Philips/Magnavox CD players (late 1980s)

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by paras1te, May 21, 2018.

  1. paras1te

    paras1te New

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    Not sure whether SBAF has extensively evaluated vintage 3rd and 4th generation CD players based on the classic Philips 4x/16-bit chipset. They can sound very good (if electro caps are ok or replaced). They can also often be had for only a few $$ from Craigslist or Goodwill, and are easy to mod.
    I have several of these CDPs in my collection and often prefer their multibit flavor to most modern sigma-delta setups.
    I haven't heard Schiit multi's, but do own a Musical Fidelity A3-24 D/A (sigma-delta DAC) , Theta Chroma, DIY Paradise Monica NOS DAC. My modded Magnavox CD-650 easily outperforms any of these (and many others I've eval'd).
     
  2. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    TDA1541 chips are da-bomb.
     
  3. paras1te

    paras1te New

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    I listen to my CDB650 thru my HD650 ;)

    About TDA1541... over the years, a lot of forumtalk about the "A" version of this chip, select grade, S1, and S2. With single or double crown. I have many versions incl. the TDA1541A S2 double crown, which can fetch over $600/ea. in some crazy circles.
    Frankly, the non-A version does not sound inferior, just different: more punchy and dynamic, but less refined. Kinda reminds me of Grado headphones sound charac.: the Prestige series vs. the JG Signature Series. You paid a LOT more for the latter, but it was not necessarily "better".
     
  4. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    I agree with @paras1te. The A and the Crown and Double Crown were not made any differently, just "tested" better. So really just production variances.

    I still find it interesting how this chip compares to modern designs. It still only has like 4 times oversampling in most designs as well as an older design op amp as the I/V and buffer. Just missing some ingredients like DSP, and good analog design and a well designed filter (like multicomboburrito).

    I am told this chip, and other older design multibit chips of this era, are pretty great in NOS and FL (that's Non-Over Sampling and FilterLess).
     
  5. paras1te

    paras1te New

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    The "A"version of the 1541 could accept 8x, tho' I think 4x is still best, especially with the SAA7220 (4x digital filter chip that Philips designed simultaneously with 1541, way back in 1985).
    I personally don't like NOS -- in any DAC design -- tho' am aware that there are many fans.
    Modding the basic 'Golden Era' Philips unit - -especially the SAA7220/TDA1541 combo (that Naim and Creek used into the late 1990s) -- brings digital sound to level that leaves my VPI/Rega/Sumiko vinyl rig mostly gathering dust.

    Next project is to add one of these to the Magnavox CDB650...

    [​IMG]
    ... maybe my iPad will finally sound good ;)
     

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