Walking around at the place called Discount Electronics (they specialize in older electronics for cheap) here in Arlington, I found a early NEC Multispin CD-ROM. Its a SCSI 4x External unit. Cool thing is that it has it's own powersupply, transport controllers, and a digital out. It was marked 6.99, I added 1.99 IEC cable (random computer grade...actually pretty heavy duty), and 8 caddies @ $0.50 each. Total was <$12. Sounds pretty good, sounded a little more livilier than my Technics transport. Anyways I recommend it as a Transport.
Controller functions include;
Play
Pause
Index (Back / Forward)
Stop
Repeat (all, I think)
**No search
**And no remote, at least not with a computer
Headphone, with volume
Analog Out (haven't tried them)
It turns out its a just a internal model stuck inside a housing with a powersupply. Even says on the drive inside NEC Multispin 4xi.
I'll probably upgrade the digital plug on the back which a crappy steel or something looking RCA, probably to a chasis mount. And probably a chasis mount IEC.
Does anyone know if I can make a direct wire from the "DIG" output on the CD-ROM unit straight to the plug...currently it goes into some circuit board that does some other stuff too, so I didn't know if the signal has to be modified before it can go to a DAC. Also the powersupply has some various parts on it that are probably old (well it says it was manuf. in 1994)...it has a 100uf Rubicon brand capacitor, that I thought maybe I could upgrade with a Solen or something. Or do you think I could build a descent power supply (12V 1.2A + 5V @ ?A) for a reasonable price.
I took some pics, but the only host site I have is one that only works for another forum I go to...so heres a link to see those pictures.
I took the SCSI connectors out, so thats why it looks empty on the back. The third pic is the power supply thats in the case.
System in question
NEC Trans
Monarchy Audio 18B DAC/Passive Volume Controll
Monarchy Audio SM70 Amp
Magnepan MMG
Controller functions include;
Play
Pause
Index (Back / Forward)
Stop
Repeat (all, I think)
**No search
**And no remote, at least not with a computer
Headphone, with volume
Analog Out (haven't tried them)
It turns out its a just a internal model stuck inside a housing with a powersupply. Even says on the drive inside NEC Multispin 4xi.
I'll probably upgrade the digital plug on the back which a crappy steel or something looking RCA, probably to a chasis mount. And probably a chasis mount IEC.
Does anyone know if I can make a direct wire from the "DIG" output on the CD-ROM unit straight to the plug...currently it goes into some circuit board that does some other stuff too, so I didn't know if the signal has to be modified before it can go to a DAC. Also the powersupply has some various parts on it that are probably old (well it says it was manuf. in 1994)...it has a 100uf Rubicon brand capacitor, that I thought maybe I could upgrade with a Solen or something. Or do you think I could build a descent power supply (12V 1.2A + 5V @ ?A) for a reasonable price.
I took some pics, but the only host site I have is one that only works for another forum I go to...so heres a link to see those pictures.
I took the SCSI connectors out, so thats why it looks empty on the back. The third pic is the power supply thats in the case.
System in question
NEC Trans
Monarchy Audio 18B DAC/Passive Volume Controll
Monarchy Audio SM70 Amp
Magnepan MMG
i have this same unit that i use for my infinity intermezzos. it sounds alright as a transport. i'm thinking of upgrading the power supply as well. let me know if you have any other ideas, or what we could do with it. im thinking of keeping it for my main player in that system.
i have read some articles on it where they combine it with an MSB dac or something, and it supposedly sounds great. i would be very interested in any upgrades that could be done.
i have read some articles on it where they combine it with an MSB dac or something, and it supposedly sounds great. i would be very interested in any upgrades that could be done.
Does anyone know if I can make a direct wire from the "DIG" output on the CD-ROM unit straight to the plug...currently it goes into some circuit board that does some other stuff too, so I didn't know if the signal has to be modified before it can go to a DAC.
Anyone??
I'd like to basically hardwire a connection from the CD-ROM to a BNC connector on the back. The output on the CD-ROM has two prongs, one says DIG or something and the other GND.
Anyone??
I'd like to basically hardwire a connection from the CD-ROM to a BNC connector on the back. The output on the CD-ROM has two prongs, one says DIG or something and the other GND.
This output is 5v ttl, you will have to build a spdif to RF adapter... see www.epanorama.net for instructions.
Could you possibly point me in the right direction over there. Theres a ton of pages on that site. Thanks.
**I found a little bit of info**
Note on HDR-2 (2 pin header) interface used in some PC products:
Many modern PC CD-ROM drives and some soundcards (SB32, AWE32, etc.) have a two pin digital output connector in the back of the drive and they sometimes call that interface S/PDIF. Unfortunately the electrical signal which comes from it is not exactly what is described in S/PDIF specifications. The data format is exactly the same, but the signal is TTL level (5Vpp) signal instead of the normal 1Vpp signal. The output level might be selected to make the interfacing to other digital electronics easy when signal is travelling inside the computer (the normal output driver system and input amplifiers can be avoided). The downnside of this is that you need to build some electronics to make the signal from the CD-ROM drive to match what normal S/PDIF equipments expect.
**I found a little bit of info**
Note on HDR-2 (2 pin header) interface used in some PC products:
Many modern PC CD-ROM drives and some soundcards (SB32, AWE32, etc.) have a two pin digital output connector in the back of the drive and they sometimes call that interface S/PDIF. Unfortunately the electrical signal which comes from it is not exactly what is described in S/PDIF specifications. The data format is exactly the same, but the signal is TTL level (5Vpp) signal instead of the normal 1Vpp signal. The output level might be selected to make the interfacing to other digital electronics easy when signal is travelling inside the computer (the normal output driver system and input amplifiers can be avoided). The downnside of this is that you need to build some electronics to make the signal from the CD-ROM drive to match what normal S/PDIF equipments expect.
what is wrong with the digital out that the player has already? shouldnt this circuit already be on the board?
modding ideas
have you seen this page??
http://www.geocities.com/leojar2002/Cd_4x_top.html
Im about 3/4 of the way there, using it as an open box top loader right now.
One thing i would do differently than him is to try and keep the cd spinning in relative darkness, build a cover over the disk or something..
cheers,
Colin
have you seen this page??
http://www.geocities.com/leojar2002/Cd_4x_top.html
Im about 3/4 of the way there, using it as an open box top loader right now.
One thing i would do differently than him is to try and keep the cd spinning in relative darkness, build a cover over the disk or something..
cheers,
Colin
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