If you see this Vintage Cd Player Run and Buy it ..... 4x TDA 1541 Dacs

[@Gabster1]

Hi-Five Vintage Audio link. www.hi-fivevintageaudio.nl

[@mikepxg6406]

Cambridge CD3 Designed By Legendary Stan Curtis here in UK. He also designed for Rotel, Quad and Wharfdale I believe. The TDA1541 chips were used in some older Rotel CD players. My personal favourite CD player from this era is the ROTEL RCD 965BX limited edition. I still have mine I had it from new. It sounds amazing.

[@beslemeto]

Does it sound better than Cambridge CD3?

[@mikepxg6406]

@@beslemeto I have no idea. But it is legendary and I love it.

[@johnshore3095]

I had a Rotel 965BX back when they came out. I had a Rega Planar 3, Ion Obelisk 2 into Mordaunt Short MS100 speaker. The CD player I had now is a modified Naim CD3 I have has the TDA1541 chipset too

[@davidzwicker9988]

965BX LE my original CD player purchase too. 👍

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

I'm a fan of TDA1641a DAC chips. I followed Lukas Fikus (Lampizator) before he started his business. His blog documented his journey testing all the vintage CDPs and optimizing them with tube output stages and power supply tweaks. I played with an Arcam Alpha One 1541a based cd player and ultimately used it's DAC board to make my own DAC. Then built the ultimate version with Ian's FIFO, Well Audio clocks, dual mono triode output and a double crown TDA1541a S2 chip on a PCB by RyanJ which incorporates all the best practices developed by ecdesigns. I am extremely happy with the sound. I also did the Lampi mods to a 1541a based Rotel 855 including triode output. Sounds great, but nowhere up to my streamer/DAC.

[@Gabster1]

That is exactly what I am trying to build. Are your 2 TDA1541a S2 in differential balanced mode or regular RCA been looking for different circuits and not sure what is best and simple. I f you don't mind sharing a schematic about the dual mono triode output that will save me a lot of research and trials and would be grateful. My email is in the about section of my Chanel.

[@AT-rw3oh]

What do you mean by „my streamer/DAC”?

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

@@AT-rw3oh I'm never sure of the correct terms these days. My source is a DIY integrated transport/streamer/DAC. Rpi running moOde Audio, network attached storage, FIFO reclock with SOA clocks, TDA1541a DAC, dual mono triode output /preamp with autoformer volume control. This drives 110w OTL triode monoblocks.

[@lordsinthegardenofEden]

🙄🤔same one are in the dac box FL from Project these are in the same thats are in Burmester

[@gerihifi]

Thanks a lot briniging that to community attention. Even Lampizator in 2007 was amazed about it (look at his blog and players toplist) I love my Pioneer PD-93 and Sony X505ES, also PCM64-K is an amazing vintage dac chip! TDA1541a vintage is in use in my fantastic Abbas Audio SE3.2..Vintage can be very, very surprising, also in build quality 😊 ... but dont forget, you need skills to repair or someone you can trust to repair vintage gear!

[@Gabster1]

Thank you for the detailed Info and you are correct often they need repairs :)

[@karstenkrause8737]

Beeing from Denmark, i have purchased a B&O 7000 serie Turntable, CD transport and Reciever. They are not in the best condition, but they are realy nice looking😎 The CD also uses the TDA 1541Dac.

[@davidnguyen5028]

Why do you think B&O Beogram 7000 series turntables are worth the buy?

[@KB-os6lh]

I have two of these superb players. Cheers from Australia.

[@martinbishop2966]

I love vintage CD players, I have a Rega Planet from 1998 still going strong!🙂

[@matthewhilty4209]

I love my Sony CDP-507esD that has 2 of those old DAC chips. I still use it on a regular basis. It sounds very tube-like without the tubes.

[@user-hb3go2cc9m]

Nice. Lucky to have a lovely Sony X7ESD (passed on to me by my father). Lovely player.

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

I had one back in the early 90’s. Great player.

[@Gabster1]

Lucky you

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

@@Gabster1 Sorry I sold it. I have a collection of the Double Crown chips that I could have swapped into this player. It would have taken it to a whole new level.

[@SimonPepper]

Have a Meridian 200 CD transport, which I have used with a Pink Triangle DAC with dual DAC7 with a 24-filter. Today I process the output through my Naim NDS network player, which uses PCM-1704K chips as a R2R DAC.

