Hi everybody, new here and reading as much as I can to learn about digital audio. I've picked up a small collection of CD players, all vintage Sony's. CDP-520ES, CDP-C75ES, CDP-C15ES and a CDP-C900 all in working condition but needing a little TLC. So far I have researched all of the specs that I could find. The only player without a digital output is the 520ES, a shame as it has the best transport.
Player DAC Laser
CDP-520ES CX20152-CX23034 BU-1
CDP-C75ES CXD2552Q-CXD2554P KSS-240A
CDP-C900 PCM56P X 2 CXD2551P KSS-210A
CDP-C15ES PCM-58P X 2 CXD1144A KSS-210A
So what player has the most potential and is there any mods I can do to these to upgrade them? I need to go through the transports and clean and lube them. They are all very well made. Lot's of metal and the 520ES is a beast for it's size.
The 520ES has the worst sound of them all, a lot of hiss in the quiet passages and just doesn't sound as good as the others. Not surprising as it's a 1985 model and the others are 1989 to 1991. I was told that the hiss is bad grounds on the board. I'll look at that. Any easy way to upgrade the dacs or to put a digital output on this unit?
Thanks and thanks for a great forum.
BillWojo
Player DAC Laser
CDP-520ES CX20152-CX23034 BU-1
CDP-C75ES CXD2552Q-CXD2554P KSS-240A
CDP-C900 PCM56P X 2 CXD2551P KSS-210A
CDP-C15ES PCM-58P X 2 CXD1144A KSS-210A
So what player has the most potential and is there any mods I can do to these to upgrade them? I need to go through the transports and clean and lube them. They are all very well made. Lot's of metal and the 520ES is a beast for it's size.
The 520ES has the worst sound of them all, a lot of hiss in the quiet passages and just doesn't sound as good as the others. Not surprising as it's a 1985 model and the others are 1989 to 1991. I was told that the hiss is bad grounds on the board. I'll look at that. Any easy way to upgrade the dacs or to put a digital output on this unit?
Thanks and thanks for a great forum.
BillWojo
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I'm going to pop the lid off the CDP-C15ES soon. I think it may have the PCM56P DAC in it also. I know it sounds pretty good. I'll report back.
Ok, I updated the info for the CDP-C15ESD. The DAC is a PCM58P X 2pcs
Looks like it's a Burr Brown chip. I couldn't find that info anywhere on any of the list out there.
So is the PCM58P better than the PCM56P? I haven't really had a chance to listen to the CDP-900 with the PCM56P as it has a disc transport issue with a roller. Looks like I need to clean it. I have played the CDP-C15ESD for more than a few hours and I like it but I really don't have anything to compare it to as far as a top of the line unit.
Thanks
BillWojo
Looks like it's a Burr Brown chip. I couldn't find that info anywhere on any of the list out there.
So is the PCM58P better than the PCM56P? I haven't really had a chance to listen to the CDP-900 with the PCM56P as it has a disc transport issue with a roller. Looks like I need to clean it. I have played the CDP-C15ESD for more than a few hours and I like it but I really don't have anything to compare it to as far as a top of the line unit.
Thanks
BillWojo
Hi,
the PCM56 and 58 are 16Bit, resp. 18Bit DACs from BB.
Featuring the same DAC technology the 58 was a follower of the earlier 56.
Due to higher Bit number the dynamic range is slightly better and it specs up to double the clock frequency.
The 56 was 15 Bit linear, the 58 probabely better if the MSB was tuned precisely.
Both feature bipolar current outputs which allows for easy upgrades with Your own discrete I-V converters and analog output stages, instead of the cheap OPAmps typically used (the 56 has a internal OPAmp).
As for the missing Dout of the 520.
Most of the 2nd to 3rd generation digital filter chips had a dedicated Dout pin that allowed for easy implementation of a SPDIF and/or AES/EBU output.
Just download the DS of the digital filter chips from alldatasheet or alike and see if a Dout is found.
jauu
Calvin
jauu
Calvin
the PCM56 and 58 are 16Bit, resp. 18Bit DACs from BB.
Featuring the same DAC technology the 58 was a follower of the earlier 56.
Due to higher Bit number the dynamic range is slightly better and it specs up to double the clock frequency.
The 56 was 15 Bit linear, the 58 probabely better if the MSB was tuned precisely.
Both feature bipolar current outputs which allows for easy upgrades with Your own discrete I-V converters and analog output stages, instead of the cheap OPAmps typically used (the 56 has a internal OPAmp).
As for the missing Dout of the 520.
Most of the 2nd to 3rd generation digital filter chips had a dedicated Dout pin that allowed for easy implementation of a SPDIF and/or AES/EBU output.
