I have a marantz CD67OSE which I've had from new, its not been my main source for a few years though, its in great condition so I've thought about modding it, I've had a quick scan over the CD63/67 thread and its a bit daunting for a newbie.
I'm thinking about buying a second hand CD10 at some stage, how will a modded CD10 compare to my 67OSE should I decide to mod that?
I've ordered a few electriconics books to try and learn something, I've done basic stuff before but not stuff like replacing clocks, caps and resistors etc so hopefully the books will help. I also intend to build one of the many DIY DAC's around (DDDAC looks promising) to go with either player, I must admit that they look fairly straight forward, but the chassis and power supply seem to be my main concerns.
Sorry for the long winded thread but I've done a few searches and read LOADS, but it all gets too much after a certain point and its better to ask rather than let my head explode.
Thanks for any advice
I have a marantz CD67OSE which I've had from new, its not been my main source for a few years though, its in great condition so I've thought about modding it, I've had a quick scan over the CD63/67 thread and its a bit daunting for a newbie.
I'm thinking about buying a second hand CD10 at some stage, how will a modded CD10 compare to my 67OSE should I decide to mod that?
I've ordered a few electriconics books to try and learn something, I've done basic stuff before but not stuff like replacing clocks, caps and resistors etc so hopefully the books will help. I also intend to build one of the many DIY DAC's around (DDDAC looks promising) to go with either player, I must admit that they look fairly straight forward, but the chassis and power supply seem to be my main concerns.
Sorry for the long winded thread but I've done a few searches and read LOADS, but it all gets too much after a certain point and its better to ask rather than let my head explode.
Thanks for any advice
In all seriousness, just buy or build a DAC. It will blow away just about any CD mods and cost about the same or less.
I was a the same crossroads as you a couple of years ago. I decided that modding an old CD play was not good use of my resources. Everything in a Marantz CD player needs modding from the PSU, DAC chip and I/V. I have a CD 63SE that I now use just as a transport to an outboard DAC. Look around there are great deals and really great DAC's available these days that will just dust the mods for an older CD player. I bought an ADCOM GDA-750 on eBay for $250 bucks with balanced outputs and BB1702 DAC chips (20 bit version of the 1704). I've been auditionig new DAC's and they are better than the ADCOM, but only in certain areas or slightly better overall. Whereas the ADCOM clearly blew away the CD63SE in a very definitive maner.
Hope this helps,
-David
I was a the same crossroads as you a couple of years ago. I decided that modding an old CD play was not good use of my resources. Everything in a Marantz CD player needs modding from the PSU, DAC chip and I/V. I have a CD 63SE that I now use just as a transport to an outboard DAC. Look around there are great deals and really great DAC's available these days that will just dust the mods for an older CD player. I bought an ADCOM GDA-750 on eBay for $250 bucks with balanced outputs and BB1702 DAC chips (20 bit version of the 1704). I've been auditionig new DAC's and they are better than the ADCOM, but only in certain areas or slightly better overall. Whereas the ADCOM clearly blew away the CD63SE in a very definitive maner.
Hope this helps,
-David
Thanks David,
Surely if I buy a DAC then modding the CDP will ownly make it sound even better? or are all the mods to the marantz players based around its internal DAC?
To be honest I'm more intrested in modding for the experience, if i get a better sounding CDP at the end of it all then thats just a bonus.
Surely if I buy a DAC then modding the CDP will ownly make it sound even better? or are all the mods to the marantz players based around its internal DAC?
To be honest I'm more intrested in modding for the experience, if i get a better sounding CDP at the end of it all then thats just a bonus.
If you are using the Marantz as a transport there is very little to modify and there is no need to modifythe CDP. Check what DAC chips are in your CDP and look at the datasheet for the chip and see if the performance is what you are seeking. Most people would never initiate a DIY project around the DAC that comes in these older players. The very foundation you are starting with(DAC Chip) puts the intended outcome in jeopardy. If you would not build a DAC or CDP around the chip in your CDP, then you are starting in a hole to begin with. Many of these chips are old and definitly not very "high end".
The internal case of many CDP's are cramped and make modding difficult. Just keep in mind you are probably completely rebuliding much of the CDP circuits after the DAC chip.
DAC's on the other hand like the ADCOM GDA-750 have loads of room inside the case for upgrades, and you are starting at a higher level of stock performance. Just use your stock CDP with TOS or spdif output to a DAC.