[@alanm.thornton4055]

I have a modified/upgraded Pioneer PD-65 Elite CD player by Musical Design/Concepts (midwest America). It is one of the best sounding CD players I have ever had. Though some disliked the "Legato Link" feature to the early Pioneers, when the power supply and a few of the signal components are upgraded, (like what Musical Concepts did) you get greater clarity and sound stage, NO harsh high end, and very powerful mids and bass. Plus, it's a stunner inside and out. Just wish it had a better laser assembly-apparently wasn't one of the better available.

[@Techrewinds]

Great Video so many vintage gems that are under looked and that is one of them one of the best !

[@sidesup8286]

The best selling players that the 1541 chip was used in back then thenwere the Magnavox 400 series and then the 600 series. The CDB 471 sounded lousy, almost totally lacking any tone color. The Magnavox CDB 650 was probably the most modified cd player of all time, by companies that offered mod services. The rare Magnavox CDB 630 which was the top of the line, I think one is for sale on US Audio Mart, had twin 1541 chips. Even to this day it is one of the most spacious and open sounding cd players ever. Most of the Magnavox models back then sounded best with tubes. They were not known for their warmth. But they were not harsh sounding in an era where many cdother brands of cd players were. The budget Nakamichi cd player, surprisingly, was the most harsh cd player I ever heard. Not knowing how the upper models sounded. Their cassette decks were very sweet sounding, as were their amplifiers.

[@nanocamp-audio]

Hi, these pin headers to the 4 DAC boards often caused problems. The alloy only makes a bad solder connection. If you like this deck then the Cambridge CD1 with 6 pieces of TDA 1540 will blow your mind.

[@lawrencemonaghan926]

In 97 I paid 1000 pounds for a music fidelity,Electra e600, still have it,burr brown etc etc,and it still sounds just like the day I bought it

[@rasardo1]

On my private collection I have a few CD players. The Marantz CD40 and Marantz CD 80 with the TDA1541, both modified (NOS, capacitors recap...), the Arcam CD23 (Ring DAC from dCS) and the Revox B225, with two TDA1540 (the older brother chip). The Revox (NOS mode + capacitors recap) still is my best sounding player, after all. The TD1540 is a must DAC, to explore.

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

I have also had a dual TDA1540 CDP. Sounded good briefly but the drive packed it in.

[@nanocamp-audio]

Absolutely right. The TDA1541 is just the slimmed-down, economical version. Technically there are many reasons why the TDA 1540 is better, but what matters is its sound superiority. And in my opinion the B225 is also the best place to live for the TDA 1540

[@rasardo1]

@@nanocamp-audio, I'm very happy with it. I will buy other upgrades for my Revox B225 from your website soon :)

[@isnerdy]

I have a Naim CDS3 (manufactured 2002-2012), which uses 2 Burr-Brown PCM-1704 chips, and a PMD-200 HDCD decoder. It's what I would consider to be the best sound I've heard from a CD player, and supposedly Naim is still using the same chips in their current top-of-the-line streamer, even though Burr-Brown stopped making them a few years ago. If you can get your hands on some of those chips, that could be something great to play with.

[@Gabster1]

Naim makes some good gear they are under rated.

[@theaustralianconundrum]

Burr-Brown PCM-1704 are old rubbish in 2023. Stop telling jokes to people.@@Gabster1

[@richardjohnston4682]

Had the Cambridge 4se for years,great player

[@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox]

Very, very interesting, thanks for posting.

[@Gabster1]

Thanks for watching

[@abbersj2935]

Great video, I've used "2.54mm 0.1" PCB Header Vertical Female Socket" on mine, the dac PCB's are then removeable. I also added better heatsinks and changed the OP AMPS. You will notice an improvement. I also added better PSU diodes. When done, it can compete with the best. Regards. PS, there was a DAC 3 but for some reason, they tend to be more expensive that the CD3 CD players!

[@Gabster1]

Thanks for sharing the info what Op Amps did you go with ?

