Hi everyone,
I've been lurking about the diyaudio pages again, learning what I can about the latest and greatest after a 3 year hiatus from audio. The TDA1543 DAC projects look really appealing to me and I'd like to pursue a project using the dac inside of a Rega Planet.
Getting to the questions: 😉
Is the Rega Planet mechanically worth modifying? or should I dump it and get a different player with more potential? Any suggestions on a different player?
My reason for this approach is I love the way the Rega looks aesthetically, and the die cast chassis has a nice solid feel to it. However, I don't want to limit myself to the chassis if there is indeed big improvement to be had going with another chassis/pickup.
If I proceed down this project path likely nothing else will be used from the unit, so I'm primarily interested in any info on the pickup quality. My goal is to intercept the I2S or Sony format signal right at the pickup and feed it into a NOS dac board.
The pickup board has the # 1-645-722-51 on it and the chip is a Sony CXD2515Q, if that helps.
ANY help appreciated!
Norman
I've been lurking about the diyaudio pages again, learning what I can about the latest and greatest after a 3 year hiatus from audio. The TDA1543 DAC projects look really appealing to me and I'd like to pursue a project using the dac inside of a Rega Planet.
Getting to the questions: 😉
Is the Rega Planet mechanically worth modifying? or should I dump it and get a different player with more potential? Any suggestions on a different player?
My reason for this approach is I love the way the Rega looks aesthetically, and the die cast chassis has a nice solid feel to it. However, I don't want to limit myself to the chassis if there is indeed big improvement to be had going with another chassis/pickup.
If I proceed down this project path likely nothing else will be used from the unit, so I'm primarily interested in any info on the pickup quality. My goal is to intercept the I2S or Sony format signal right at the pickup and feed it into a NOS dac board.
The pickup board has the # 1-645-722-51 on it and the chip is a Sony CXD2515Q, if that helps.
ANY help appreciated!
Norman
i take it that the lack of response means the planet is a horrible waste of time. well, on ebay it goes!
The question is what you'll be getting if you sell this one. Do you know what CD transport is it using?
hey peter, thanks for replying. the cd transport in the player was listed in the first post. I've got in mind either the NEC 6XE cd rom, or a marantz 63,67. I'm dying to try out the NOS dac approach everyone is raving about, and the Rega would help fund this. Any thoughts on NEC cdrom vs Marantz transport quality?
Norman
Norman
It still doesn't say (in a first post) if it's Philips or some other transport mechanism. I have Marantz 94 with CDM1 and it's a very good transport still on level with CD-Pro2.
Are you talking about that approach, regarding NEC drive? I admit it sounds tempting. Also, I've been using TDA1543 for the last year, and this DAC if implemented properly is just great.
http://positive-feedback.com/Issue3/cdrom.htm
Are you talking about that approach, regarding NEC drive? I admit it sounds tempting. Also, I've been using TDA1543 for the last year, and this DAC if implemented properly is just great.
http://positive-feedback.com/Issue3/cdrom.htm
Peter, its a sony mech. The more I look at it, the more convinced I am that its crap. A mechanism from a playstation (original) looks better mechanically, and those things go out on a regular basis. I compared it to one of the very first Plextor CD-R drives I had lying around (Plextor 4x Burner, SCSI, w/ caddy, very similar to NEC), and the difference in quality was night and day. If the NEC is comparable to the plextor, it should be an awesome transport. I ordered 2 NEC's from ebay, and I'll post pics of the Rega, Plextor, and NEC transports for comparison. Only thing that stops me from using the Plex is no spdif, and didn't want to go probing around for the dig signals just quite yet. SPDIF is a good stepping stone for me, and I'll attack getting rid of the SPDIF later after the whole shebang works. One of the cool features the NEC drive is supposed to have is electromag actuation of the pickup head on its tracks. No gear slop, etc. Audible? who knows, but getting rid of gear slop CAN'T be a bad thing.
Well its been a couple of weeks, but the latest in the saga is this:
Rega's going to go, although I've gotten a few mails trying to persuade me other wise. The reason for this is just mechanism quality. The Plextor and NEC are just seem so much better in that regard.
Let me list specifics in regards to the mechanism quality.