If you want to mod your CDP go for it! Just don't expect a modded Marantz to approach anywhere near the performance of a decent stock DAC. Once you start cutting traces and putting in new circuit components you cannot go back very easily. Also DAC's and the DAC section of CDP's are sensitive to component placement and you are stuck with putting larger caps and parts where ever they will fit.
There was a time a few years ago where upgrading the caps, connectors, and recitifiers made improvements towards the "state of the art" for a low cost. This is no longer the case given the direction the industry has moved in.
For the same cost as a risky CDP upgrade (in terms of outcome and improvement of sound) you can build a DAC or mod a commerical used DAC.
Just look a the the change in this forum over the past few years in the number of DIYer's who are starting threads for modding CDP's verses building or modding DAC's.
-David
The internal case of many CDP's are cramped and make modding difficult. Just keep in mind you are probably completely rebuliding much of the CDP circuits after the DAC chip.
DAC's on the other hand like the ADCOM GDA-750 have loads of room inside the case for upgrades, and you are starting at a higher level of stock performance. Just use your stock CDP with TOS or spdif output to a DAC.
If you want to mod your CDP go for it! Just don't expect a modded Marantz to approach anywhere near the performance of a decent stock DAC. Once you start cutting traces and putting in new circuit components you cannot go back very easily. Also DAC's and the DAC section of CDP's are sensitive to component placement and you are stuck with putting larger caps and parts where ever they will fit.
There was a time a few years ago where upgrading the caps, connectors, and recitifiers made improvements towards the "state of the art" for a low cost. This is no longer the case given the direction the industry has moved in.
For the same cost as a risky CDP upgrade (in terms of outcome and improvement of sound) you can build a DAC or mod a commerical used DAC.
Just look a the the change in this forum over the past few years in the number of DIYer's who are starting threads for modding CDP's verses building or modding DAC's.
-David
Thank you for clearing a few things up, I was under the impression that mods made to the CDP were in 2 stages, the performance of the actual player itself and the performance of the DAC.
Mods like clock changes and PSU's, do they only effect the onboard DAC? or do they control other parts of the CDP?
Basically what your advising is to buy a decent DAC and spend modding that rather than wasting it on an average CDP?
Mods like clock changes and PSU's, do they only effect the onboard DAC? or do they control other parts of the CDP?
Basically what your advising is to buy a decent DAC and spend modding that rather than wasting it on an average CDP?
Essentually the mods people have described only affect the DAC portion of the CDP. Your Marantz player will work great as a transport unmodded. The CDP control circuit for spinning the motor and taking the digital stream off of the mechanism and converting it to spdif should not require any modification.
You're spot on, I'd shop for the best new or used DAC I could afford, listen to it a while in stock form and then mod it if you're still interested.
Sometime in the furute you might also consider going to a harddrive/computer for your transport connected to your DAC. The data stream from your PC can be bit perfect with the right software drivers and hardware. The sound is equal or better than a mega thousand dollar transport. A good friend of mine in town has a very successful business installing custom "cost is no object" home theater and HiFi set-ups. We are talking evtry prices of $100K to start and his team id fully booked with work. They only install harddrive based music transports with highend DAC's. It's far better to leave the CDP alone and use it in stock form as a transport.
If you are interested in learning more about PC/harddrive based audio, take a look at www.slimdevices.com for their SqueezeBox and Transporter products. Also look at the http://www.wavelengthaudio.com/usbdac.html there is a lot of great basic information regarding computer based transports.
Good luck to you on your research,
-David
You're spot on, I'd shop for the best new or used DAC I could afford, listen to it a while in stock form and then mod it if you're still interested.
Sometime in the furute you might also consider going to a harddrive/computer for your transport connected to your DAC. The data stream from your PC can be bit perfect with the right software drivers and hardware. The sound is equal or better than a mega thousand dollar transport. A good friend of mine in town has a very successful business installing custom "cost is no object" home theater and HiFi set-ups. We are talking evtry prices of $100K to start and his team id fully booked with work. They only install harddrive based music transports with highend DAC's. It's far better to leave the CDP alone and use it in stock form as a transport.
If you are interested in learning more about PC/harddrive based audio, take a look at www.slimdevices.com for their SqueezeBox and Transporter products. Also look at the http://www.wavelengthaudio.com/usbdac.html there is a lot of great basic information regarding computer based transports.
Good luck to you on your research,
-David
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