awpagan said:
No, worse than that, it was labled on the front correctly.
Its my eyes, I am getting old! YIKES!
Fin said:
Not at all. Can't comment on the shootout between the Rotel and the Philips, but the Philips alone is very much full of music.
You know it's a fine line between accuracy and being musical. I find the Philips does a fine job of reproducing the music as is. It is nice. But this is where the discussion and opinions begin. I find everyone experiences sound differently. To me, sometimes accuracy is harsh and/or creates listener fatigue (you know instead of getting more involved in listening to the music, you start to think I should be doing the dishes). The ideal situation is finding a nice balance of both. The Rotel did get me way more involved, most of the time, and was more forgiving on the harsh CDs that were analog produced and not remastered (some are worse than others and some are actually quite nice). Maybe that is a form of distortion, like the ongoing argument between some Solid State and Tube fans. But the term "Musical" and finding the "Balance" is what is most important to me (this is where I find the Rotel better) and I guess that might be something different for everybody! 
After all, there is a reason Philips CDPs are popular all over the world too. They are fine.
Regards//Keith
After all, there is a reason Philips CDPs are popular all over the world too. They are fine.
Regards//Keith
Agree, I was only saying that the Philips is not dull and lifeless.
Lets not start the discussion HiFi vs. music (no, pls. don't).
Don't you have a mashine that do the dishes? Sorry, OT.
Lets not start the discussion HiFi vs. music (no, pls. don't).
Don't you have a mashine that do the dishes? Sorry, OT.
Crikey Allan..... You too?
We should start a thread on how to get younger and skip all this Electronics stuff! I still remember what was MOST important to me when I was young. Not that it isn't as important now, It's just not all I think about.................
Regards//Keith
We should start a thread on how to get younger and skip all this Electronics stuff! I still remember what was MOST important to me when I was young. Not that it isn't as important now, It's just not all I think about.................
Regards//Keith
I'm sorry AVR300. Are you an Allan too? I was posting about getting older to Allan (awpagan) see his and my previous posts about getting old!
As far as staying younger... its all guess work as far as I know.... But there is hope, I hope!
Regards//Keith
As far as staying younger... its all guess work as far as I know.... But there is hope, I hope!
Regards//Keith
This is modified RCD971 with very nice chipset and solid potential. I installed XO2 clock with dedicated power supply (changed the diodes for RURP3060), used silver ribbons at most critical places, Black Gates FK types, AD847 (CERAMIC case - plastic case sounds much worse), and customer liked WIMA 4,7uF MKP10 series' sound.... I also have replaced the Sony mechanism with the brand new one and have properly adjusted laser output. The end result was pretty good (stingy customer!). The IC used works as I to V + output buffer. AD847 certainly gives its best as buffer. When it comes to I to V I prefer AD8066, but Rotel implementation has both functions within one physical chip...
Attachments
Hey Boky,
Did you get a chance to listen before and after? Under the hood, the 965 isn't as busy (I hope it will be easier to work on). The stock 971 has great reviews and it looks like there is a lot of circuitry to help it get there. And then all those mods (nice). It would be great to be able to hear ALL the mods one by one until Nirvana is reached for that unit!
Thanks for the update and endorsement for the AD847s.
Regards//Keith
Did you get a chance to listen before and after? Under the hood, the 965 isn't as busy (I hope it will be easier to work on). The stock 971 has great reviews and it looks like there is a lot of circuitry to help it get there. And then all those mods (nice). It would be great to be able to hear ALL the mods one by one until Nirvana is reached for that unit!
Thanks for the update and endorsement for the AD847s.
Regards//Keith
Hi Keith,
The stock sound was a bit harsh and closed-in. After the mods were done, it all improved for better. The Rotel choice of components is "on the cold" side (choice of decoupling and analog filter capacitors, as well as the original OP's). I find this to be true with all Rotel CD Players.
However, the DAC chips and digital filter are of very high (dare i say highest?) quality.
I rolled 2134, 275, 826 and 827(ceramic) and the last one was the best. (We haven't tried 627 - it's too expensive!)
Regards,
Boky
The stock sound was a bit harsh and closed-in. After the mods were done, it all improved for better. The Rotel choice of components is "on the cold" side (choice of decoupling and analog filter capacitors, as well as the original OP's). I find this to be true with all Rotel CD Players.
However, the DAC chips and digital filter are of very high (dare i say highest?) quality.
I rolled 2134, 275, 826 and 827(ceramic) and the last one was the best. (We haven't tried 627 - it's too expensive!)
Regards,
Boky
Boky,
I hope you get the chance to try the 627s, they sound like a complement to that project. Supposedly, from what I read, they are very warm AND detailed, wide and deep soundstage and are really raved about by users. Maybe a little dark but that might be nice for bright/harsh CDPs. The AD847s that Rotel suggests and sells cost $17.00 ea. USD, others are two or three USD and the 627s I believe, are around $30.00 ea USD. Not a huge difference for a huge difference. I got the impression the 627s might need other fine tuning after replacing stock op amps (I don't understand enough about theory to try this and get it right yet). I am glad to know these CDPs have a lot of potential and the results can put them on par with some very expensive CDPs at a fraction of the cost. And just think of all the fun and maybe some hairless moments too!
