k-k-k-kenny Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 I like CDs and have quite a few of them. And though I've ripped them all to FLAC in multiple back-ups, I still like to spin them. As I mentioned in Alistair's thread below, I've recently had a pretty new and tolerably expensive CD player's drive give up the ghost. I am hopeful that it can be replaced, and fully intend to get hold of one or two spare drives to keep the thing running as long as possible - if it sees me out the kids can toss it away. The experience has got me poking about the interweb, looking at ye great and not so great CD spinners of the past. There's a deal of sobering reading there - devices once lauded which have ground to a halt for the want of spares. Particularly amongst Sony's production. But then I read that the Philips CDM-1 drive really was built to provide perfect sound forever, whilst later versions were perhaps not so robust. I'm wondering whether it might be worthwhile trying to get hold of a player that contains one - at least a player with digital output, so I could still keep up with the excitement of new adventures in DACology. Anyone have experience of such things? thoughts about this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newman Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Hi Kenny, I know what you mean. If you can get hold of an Exotic/VRDS transport, I believe they are built so it is easy and cheap to replace any parts including the laser. Not in my price bracket unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cafad Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 The Krell that was up for sale last night has one of those VRDS pieces of plastic. That's not what interested me though, it's the DAC board that I really want to hear. I believe that several of the Chinese cd spinners use Philips drives, for a while I think Consonance used only Philips drives, if you keep looking I'm sure you'll find something. If you are after an actual VRDS drive though Newman, then yes, I see your problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aechmea Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 (edited) You could look for players or transports that use computer DVD drives. Trivial and cheap, even for me, to replace. The MSB transport that I have is a computer DVD drive with MSB electronics/processing. It is a transport only though and you will need a DAC to go with it. I recall that there was another brand that did the same thing but who it was escapes me (Redgum maybe?). Edit; yes, Redgum uses a computer CD drive. MSB uses a DVD drive and can therefore do up to 384/392? found on Reference Recordings HRX discs Edited October 31, 2013 by aechmea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avalon Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 I have an Audio-gd CD-7SE. It is a transport only, so external DAC required. Built like a tank (13 kg). Came with two spare lasers (laser hasn't needed replacing yet and I am the second owner). Discontinued now, but occasionally come up for sale in the classifieds. Drive is a Sony DVD - explanation from manufacturer here: "CD-7SE employs high performance SONY DVD disc player, it can accurately and quickly read the data, and reduce error data, with computing power and strong signal of the DSP processor, it has 64MB memory. We have redesigned the system by removing the DVD functionality, as a result it only plays CD disc, the DSP computing power is equivalent to Pentium 2 computer, hence it can better perform signal and processing operations, resulting ultimately in sound quality improvement. General load CD dedicated processing circuits, such as Philips and the CDM4, have a memory of only 4KB, which is only equivalent to a 286 grade/level of computer." If it ever failed, I would have no hesitation sending it back to its maker for repair and another 150 years of service Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demondes Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 (edited) Who says pc CD players/transports will be around any longer than audio CD spinners? Although you could stockpile some computer type drives in anticipation of a CD free future. Edited October 31, 2013 by Demondes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PorkBun69s Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Have to say having owned a CD7fv transport __ great CD spinner. The only transport that managed to sound better was my inherited Sony x77es cdp. Ancient by todays standards but after 25 years of use..it still keeps going with it's original parts too. I need to take it for a service someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-k-k-kenny Posted November 1, 2013 Author Share Posted November 1, 2013 Who says pc CD players/transports will be around any longer than audio CD spinners? Although you could stockpile some computer type drives in anticipation of a CD free future. Quite so. And I don't know that many current production pc drives are of the quality of some past CD player drives. From what I have read, even the very best Sony products, used in things like the CDP R1, R1a, R3 or the XA/ES series are unrepairable/irreplaceable. Maybe the answer will be to go downmarket for cheaper second hand spinners and rely on external clocks and DACs to make up the difference. Or go back to 78s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Mustud Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 Consider something with a cdpro drive. There are quite a few of them and the drive unit is still available as a retail item. Solid, reliable, high end and very affordable - the drive is affordable, often the cd boxes around them are not so affordable, but Google is your friend. One of my units has a cdpro drive and I noted that the high end player in the Brodmann room at the Show last month also had one. http://www.tentlabsshop.com/index.jsp?groupID=33 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-k-k-kenny Posted November 1, 2013 Author Share Posted November 1, 2013 I expect that the drive which gave up is a current CDPro. I certainly hope so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Mustud Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 I expect that the drive which gave up is a current CDPro. I certainly hope so. If so, easy to replace. DIYNut was telling me the other day that with a recent price drop he was thinking of buying a couple just to have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts