Marantz CD50 - CD Player or USB DAC (24/96KHz)

Marantz CD50 working as a usual CD player, or working as a DAC connected to a Computer or a Streamer.
I've used an adapter board that is able to auto commute between the I2S signals. You can get it from this highly recommend seller:
www.ebay.com/i...
For input interface, I chose a USB board with an SA9023 chip that supports 24/96KHz sampling rate.
I've picked the same track to show that the sound have no big differences between the CD format and the PC wave file - as you may notice.
The CD player can operate in Over Sampling or Non Oversampling mode. The additional I2S input is automatically selected when the CD player is in STOP or PAUSE - as shown in the video.
This modification is very convenient for having one CD player and one DAC in the same box.
As always, this is no more than a humble video just to demonstrate some jobs I've done for someone.

[@AudioElectronicsChicago]

good CD player

[@antoniocruz5714]

Yes Indeed! The box and the transport mechanism are made with a lot of plastic material, but the laser has one of the best lens - made by Carl Zeiss! The heart of this nice player is made by one of the best R2R DAC chip: Philips TDA1541A! Pure natural sound with a big amount of musicality in your audio sessions!

[@EddyTeetree]

Hey man thanks for this. Great taste in music!!! I saw the video last Friday and bought a CD-50 ES on Saturday. Now it’s nuts holding time haha. I too have vac valve amps (circa 1958) so hoping for a similar experience.

[@sergiokomo6276]

I have long dreamed of doing it the way you did it, it turned out great. Unfortunately, our specialists whom I contacted cannot do it the way they did. You’re wondering where you connected what, and unless of course it’s not a secret. Excellent work, I enjoyed watching it. Thank you

[@antoniocruz5714]

Many thanks for your kind comment! There are no secrets here! It's an easy task if you buy the I2S auto switching board that I put the link in the description. Very useful if you want to have a CD player and a DAC in the same box. Cheers.

[@sergiokomo6276]

@@antoniocruz5714 👍

[@sergiokomo6276]

@@antoniocruz5714 Most likely I won’t be able to implement a similar tweak to my player, I have a Rotel RCD 951 and the chip is PSM 69, so I need to look for something to connect the microcircuit according to your circuit, but it’s very interesting, I’d really like to do it. Thank you

[@antoniocruz5714]

@@sergiokomo6276 You may look for a Rotel RCD-855 or RCD-955AX. Both have the SAA7220P/B digital filter (paired with the TDA1541A), where you can solder the board that I've put in the description to connect the USB interface and auto commute between the I2S signals.

[@sergiokomo6276]

@@antoniocruz5714 👍

[@EddyTeetree]

Hey there Antonio. Hope your well. I read the comment where you say that the CD 94 is the best. Is that coz it has the two DAC chips? And is there a way to modify my CD 50 SE to match it? Is it even worth finding a crown or double crown as an upgrade? Thanks in advance. 🌞

[@antoniocruz5714]

The Marantz CD94 is several degrees above in every aspect, but the CD50 is 10x cheap, and it's a good platform to make a beautiful digital player. With the Crown TDA1541A chip, you have a better THD, so, clear details, more sharpness and focus in sound.

[@noyan2006]

Which one is better sounding to you?

[@antoniocruz5714]

You put the things in a hard level! But well, if I have to choose one single piece among the stuff I have here, I will go for Marantz CD94. Just have a look and listen the way it sounds - even through this platform.