Micromega Stage Cd Players eprom and board versions.
Hi I wonder if you could help me with a couple of questions please.
I have a number of Micromega Cd players ranging from Stage 1 , 2 and 5.
Some work fine some are in disrepair.
I have noticed on the boards there is an IC chip which I gather is the eprom for the drive and laser?
They have different version numbers written on them in biro.
Am I correct in presuming the later the version the better and more reliable it is.
It also seems to be that the later ones are on boards that have a little dog leg protrusion for the headphone socket.
So am I also correct in presuming the dog leg ones are later boards also?
I have a Stage 1 with a solid board and ic V.1.4 and a Stage 5 with the dog leg board (for the headphone) with ic V.3.22
Any info on the above would be great as I plan to construct a player with all the later versions of above.
Thanks
Hi I wonder if you could help me with a couple of questions please.
I have a number of Micromega Cd players ranging from Stage 1 , 2 and 5.
Some work fine some are in disrepair.
I have noticed on the boards there is an IC chip which I gather is the eprom for the drive and laser?
They have different version numbers written on them in biro.
Am I correct in presuming the later the version the better and more reliable it is.
It also seems to be that the later ones are on boards that have a little dog leg protrusion for the headphone socket.
So am I also correct in presuming the dog leg ones are later boards also?
I have a Stage 1 with a solid board and ic V.1.4 and a Stage 5 with the dog leg board (for the headphone) with ic V.3.22
Any info on the above would be great as I plan to construct a player with all the later versions of above.
Thanks
swapping EPROMs is likely to cause more problems than improving things. likely each major version (e.g. V.1.x V.3.xx) was optimized and tested to work with a specific chipset, DAC chip, etc. using wrong EPROM / PCB combo could possibly damage hardware (and/or result in loud hiss static noise at output jacks, etc)
Thanks for your reply.
I understand what you say. I was not going to move the eprom to another board etc but just use a combo of the later version boards and 2 DAC together etc.
So the earlier to later versions of eprom should work with DAC 1, 2 or 3 I suppose?
Plus the later version eproms are improved over the earlier ones?
Thanks.
I understand what you say. I was not going to move the eprom to another board etc but just use a combo of the later version boards and 2 DAC together etc.
So the earlier to later versions of eprom should work with DAC 1, 2 or 3 I suppose?
Plus the later version eproms are improved over the earlier ones?
Thanks.
Reliability is mostly based around the laser units more than anything else, although first gen players have some physical weaknesses (but are electronically better IMO). Make your selection based on the circuit 🙂
Stage 2 or 5 will be best sounding- the 1 being quite basic in comparison. My favourite is the first gen Stage 3, as long as you‘re happy rebuilding the whole front panel with double sided tape…original fails. 2nd gen machines used bolted facia 🙂
Stage 2 or 5 will be best sounding- the 1 being quite basic in comparison. My favourite is the first gen Stage 3, as long as you‘re happy rebuilding the whole front panel with double sided tape…original fails. 2nd gen machines used bolted facia 🙂
Thanks.
All the ones I own have bolted front panel facias.
I have a Stage 5 in lovely condition connected to a DAC 1 in my main system and will leave this as is.
There is also a Stage 1 in a second system which I will fit the Stage 2 DAC to.
I have also bought lasers from Ireland which will go into the other spare Stage, this will hopefully get it working fully again.
But I think I will have go at using later boards with the later versions of EPROM with the better DACs and hopefully these will be more reliable and read cds better.
I will also at some point change the PSU caps and DAC caps.
I was thinking Elna Cerafines or Panasonic FM in the PSU and Nichicon Muse KZ type or Elna Silmic II (RFS Series) for the DAC boards.
Any suggestions here?
All the ones I own have bolted front panel facias.
I have a Stage 5 in lovely condition connected to a DAC 1 in my main system and will leave this as is.
There is also a Stage 1 in a second system which I will fit the Stage 2 DAC to.
I have also bought lasers from Ireland which will go into the other spare Stage, this will hopefully get it working fully again.
But I think I will have go at using later boards with the later versions of EPROM with the better DACs and hopefully these will be more reliable and read cds better.
I will also at some point change the PSU caps and DAC caps.
I was thinking Elna Cerafines or Panasonic FM in the PSU and Nichicon Muse KZ type or Elna Silmic II (RFS Series) for the DAC boards.
Any suggestions here?
I'd be interested to know how you get on, keep us updated please 🙂
There's a thread from me on the Stage 5 and Stage 3 on PFM here. All I've done is fitted a clock to my 3, other than that Micromega really knew what they were doing when I looked at 5 in detail - one day I'll go through and check status of the electrolytics in the 3, but it sounds fantastic as is (not as good as modified Naim CDIs I have, but good none the less).
Richard
There's a thread from me on the Stage 5 and Stage 3 on PFM here. All I've done is fitted a clock to my 3, other than that Micromega really knew what they were doing when I looked at 5 in detail - one day I'll go through and check status of the electrolytics in the 3, but it sounds fantastic as is (not as good as modified Naim CDIs I have, but good none the less).
Richard