My Arcam CD37 has transport problems, it has a digital out. Is it possible to remove the transport and have a digital in and use the DAC only. I expect this is not possible which is a real shame as the DAC is really nice sounding.
I haven't seen the schematic of the CD37, so I’ll be guessing here.
I suspect that what you want to do may be possible, but probably is not worth the trouble. Roughly, the way I imagine going about it would be to purchase a diy S/PDIF input module. Mount it so that the coaxial input jack passes through a hole drilled through the chassis back for that new purpose. The module should feature a 3-wire I2S output port (presuming that the CD37’s DAC accepts I2S). Solder three wires from the module’s output port to the corresponding CD37 I2S PCB traces leading to its DAC. At the proper place. Then you must cut the I2S PCB traces coming from the CD37’s drive to its DAC, but make certain to do it prior to where the new solder connections are located. Thereby to disconnect obsolete signals from the drive section to the DAC section. You will need to power the S/PDIF module with the correct voltage. Also, ground the S/PDIF module to the CD37 signal ground.
That is, of course, a vast oversimplification. Which may not work, depending on whether the DAC section of the CD37 will operate properly when fed an external 3-wire I2S input signal. You also will need a schematic of the CD37, an oscilloscope, and a knowledge of electronics.
Like I said, it’s probably not worth the trouble.
I suspect that what you want to do may be possible, but probably is not worth the trouble. Roughly, the way I imagine going about it would be to purchase a diy S/PDIF input module. Mount it so that the coaxial input jack passes through a hole drilled through the chassis back for that new purpose. The module should feature a 3-wire I2S output port (presuming that the CD37’s DAC accepts I2S). Solder three wires from the module’s output port to the corresponding CD37 I2S PCB traces leading to its DAC. At the proper place. Then you must cut the I2S PCB traces coming from the CD37’s drive to its DAC, but make certain to do it prior to where the new solder connections are located. Thereby to disconnect obsolete signals from the drive section to the DAC section. You will need to power the S/PDIF module with the correct voltage. Also, ground the S/PDIF module to the CD37 signal ground.
That is, of course, a vast oversimplification. Which may not work, depending on whether the DAC section of the CD37 will operate properly when fed an external 3-wire I2S input signal. You also will need a schematic of the CD37, an oscilloscope, and a knowledge of electronics.
Like I said, it’s probably not worth the trouble.
I suspect what applies to the question of price applies here. If you have to ask..... FWIW, it is eminently possible.
Then why DIY in the first place ? I wouldn't have thought a DIY forum would be the most obvious place to find low hanging fruit.
The digital interface best suited to this would be async USB simply because it is the clock master, just as a CD player is clock master.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I routinely try to assess the expense, effort, manual dexterity, skill demands, and the overall risk of failure before I begin a DIY project. Since I’m without technical information (schematic, etc.) for the CD37, and unfamiliar with the personal capabilities of the Tanker, I essentially urged caution in undertaking the project. I didn’t, however, completely dissuade him from embarking on the project either. Providing a suggested rough scope of the undertaking.
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If I brought that level of analysis to the party nothing would ever get done. I have always thought of diy as something that needs, first and foremost, to be fun. Something to be done just for the sake of the doing. One might go so far as to consider it a folly as in the architectural use of the word.
Hi, thanks for the replies. Any work on this player would only take place if the transport fails, nothing to lose then. Arcam won't repair it and a unit of the same class would cost £2000. I expect the main problem is will the DAC work without the transport, being a SACD player may further muddy the waters.
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The dac will do what it is set it up to do . It is easy enough to take control of the dac from the onboard processor. Once it is isolated it is then possible to connect via USB or SPDIF.
No project is considered if it dosn’t seem fun or interesting. Such is a fundamental prerequisite. After that, project assessment efforts are roughly proportional to project complexity. If a project is obviously simple, so is its assessment. As far as complex projects, it would certainly be nice if resources, and my capabilities were unlimited so that assessment wasn’t prudent.
Sorry for the late reply, at present the Arcam CD37 is behaving without transport problems and would only try to mod the unit once it has failed [could be years].
When the time comes I'm interested in working on it, it already has SPDIF used for digital out duty. Could these be used for output plus would you be able to explain more about what is required thanks.