[@abbersj2935]

@@Gabster1 I replaced the standard NE-5534 with Burr Brown OPA-134PA. There are others which may be even better , and I put good quality sockets on the PCB so that I can do a bit of "Op Amp rolling"! at some time. I also changed the two larger capacitors with 180UF polymer types and the 10UF one with a Silmic. The Op Amps I would expect make most of the difference. I did change the diodes on the PSU with Fast&Soft types, and upped the capacitor size a bit. I also later put in a cheap but better clock with it's own power supply. At the time I spent about £40 I suppose on the upgrades. They are very under appreciated machines, and I'd say as standard would best a Marantz CD94, but that's just me. The CD2 is basically the same unit, but with a plastic mech and more "cottage style" PCB's! If you look it up you will see what I mean :) I have the CD1 CD2 and CD3, all the work of Mr Stan Curtis, they really are some of, if not the best of their time, and still great to hear.

[@abbersj2935]

@@Gabster1 PS. It's all quite easy to do, if I can do it, anybody can. PPS, there are many fake OpAmps around now so do buy from trusted sources. Opps, if you have the time, you may like to consider improving the cooling of the DAC chips.

[@soarornor]

I’m a major fan of the Fostex CR200 CD recorder. Also the same machine made for HHB under model number CDR 800. Pioneer also has this machine in pro and consumer versions. I don’t know who originated the design but it’s superb. These machines still play perfectly but recording with them has mixed success as they are after all very old. But superbly built machines. They have all copper chassis and high quality components. The CD is loaded playing side up on an elegantly designed high quality tray. I wish these could be repaired to fix the recording issues but I haven’t found anyone locally. Either way, I suspect that they will not lose their playing ability for a long time to come. These machines also have both RCA and XLR ins and outs.

[@Gabster1]

Thanks for the info :)

[@rickg8015]

Lovely kit of a CD Player.. That must have killer tone. If those axial lytics are the origonals, they would need replacing soon. Nichicon still makes axial electrolytic caps afaik..

[@kimchristensen453]

Let's not forget the all-metal Philips CDM-1 MkII tray mechanism in this player. Build to last.

[@theaudiocircle]

I have found 2 CD players in the wild that are absolutely great for their sound Rotel RCD865BX and ADCOM GCD-575 - maybe not the most regarded ones overall, but for finding them for less than $10 each, I think its an amazing deal.

[@Gabster1]

Thanks for sharing

[@StealthParrot]

I still have my original Micromega Stage cd player that I bought new in '94 and upgraded to a Stage 2. This is still a wonderful sounding cd player with incredible detail, transparency, and soundstage. It uses dual Philips TDA-1305 1-bit bitstream chips. The downfall of the player is that it sometimes (not always) can be a little glitchy with playback, it has a hard time with scratched cd's. My understanding was that their design philosophy was to minimize error correction circuitry that would be detrimental to the signal. I'm not sure if this is the case or not, just what I was told by the dealer at the time. I had to replace the laser module a couple of years ago but luckily was able to find the part on ebay. I would never part with this cd player .. it sounds as good as anything I've ever heard. I'll send you some photos if you are interested.

[@johnshaw359]

They used the wrong (white) grease in the mech, that dried out and caused the laser to stick. Good sound though, I had a stage 2 that I regreased when the issue became known in the early 00s.

[@StealthParrot]

@@johnshaw359 I've heard that was an issue and cleaned & re-greased mine as well. The glitchy playback was from day 1 so dried lube wasn't the original cause. A buddy of mine bought the same player within a few months of mine and noted the same experience. I still love this player and if you give it good source material, it can sound exquisite. Did you sell your Stage 2 ? If so, how come? Did you get something you liked better?

[@johnshaw359]

@@StealthParrot The mech failed, and I let it go to the dogs, coincidentally I still use a Philips DAC, the 1305's predecessor theTDA1543(x8) despite getting taken in/misled by delta-sigma/upsampling 2D sounding DACS in the mid 00s for a few years.

[@Roger-lz9ro]

Great Video so many vintage gems that are under looked and that is one of them

[@tablameister]

My 30+ year old Rotel RCD855 has the 1541 and still sounds great!

[@philvale5724]

Hi 👋, I have just seen one on eBay, for £1200, I thought they might i’ve been recently cheap, obviously not, and there seems to be a lot of people watching it,

[@agegroot5666]

Seeing this vid and reading about those chips makes me very curious.

[@CollectingRetro]

Great chip! I have the MHDT Orchid using this chip. Modded with better caps and using a WE tube, it's hard to beat!

