CD players that beg modification

[zgtc]

OK finally got my hands on a Torx T6 and was able to open the top panel... and it is not the mkI but mkII, meaning I have the 2xWM8740 version! The DAC board is obviously bigger but I hope I can fit everything in the new enclosures.

 

[andrew_whitham]

So a thread from the dead

Just in time for Halloween I guess

Some errors in the previous too but for the greater good... Looking for players that specifically split all the electronics required to make the player work from all the electronics to make the player's sound. Ideally splitting up before the Digital filter and clock

in other words a cd player that you can easily graft an output on. See ebay for any number of boards that can be used to make mayhem

Version 1 of a list is attached - can we add to it? I've only been adding players where I'm 99% sure the criteria are met

I was going to add some criteria to this because who's buying a £1,000+ player or a piece of early audio history to muck about with it. Then I thought, this is DIYAudio, any "rules" mean nothing here So I admit the list is probably missing some early TDA1540 players and some that are historical and or mega expensive but add them for completeness I guess?

Here's where I'm up to so far

Manufacturer	Model	DAC / Filter set	Mech	Notes
Akai	CD-69	2 x PCM63P-J – CD0002AD / SM5813	KSS-150A / KSS-210A	splits AFTER filter but same board as CD-79
Akai	CD-79	2 x PCM63P-K – SM5813AP	KSS-150A / KSS-210A	splits AFTER filter
Cambridge Audio	azur640c	1 x WM8740	Sony KSS-213C
Cambridge Audio	azur640c v2	2 x WM8740	Sanyo SF-P101N
NAKAMICHI	OMS-5	2 x TDA1540D – SAA7030	HLPL 030020 (CA80255A)
NAKAMICHI	CDC-4A,	TDA1541A-S1	Pioneer PWY1009 / PWY1010	it’s a changer
Onkyo	DX-706 Integra	2 x SM5861AP – SM5813AP	NEC SPU3011 - Magnetic
Onkyo	DX-708 Integra	2 x SM5861AP – SM5813AP	NEC SPU3011 - Magnetic
Revox	B 126	TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B	CDM-1 / CDM-4/27
Revox	B 225	2 x TDA1540 – SAA7030	CDM-0 / CDM-1
Revox	B 226	TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A	CDM-1
Revox	B 226 Mk II / Signature	TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B	CDM-1
Revox	B 226-S / E	TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown)	CDM-1/MKII / CDM-4/26
Rotel	RCD-990	2 x PCM63P – PMD100	CDM-9 Pro	Not RCD991 RCD771 or RCD951 though
Rotel	RCC-955	PCM69AP – PMD100	KSS-213C	It’s a changer. Additional off board 5v for digital
Rotel	RHCD-10	2 x PCM63P-K – SM5843AP / PMD100	CDM-9 Pro	not verified
Sony	CDP-X505ES	1 x CXD2562Q – CXD2567M	KSS-272A
Sony	CDP-X707ES	2 x CXD2562Q – CXD2567M	KSS-272A
Sony	CDP-X779ES	2 x CXD2562Q – CXD2560M	KSS-272A
TEAC	CD-P400	MN6474M	KSS-150A	not confirmed
TEAC	CD-P4000	MN6474M	KSS-150A / KSS-210A	Single Layer boards
TEAC	CD-P4500	SAA7350GP – SM5840AP	KSS-210A	Pitch bend
TEAC	CD-5	SAA7350GP – SM5840AP	KSS-210A	Single Layer boards
TEAC	CD-Z500	2 x TDA1541A – PD0050	KSS-150A	Single Layer boards
TEAC	CD-Z5000	2 x TDA1541A – PD0050	KSS-210A	Single Layer boards
TEAC	VRDS-7	2 x SAA7350GP – SM5840AP	VRDS CMK-4 – KSS-240A
TEAC	VRDS-8	4 x PCM1702 – SM5843AP	VRDS CMK-4.5 – SF-P151 (16 pin)
TEAC	VRDS-9	4 x PCM1702 – SM5840AP	VRDS CMK-4.2 – KSS-213C	mini format
TEAC	VRDS-10	2 x TDA1547 – SAA7350 – SM5840AP	VRDS CMK-3.2 – KSS-151A
TEAC	VRDS-10SE	2 x TDA1547 + 2 x SAA7350 – SM5840AP	VRDS CMK-3.2 – KSS-151A
TEAC	VRDS-15	2 x NSdap FN1242A – SM5843AS1	VRDS CMK-3.2 – KSS-151A
TEAC	VRDS-20	2 x TDA1547 – SAA7350AGP – SM5840AP	VRDS CMK-3.2 – KSS-151A
TEAC	VRDS-25	4 x AD1862N-J – SM5843AP – AD1893JN	VRDS CMK-3.2 – KSS-151A
TEAC	VRDS-25X	4 x AD1862N-J – SM5843AP – AD1893JN	VRDS CMK-3.2 – KSS-151A
TEAC	VRDS-25XS	4 x AD1862N-J – SM5843AP – AD1893JN	VRDS CMK-3.2 – KSS-151A
TEAC	VRDS-50	NSdap FN1241	VRDS CMK-3.2 – KSS-151A	MONEY
Copland	CDA 266	2 x PCM63P – PMD100	KSS-240A
Copland	CDA 277	2 x PCM63P – PMD100	VRDS CMK-4 – KSS-240A
Copland	CDA 288	4 x PCM63P-K – PMD100	VRDS CMK-4 – KSS-240A
Copland	CDA 289	4 x PCM63P – PMD100	KSS-240A

Also, how do I attach an excel file?

Some data taken from that big CD/DAC list because a "list is a list", but checked via service manuals.

