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Wow, this is great info... Thanks, everyone!Are the latest 'budget' CD and universal players' transports generally inferior to the older models, as far as jitter or "robustness" goes? There is a used Marantz 5004 for sale here locally for around $200, but I have no idea of the quality... Since this will only be a transport device I'm buying, I'm trying to purchase as inexpensively as I can, but without sacrificing too much build quality. Thanks again, everyone-
From the Affordable CD thread...If you want a killer transport on the cheap, try one of those mid-2000s Universal players! Denon/Sony/Pioneer etc all have famous models of this genre, but the Sonys are famous for NOT playing DVD-A. Most of these models have service manuals that can be found on the Net for free. In these manuals are the details of where the SPDIF digital audio signals exit the processing chip, before entering the onboard receiver Chips/DACs.One of the best is the Denon DVD3910 as it plays CD, DVD, SACD, DVD-A, HDCD, etc. truly universal. The chassis is huge and hefty (easy to mod, as space and accessibility is plentiful) and the transport mechanism is rock solid. The only weak point is the relatively frail lasers that go after 4-5 years or so. This WAS a problem in the past when Denon would charge $350 for a replacement.However, the secret is out on the Net that the generic part name is the Hitachi HOP1200 series. Any of the Hop1200 R, S, N will work as a drop-in replacement and the 1200W will work if you replace the entire laser assembly, which costs the same as just the laser head. $15 plus delivery from Liberty electronics in Fla, and there are other similar sources if you google elsewhere in the USA. Get a couple spares and you are set virtually forever!Now for the (very cheap)mod….the basis is that being that the 3910 is a Universal player, it was engineered specifically to optimize the video playback and so has high precision laser/ spinning mechanism AND a huge FIFO buffer. All these benefits transfer to simple RBCD playback as well. However, such devices were designed to show off the SOTA DACS at the time and SOTA video playback, so guess which outputs got priority/TLC in design implementation? You got it, video out and analog out, and SPDIF out was treated as the red-hedded stepchild! So despite having all the elements for KILLER SPDIF output, the superb SPDIF signal left the chip and then followed a meandering trail on the PCB going all over the place and degrading the fragile SPDIF signal. So what to do?The answer is obvious when you think of it. Steal the SPDIF signal from source and use soemthing like a teflon coated thin silver wire to run from the CORRECT SPDIF out chip leg and connect to a newly drilled SPDIF out RCA terminal (via a 300ohm resistor). Depending on what DAC is to be used, a cap may also be needed to match impedence. I have a Lampi DAC and propbably dont even need the resistor! The other thin wire is for grounding and runs from the negative leg of a nearby electrolytic Cap to the GND connection of the new RCA terminal. Voila, killer SPDIF on the cheap!To take it to the next level, you can order a digi-lampizator kit for about $100 from Poland and pass the Spdif signal thru this tube output stage to amplify and “square up” the digital signal even more! Total investment will be about $350 for this utimate level, including used DVD player, assorted parts, digi-lamp kit, technician’s labour, etc. Less than $200 total for the basic mod which already is astounding (60-70% of total improvement). I assume you can pick up a used Denon for $100-150 via ebay.Feedback below This is the feedback from a buddy who has a fully modded Denon.J. came over last night for another enjoyable evening of wonderful music and ear-shocking revelations (yes, he brought the 2900). We played my system using the Sony 5400ES as a transport for about 3 hours, and then we inserted the 2900 into the system. After and enjoyable dinner and much-needed warm-up for the Denon, I inserted a disc and pressed the "play" button. Holy moly! The positive difference between the modded 2900 and the 5400ES was startling. The music seemed to be coming from everywhere! Then J. said (with a big smile): "If you think this is good, you should hear the 3910 with the tubed digi-lampzator SPDIF output in your system." Hopefully, Lukasz still has a 3910 in stock but I will completely understand if he does not (perhaps he could make a recommendation regarding another piece of gear). Regardless, the modified Denon 2910, played through an LZ4, was absolutely breathtaking, involving to the max, and simply "sonically right." In the right hands (Lukasz), there appears to be hope for Redbook cd playback. Unbelievable! .
Hey folks-I'm currently using an outboard DAC in my system and am looking for a CD player with decent transport to use with it to replace an aging multiplayer that is on its last leg... Any good recommendations, new or used? Thanks!