[@mikeg2491]

I won an Orchid off eBay direct from the factory with a crown chip with no other bidders for $1,200. Just beautiful sound and you’d never guess it’s almost 40yo tech as its base.

[@CollectingRetro]

Hard to beat that! @@mikeg2491

[@doogee6157]

I have a twin mono TDA1540 Dac.

[@Plastpackad]

Bang & Olufsen CD from yearly 90's are as good sounding as they look (unusual for B&O). Also run by a TDA1541A. Main capacitors (condensators) need to be replaced since they downgrade rather quickly.

[@damirhlobik6488]

IMHO, from experience, the tda1541 is the dac with the most analog sound (philips cd 960, I have it), even more natural than the s1 version (philips cd 880, had-sold it) s2 I have not heard, TDA 1547 is very good, but only in top Philips models (LHH) and Marantz (cd 10, cd 11).

[@ENGLISHISBEST]

I love my hifi gear & I live 30 minutes from Cambridge but only ever bought a pair of ear buds from them & they turned up in a cheap piece of cardboard, apparently they they do it for the environent. It put me off their gear & I have marantz, rega, bowers n wilkins.

[@yorkemar]

I thought my Marantz new cd6007 sounded good..but obviously there are some vintage ones to explore.

[@epi2045]

Emerson, Colby, and Pyle make great CD players. 😂

[@matrempit2885]

I think Nakamichi still the best cd player...!

[@jayem1826]

But what about the laser?

[@jameslaidler2152]

I'd have liked a good look around the back at the connections, but nice CD player all the same.

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Very nice player ! I'd buy in a second! YEAH ' LOVE MY VINTAGE GEAR ' ' Me Sansui Sounds beautiful Prime Hifi done an amazing Job '

[@Gabster1]

Thanks TJ Hard to go wrong with good vintage gear

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

@Gabster1 Glad you included the risk been there many times ! Since 89' I am getting old ! Thanks Gabster !

[@theaustralianconundrum]

Rule#1? Never buy Cambridge Audio junk. Rule #2 Philips TA 1541 are NOT the Holy Grail nor ever have been since 1983. I buy a 2022 Rotel RCD1572MKII on Black Friday in Australia at AU$600.00 off RRP and it is so nice for a cheapo player. It easily equals 10K exotic brands in 2023. You don't know what you are talking about.@@Gabster1

[@clintonmoyah7086]

Very imprsive CD player I wuold like to own one of that brand

[@gtrguyinaz]

Another great CD player is California Audio Labs….

[@BlazejMarczak]

Hi Gabster! Thank you for amazing videos! Do you have any experience with Bang & Olufsen Beogram CD 7000? It have Philips 1541A DAC and i would love to know your opinion about it!

[@Gabster1]

I don't know much about it. Checkout the Lampizator site he has moded so many players including yours a great resource for the community www.lampizator.eu/lampizator/references/Bangandolufsen/Bang%20&%20Olufsen%20CD5500%20CD%20player.html

[@mozart9052]

It's an ancient artifact in a museum, right ?

[@djadrianlewys5027]

I have a copy of this available in Portugal

[@ThresholdZhor]

That cd is very similar to the Tandberg 3015A which use the same Philips CDM-2 transport and the TDA1541, maybe this Cambridge sounds a little better than the Tandberg, the main problem is the CDM-2 is discontinued long time ago, it had to be eternal in production and the CDM-4 also, they are excellent transports but Phillips was mediocre in discontinued them

[@PedjoGT]

This is cdm 1 mk2...not cdm 2

[@shiraz1736]

I assume the CD4 is a totally different beast? Thanks for your information 👌

[@Gabster1]

Yes it uses a TDA1305

[@williamevans9426]

Hello there! Any issues with the caps, i.e., I presume you had to replace them? Many thanks!

[@Gabster1]

The owner beforehand replaced a couple but not too many they all still measure well

[@williamevans9426]

@@Gabster1Good news! Congratulations on your acquisition.

[@lupoal4113]

... be careful about old electrolytic caps... after 15 years they should be replaced, and that cost money... also the laser could be working but close to its end of life... so vintage stuff = modern potential trouble

[@Roscoeverdin5469]

I'll take an OPPO 205, thank you.

[@frankhugh2052]

I had this player. Never let me down other than it could be picky with sub par cd’s. Somewhat skippy. Regret giving it to sisters bf

[@histubeness]

This is interesting, but what about the later Cambridge players, the CD4 and CD5? Did they not also have the same modules? Were they only specific to the CD3?