Andy

 

[Mooly]

Also, how do I attach an excel file?

Put it in a zipped folder. 10Mb limit on size.

 

[rfbrw]

It would be a crime to fit an eBay abomination to some of the units listed.

 

[andrew_whitham]

Put it in a zipped folder. 10Mb limit on size.

Simple!

 

[andrew_whitham]

It would be a crime to fit an eBay abomination to some of the units listed.

Heh heh
Indeed it would. Others not so much. I just wasn't keen on setting a boundary.
I do agree Carving up a CDA289 (for example) would be a sin. Similarly some of the early players are almost historically significant

Andy

 

[rfbrw]

That being said, some of the more visually appealing first generation players could benefit from some tech insertion.

 

[Havoc]

Does a CD transport fit into your bill?

 

[andrew_whitham]

Now I 100% agree there! Its sort of the inspiration, or what started the whole 2 board thing anyway.

But since you've got me started there is a bit of backstory here (cue music)

I have a Musical Fidelity FCD. IMHO one of, if not the most beautiful players ever made but, and it pains me to say, it's technically "faecal" (sorry) I think its a TEAC cd3500 or 3450 under the skin, with an 'x10' grafted on. Marketing! yay! However, even the implementation is best described as "I made this in my garage" Understand why, but still...

So, I started looking for CD players with similar mechanisms with this idea of replacing the TEAC bits with something a bit "more" Of course I never got there: a separate play / pause button, none of the Sony grid display and a reasonable board size is frankly, a challenge. The tiny number of FCD's I've ever seen have that historian in me screaming "preserve it so future generations can see what you can get away with if you're pretty"

Won't matter of course - they're all listening to spotify or whatever kids do these days

On the journey I've come to think there's some merit in avoiding external DACs if it's all in the one box. Why External DAC if you can Internal DAC - I cant imagine that conversion to SPDIF and back again is the ideal

Anyway different thread. This one is fishing for info on CD players with the split as described. Of the 1000's of people on here who actually understand what they are looking at there's got to be a list waiting to happen

Andy

 

[andrew_whitham]

Does a CD transport fit into your bill?

I'm not sure to be honest

They tend seem to be to be focussed on digital out? Looking at the VRDS T1 as an example. I don't know enough to interrogate the SPDIF part of the circuit! I'm looking for lines marked Data. LRCK and BCK or similar

I might be off the mark though My understanding is not necessarily the truth

Andy

 

[Guerilla]

@andrew_whitham on my cheap old sony I connected a shielded line cable from digital out of laser to right RCA output. I like the sony for its oldfassion direct numerical track selection and it now it plays thruu a wonderful dac and even reads all 18 bits on HDcds.

i imagine you can buy a state of the art dac for 20-30 dollars and hide it in a corner of your FCD.
Cheers!

 

[mlloyd1]

probably goes without saying that it's best to stick to machines where the complete (i.e. includes legible schematics and test waveform images, etc.) service manuals are available, too!

 

[andrew_whitham]

Teac CD-P4500 acquired seems to be a CD-5 with sensible case (and a daft pitch control) which is nice
The board numbers almost tally Audio board is 9155110201 vs the CD-5's 9155101202, Servo board is the same
Andy

 

[rfbrw]

It is a bit bland.

 

[Guerilla]

It's sadly without numerical buttons so you can't directly chose track before you find your remote if that even have them. They sadly started to this feature in the late 80ies. -Backwards evolution.
Cheers!

 

[andrew_whitham]

It is a bit bland.
View attachment 1231078

A BIT

There is nothing to commend it visually whatsoever - like 1001 other players of that vintage. It's fun that it seems to be a 'Blanded' CD5 though and at £40 rather than £400 I'll take it. The CD5 has an "aesthetic"

I am not a fan of Bitstream, or at least I never found one I really liked. That's the point of this thread you could remove the whole D/A board and still it works!

Andy

 

[cracked case]

This might sound a bit silly, but I'd chose a CD (or DVD, or Blueray) player based on the action of the CD draw, if it looks cool and if it's from a manufacturer known for making stuff that lasts for decades. I almost always play a CD all the way through, so programing tracks isn't an issue. A Blueray modded to a linear power supply with SPDIF out would do me.

 

[andrew_whitham]

This might sound a bit silly, but I'd chose a CD (or DVD, or Blueray) player based on the action of the CD draw, if it looks cool and if it's from a manufacturer known for making stuff that lasts for decades. I almost always play a CD all the way through, so programing tracks isn't an issue. A Blueray modded to a linear power supply with SPDIF out would do me.

Heh, now that's a whole other thread - CD players with nice mechs

For example the Musical fidelity X-Ray has an action like a submarine door So I was always disappointed with 'superior' A series. For me a Sony CDP337 is Niiiice and it's hard to beat the ceremony of anything with a puck. I would guess a sonic frontiers transport 3 wins outright

...I may have owned a few too many CD players

 

[Guerilla]

I loved my brand new Denon DCD1400 untill a few months after varanty ran out and it started making mechanical noise along with drawer teasing. It had digital out, so I dont know if that makes it relevant in this thread.
I totally butchered it half fixing it during some years.

I also have a Cambridge Blue Ray/etc at my moms place. Dont really need it so I guess it should go. @cracked case if you ever visit Aalborg you can pick it up for cheaps. Are you 220volts?

Now I use my modded Sony through some nice Danish DAC.

Anyone up for a Rotels?

Next month I will bring a gifted Denon DVD5000 to the repair cafe. Its dac sounds awesome and accepts HDCDs

A dead NAD?

A dusin car radios. Some with great room correction.
+++
Cheers!

 

[Guerilla]

I like the look of that Teac along with a lot of their stuff