Spindle motor
Both Plextor and NEC use brushless outboard runner type motors, generally these type exhibit higher torque and speed control over a standard type motor like in the Rega. Also, the spindle mounts (where the cd sits) on both the cdroms are metal, and perfectly true. The Sony mech in the Rega is plastic, and the spindle itself has about 10-15 thousanths of axial slop. The nec and plextor have not slop in the axle.
Laser sled mechanics
As far as the linear sliding of the sled is concerned, the NEC comes in first. The NEC uses widely spaced bushings on one side, and on the opposite side one bushing to control rotation about the first slider's axis. Pretty normal. However, the motor used to control the motion is a linear motor =) This is the first time I've seen this in a cd mech. Think of how a magnetic train operates and you'll have an idea. The beauty is, there's no drivetrain slop here! The plextor comes in second since it also has high quality linear slides. Actually smoother and tighter in the bearings than the NEC, but it's driven by a slop-compensated gear train. The sony brings up the rear with mostly plastic mechs, and a gear train that exhibits slop to the point of being able to slightly move the sled without moving the motor driving it.
Chassis
NEC's got a die cast chassis, The plextor has a stamped metal one. Both are more substantial than the Rega plastic one. One caveat though, is of course the Plextor and NEC both require caddies, an inconvenience.
I didn't bother posting pics like I said I would because I just think the NEC is the way to go. In the interest of bandwith savings, pics can be found here of the NEC pretty easily using search.
I'm going to post my progress with the NEC on the following thread:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18786&highlight=nec+cdrom
No sense in having 2 threads for the same topic!
Norman
Rega's going to go, although I've gotten a few mails trying to persuade me other wise. The reason for this is just mechanism quality. The Plextor and NEC are just seem so much better in that regard.
Let me list specifics in regards to the mechanism quality.
Spindle motor
Both Plextor and NEC use brushless outboard runner type motors, generally these type exhibit higher torque and speed control over a standard type motor like in the Rega. Also, the spindle mounts (where the cd sits) on both the cdroms are metal, and perfectly true. The Sony mech in the Rega is plastic, and the spindle itself has about 10-15 thousanths of axial slop. The nec and plextor have not slop in the axle.
Laser sled mechanics
As far as the linear sliding of the sled is concerned, the NEC comes in first. The NEC uses widely spaced bushings on one side, and on the opposite side one bushing to control rotation about the first slider's axis. Pretty normal. However, the motor used to control the motion is a linear motor =) This is the first time I've seen this in a cd mech. Think of how a magnetic train operates and you'll have an idea. The beauty is, there's no drivetrain slop here! The plextor comes in second since it also has high quality linear slides. Actually smoother and tighter in the bearings than the NEC, but it's driven by a slop-compensated gear train. The sony brings up the rear with mostly plastic mechs, and a gear train that exhibits slop to the point of being able to slightly move the sled without moving the motor driving it.
Chassis
NEC's got a die cast chassis, The plextor has a stamped metal one. Both are more substantial than the Rega plastic one. One caveat though, is of course the Plextor and NEC both require caddies, an inconvenience.
I didn't bother posting pics like I said I would because I just think the NEC is the way to go. In the interest of bandwith savings, pics can be found here of the NEC pretty easily using search.
I'm going to post my progress with the NEC on the following thread:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18786&highlight=nec+cdrom
No sense in having 2 threads for the same topic!
Norman
Hello
I just discovered your old messages and this interests me greatly.
Can I benefit from your experiences?
I want to replace the Sony system 1 645 722-51 my REGA JUPITER I/O drive.
Is the system NEC 602 which seems your favorite fully compatible with the Rega Sony?
If it is possible to mount it on the Rega, where can I find this NEC 602?
Thanks for your help,
Greetings,
Frédéric
I just discovered your old messages and this interests me greatly.
Can I benefit from your experiences?
I want to replace the Sony system 1 645 722-51 my REGA JUPITER I/O drive.
Is the system NEC 602 which seems your favorite fully compatible with the Rega Sony?
If it is possible to mount it on the Rega, where can I find this NEC 602?
Thanks for your help,
Greetings,
Frédéric
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