[@Gabster1]

Just the CD2 and CD3

[@jedi-mic]

You gonna do any upgrade on it like capacitors power supply opamp replacement for discrete Upgrading the clock?

[@Gabster1]

For sure some ideas already brewing but it does sound great as is

[@iosifderecichei3743]

Anybody familiar with OPPO UDP 203? Just wondering how the oppo would compare to the Cambridge CD3 as far as SQ.

[@speakeasyarchives8764]

Not me. I had one brand new, and the LED panel went out, and then the play button wouldn't work. This player for me was not a good one.

[@Gabster1]

It happens Vintage is a gamble

[@speakeasyarchives8764]

@Gabster1 This was not vintage. I bought it brand new.

[@JaqUkto]

If this one better than cd6?

[@BABYGODZILLA2009]

Hi, i know a guy who is selling Cambridge audio D100 cd player for $70. Is that also as good as this? As you said it doesn't win the beauty competition. Please let me know if this CD player is as good as the TDA 1541. Cheers.

[@jonboy9912]

I have an excellent sounding D300 is it built the same way?

[@ThomasL]

TEAC VRDS 25 is included in your top vintage list ? Kinda looking for buying one.

[@Gabster1]

I don't know much about the 4 x AD1862N-J it uses

[@kiwibirch]

@gabster how does it compare playing the same tracks and mastering on this vs the Ian Canada streamer with SC-Pure clocks?

[@Gabster1]

The CD3 sounded better but that could be the streamed file not as good or me in love with the new sound When I get some time I am going to rip the CD and play it locally and see the difference then.

[@soostdijk]

I have the original Philips version if this

[@knutarneaakra6013]

Got one😊

[@aussie8114]

Too lazy to buy or use CDs anymore.

[@cbayardelle]

I owned the cd2 it had to many problems

[@Gabster1]

It happens with Vintage

[@Madjed2024]

Dear Gaby do you have one I can buy

[@Gabster1]

I have one you can not buy 😀 Keep a eye on the market they do come around

[@jacquesw8725]

Hi Gabby! In your opinion, how does it sound compared to the Proto-Dac you built?

[@Gabster1]

More refined

[@theaustralianconundrum]

He has NO idea!@@Gabster1

[@puciohenzap891]

I've had a modded DAC960 from Philips, a Marantz CD94 but never bothered with vintage DACs. Neither sounded as good as a more recent stuff from Topping and the like and no, I couldn't care less about how they measure. I just find the new DAC's to quickly sound better than even the really old hi-end CD players of the day. And not to mention technical problems with 30+ year old gear.

[@meesmo4]

Most of these hobbyists are just chasing nostalgia, nothing more. These DACs sound horribly coloured compared to the best DACs of today and are very lacking in resolution and dynamics.

[@hildegard582]

Yes, ist mostly right. I had the CD101 with tda1540, but the electronic componets are so old and hot. The old DAC's are has more Power Output in stages. So the ear hear louder and the brain said, these are more better and realistic, as other DAC's . But the DAC ist Not the importent thing in the CD Player or DAC. IT IS the Knowhow, which some Builder have!

[@nasippesak8526]

I have a topping d30 dac. It sounds nowhere near my nakamichi cdc3 cd player, or sony cdp95.let alone the nakamichi mobile dac 101 with dual differential tda1541 single crown. Also have denon dvd 1920 with burr brown 24 bit/192 khz dac. Tda1541 still my favorite.

[@meesmo4]

@@nasippesak8526 good for you, but literally all the DACs you mention are crap

[@nasippesak8526]

@@meesmo4 opinion is like an a$$ hole. Everybody has one.

[@destinyaudio]

4x cheapest made DA chip ever... TDA1541 was a bad made lowcost chip to put down the costs of the first generation of Cd player. Not more and not less. ---> If you see this Vintage Cd Player Run Away (or use a good external DAC)!

[@Gabster1]

LOL I respect your opinion :)

[@vincentwerner4856]

Such an overrated chip!

[@a.g8517]

Why do you storing those OLD outdated garbage from 1970th....its all trash

[@johnnystoka6625]

If you get sn opportunity the CD2 soinds better . And the Sony CDP-337ESD sounds even better with two TDA1541 and no SAA chip so less jittery sound .