Just download the DS of the digital filter chips from alldatasheet or alike and see if a Dout is found.
jauu
Calvin
jauu
Calvin
Hi Calvin, a few questions as I'm not an EE. By the digital filter chip are you refereing to the CX23034 or the CX20152? Once I find out if I can get digital out from it, how do I hook it up? I'm thinking attaching a wire to the leg or soldering it to the back side of the PCB and running that to the center pin of a RCA jack. What about the ground on the RCA jack? Tie that to chassis ground or does that get tied to a ground on the chip? I'm hoping to get time this weekend to research this.
Thanks for the info so far, it's been a real help
BillWojo
Thanks for the info so far, it's been a real help
BillWojo
I looked at Alldatasheet for the CX23034 and found that pin 19 is labeled DOUT so I have a place to tie in. So how do I procede?
Thank you
Billwojo
Thank you
Billwojo
Hi,
from the DS Pin19 is Dout, serial data output, MSB first.
From page 4 one can read that Dout´s level will be Low <0.4V and High >4.5V at 1mA .
That is TTL level.
The first circuit uses simple inverter logic to buffer the Dout.
The 74HC04, or 74HT04 are Hex Inverters, of which 5 are paralleled to achieve sufficient current drive capability and the first is used to double the inversion for a non-inverted output.
C1 AC-couples the signal to the signal transformer.
As core a toroid G2-3FT12 from Amidon may be used, wound with 0.3mm thick magnet wire.
Turns ratio is 25:5, because the S/PIF signal level is only 0.5V.
You may use any other suitable signal transformer too.
If You don´t want to use a signal transformer, the voltage divider made from R1 and R2 will suffice also.
Its values are chosen so low-ohmic to guarantee the specified output impedance of 75R.
The voltage divider gives no galvanic isolation though, but that should be no major issue as there will probabely be a transformer at the receiving end anyway.
A 75R BNC connector will be fine, but often one finds RCA/Cinch as connector also.
The AES/EBU output is a balanced output.
Here a Quad Exclusive-OR Gate 74HC86 or 74HCT86 is suitable.
Two Gates each are paralleled for more current drive capability.
C1 AC-couples the signal to the signal transformer Tr2.
Again a Amidon toroid core G2-3FT12 is usedd, but this time with a turns ratio of 15 to 12, as AES/EBU requires nearly TTL level.
One may optionally increase signal inegrity by shielding.
Just cut a piece of copper strip into a M-shape that fits across the toroid core and ground both legs.
The shield should separate the primary from the secondary winding.
R1 and R2 and the impedance of Tr2 result in ~115R output impedance.
If one wishes to correct for the originally specified 110R reduce R1 and R2 to 44R2.
Output connector is a 3-pole XLR.
That´s all Folks
jauu
Calvin
from the DS Pin19 is Dout, serial data output, MSB first.
From page 4 one can read that Dout´s level will be Low <0.4V and High >4.5V at 1mA .
That is TTL level.
The first circuit uses simple inverter logic to buffer the Dout.
The 74HC04, or 74HT04 are Hex Inverters, of which 5 are paralleled to achieve sufficient current drive capability and the first is used to double the inversion for a non-inverted output.
C1 AC-couples the signal to the signal transformer.
As core a toroid G2-3FT12 from Amidon may be used, wound with 0.3mm thick magnet wire.
Turns ratio is 25:5, because the S/PIF signal level is only 0.5V.
You may use any other suitable signal transformer too.
If You don´t want to use a signal transformer, the voltage divider made from R1 and R2 will suffice also.
Its values are chosen so low-ohmic to guarantee the specified output impedance of 75R.
The voltage divider gives no galvanic isolation though, but that should be no major issue as there will probabely be a transformer at the receiving end anyway.
A 75R BNC connector will be fine, but often one finds RCA/Cinch as connector also.
The AES/EBU output is a balanced output.
Here a Quad Exclusive-OR Gate 74HC86 or 74HCT86 is suitable.
Two Gates each are paralleled for more current drive capability.
C1 AC-couples the signal to the signal transformer Tr2.
Again a Amidon toroid core G2-3FT12 is usedd, but this time with a turns ratio of 15 to 12, as AES/EBU requires nearly TTL level.
One may optionally increase signal inegrity by shielding.
Just cut a piece of copper strip into a M-shape that fits across the toroid core and ground both legs.
The shield should separate the primary from the secondary winding.
R1 and R2 and the impedance of Tr2 result in ~115R output impedance.
If one wishes to correct for the originally specified 110R reduce R1 and R2 to 44R2.
Output connector is a 3-pole XLR.
That´s all Folks
jauu
Calvin
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