Marantz CD72 MK2 SP Modification To DAC

The old CD player is probably sound better than currently "Hi-Res" audio player. Either you music collection has been shift to the streaming provider, or just like me, converting all my CD's collection to WAV files and stored in one media library for more practical use, then unfortunately this CD player might not be use anymore.

In the most cases, those high quality CD player are already broken. Especially for the optical lens which will wear by ages, then replacing those part might be cost very expensive. There is also an issue that the reliability of replacement part might be not as good as the original. It is frustrating to keep using those old CD player for sure.

I took the example of this Marantz CD72 MK2 SP I owned. I loved the sound quality from this CD player and of course the look. It is copper chassis inside out.

More detail, the DAC IC using in this unit is the best high-performance single bit DAC. It is the TDA1547 along with SAA7350, aka DAC7.

So I think, I will modify this CD player to become a stand alone DAC unit. The goal is having the same sound signature from this old CD player but with better input flexibility like the stand alone DAC unit.

The Internal Components Marantz CD72 MK2 SP

Ken Ishiwata is the man behind Marantz. The Marantz product that released on 90's, especially if they are made in Japan, probably they are coming from his design.

Same like mine here. This is the Marantz CD player, CD72 MK2 SP.

The SP is for "Special Edition" which better than the original CD72. I bought this unit in the second hand condition and it is quite dirty. The good things is all parts are original and never been open before. I think the unit like this, especially for the Special Edition Marantz are worth to collect.

Another Multibit DAC, TDA1541 Inside Sony CDP-750

The journey to experience the great multibit DAC continue.

Previously I've talked about PCM1702 and PCM1704 which they are great high performance DAC. Then again, the next DAC to be evaluate by myself is no other than the famous TDA1541 DAC. This is the only high performance vintage multibit DAC from Philips. Each IC is dual channel 16 bit stereo DAC, which is make the circuit simple in my opinion. Unlike PCM1702 or PCM1704 which they are single channel DAC per IC, this is means when using this TDA1541 in stereo only require one IC to do both channel digital conversion.

In the TDA1541 datasheet explained that this DAC configuration is using dynamic element matching (DEM) for current dividing. This configuration is a masterpiece in DAC history which is totally different to the resistor ladder (R2R) DAC. This DEM is very complex inside and high cost to built. No wonder it is already obsolete for many years ago.

Obtaining TDA1541 chip alone now days is not an easy task. It is almost impossible to get the brand new IC as well. The easy way is having it from the vintage CD player like I did right now. It is a Sony CD player CDP-750 that I will review in this post. It cost me US$100 and I think it is still a great deal.

Digital Source Sound Matters? Digital Output CD Player VS Smartphones

I grow up in the era from pure analog to digital music source.

The era when a portable cassette player is a holy grail for all kids and CD's is for some people with the deep pocket.

That time has passes and it moves so fast from the CD to all today music is in digital format, without any physical items anymore. While I am enjoying the simplicity of non-physical digital audio system, I still collecting CD's.

Recently I bought some CD's, it is in used condition and the reason I bought them is because I am very familiar to the artists. Then when I want to to playback that CD right away, it is not very convenient for me to convert the CD's to digital audio format in the first place. So the solution is quite complicated, I should pull out my old DVD player and connect to my home stereo system only to listen the music from those CD's. Later on, I found something interesting in sound quality when comparing both of them.

B&O Beogram CDX - CD Player With Dual TDA1540 DAC

Bang & Olufsen is well known for the lifestyle audio product. They are focusing on the style and design without sacrifice the sound quality. No exception for this old CD Player. This is Beogram CDX is build around 80's. At that time, the feature such as motorized CD lit with the disc platter is very high class and stylish. I could imagine this CDP is just like automatic gull-wing door in luxury car.

You Wanna Hear The Secret? This DVD Player Plays CD Audio Flawlessly

Somehow, as an audiophile, my satisfaction is when setting up the equipment for cheap but the result are beyond expectation. This phenomenal is first came on late 90's when the retail electronic store in the United States sell the in-house brand portable CD player, the Radio Shack CD-3400, resulting this cheap portable CD player (actually it is sold at US$ 179 at that time) play CD audio in very good sound quality.

I don't have one but after that phenomenon, is there any others audio components that have high quality audio while they are actually sells as a general consumer product?

Let's find out.

Pioneer DV-373S (Part 2) Audio Components Upgrade

Continuing my previous post here, I am now disassemble this DVD player initially for cleaning purpose. Then, this end up with a simple component upgrade. I will change the capacitor and the op-amp to the better one.

Let's enjoy this process.

Pioneer DV-373S (Part 1) Sound Quality CD Player?

I need to find a replacement of my CD player soon.

In this year, the first model of Sony Playstation SCPH-1002 is celebrating the 20 years old. This game console is become my CD player for a quite long time. The reason is simply because the sound quality using this Sony Playstation as a CD player is outstanding.

As time goes, the problem occurs especially for the CD optical and mechanism, resulting poor CD reading and skipping all the time. It is almost impossible to obtain new-old-stock optical replacement unit consider to it's ages. So right now I am thinking to replace this Sony Playstation as to the unit that more available in the market today. So I pick this used DVD player from Pioneer that I will use it as the CD player in my audio system.

Sony Playstation SCPH-1001 My Reference CD player

I can predict that most audiophile have ever read the Stereophile magazine. This is the famous audio magazine and for me, this magazine is become my holy bible in audio since the first time I am focusing into it.

I still remember one quoted from the Stereophile magazine is like this:

"if the source is bad, nothing on the downstream can make it better"

It is so true indeed. I remember the first time my friend borrowing me his Sony Walkman portable CD player very long time ago, perhaps the series is D-55, then replacing my cassette deck to this CD player is just elevate my poor audio system to become so much better. The next month I should return it back and my audio system is back to crap sounding again.

By that experience, I can tell how good your whole system is mostly determined by what source you are using in it. At that time, the new CD player are not affordable for me. I keep looking the great CD player in used condition for so long.

Then this is what makes me choose the Sony Playstation SCPH-1001 as my reference CD player.