Regards//Keith
I hope you get the chance to try the 627s, they sound like a complement to that project. Supposedly, from what I read, they are very warm AND detailed, wide and deep soundstage and are really raved about by users. Maybe a little dark but that might be nice for bright/harsh CDPs. The AD847s that Rotel suggests and sells cost $17.00 ea. USD, others are two or three USD and the 627s I believe, are around $30.00 ea USD. Not a huge difference for a huge difference. I got the impression the 627s might need other fine tuning after replacing stock op amps (I don't understand enough about theory to try this and get it right yet). I am glad to know these CDPs have a lot of potential and the results can put them on par with some very expensive CDPs at a fraction of the cost. And just think of all the fun and maybe some hairless moments too!
Regards//Keith
The 627s have a 1K price of about $17 for P-dip. Sometimes if you're very honest and straightforward you can find a sympathetic distributor who'll give you the 1K price for a smaller order. Not the on-line instant shipping place we all know, but the traditional commercial distributors most electronic companies prefer to buy from.
Assumng the xr5534 op amps are output buffers by using the opa627 you will have the luxury of dc offset so low that you can remove the ac coupling caps on the output.. Can only result in better non electrolytically distorted sonics. In my RCD02 I replaced the opa2604 with ad823 and added a composite buffer, Jung inspired..
Colin
Colin
Could anyone please e-mail me the RCD971 circuit diagram (or point me to ftp server containing diagram)?
Thanks,
Boky
Thanks,
Boky
Colin,
The 5534s are being used as ouput buffers on the RCD 965. The Rotel Tech told me "It was our senior technician who discovered that using the video buffer 847 in place of the original op amps improved the performance."
I have been asking him what he knows about the 627s and he said " I am not familiar with the OPA627 so it could be a better sounding op amp than the 847."
If I can get the exact procedure of what to do on this CDP with the 627s (including which 627 and what caps to remove) I am going to ask him to run it by the Senior Technician and who knows, maybe this will be their new Rotel approved Mod.
Boky, I only have the service manual for the RCD 865 and the RCD 965. But Rotel will email it to you if you ask.
techsupport@rotel.com
Thanks All.
Regards//Keith
The 5534s are being used as ouput buffers on the RCD 965. The Rotel Tech told me "It was our senior technician who discovered that using the video buffer 847 in place of the original op amps improved the performance."
I have been asking him what he knows about the 627s and he said " I am not familiar with the OPA627 so it could be a better sounding op amp than the 847."
If I can get the exact procedure of what to do on this CDP with the 627s (including which 627 and what caps to remove) I am going to ask him to run it by the Senior Technician and who knows, maybe this will be their new Rotel approved Mod.
Boky, I only have the service manual for the RCD 865 and the RCD 965. But Rotel will email it to you if you ask.
techsupport@rotel.com
Thanks All.
Regards//Keith
Hey Colin,
Jung Inspired?
Sooner or later I will understand all the terminology and phrases all you experienced guys use!
So I will start with Jung Inspired if you don't mind explaining.
Also, maybe a little more about the OPA627s (I think there is more than one and the difference is the letters after 627) and how to identify the AC Coupling Caps and remove them (do I need jumpers or anything else).
Thanks for the education leading me down the path to Nirvana or..... maybe Not!
Regards//Keith
Jung Inspired?
Sooner or later I will understand all the terminology and phrases all you experienced guys use!
So I will start with Jung Inspired if you don't mind explaining.
Also, maybe a little more about the OPA627s (I think there is more than one and the difference is the letters after 627) and how to identify the AC Coupling Caps and remove them (do I need jumpers or anything else).
Thanks for the education leading me down the path to Nirvana or..... maybe Not!
Regards//Keith
I went looking for the Burr-Brown OPA627AP op amps on the Internet and some may be "counterfit." It seems to me they might be harder to locate locally than I want.
So I called TI to find out the best place to get the BBs and the best place is TI through their sample program. Four are on their way to me and will arrive in a week or two. Best part is No Charge! This is a nice surprise. I hope this is a sign that this Mod will be satisfying!😀 😀 😀 😀
So I called TI to find out the best place to get the BBs and the best place is TI through their sample program. Four are on their way to me and will arrive in a week or two. Best part is No Charge! This is a nice surprise. I hope this is a sign that this Mod will be satisfying!😀 😀 😀 😀
Hello Keith,
Did you get any further with your modifications?
I found this thread searching for Rotel RCD 865. I bought one as a backup CD player on Ebay for £20 a while ago.
I have listened and found the sound to be fuzzy, boomy and warm. It falls massively short of my reference (well-modified Marantz CD63KI) but it has some charm to it and I'd consider performing some cheap modifications to see what it can do.
Simon
Did you get any further with your modifications?
I found this thread searching for Rotel RCD 865. I bought one as a backup CD player on Ebay for £20 a while ago.
I have listened and found the sound to be fuzzy, boomy and warm. It falls massively short of my reference (well-modified Marantz CD63KI) but it has some charm to it and I'd consider performing some cheap modifications to see what it can do.
Simon
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