Simply Years Ahead: Thanks to its Ingenious 16-bit DAC, the Philips CD960 Is a Cult 1980s CD Player

Mike and David pay homage to this aristocrat of late eighties CD players, arguing that its Philips TDA1541A S2 DAC and digital filter chips give it an exceptionally musical and engaging sound. Don't be fooled by its generic 'black box' looks, this is a really special digital disc player, the guys decide!
Every episode of Hi-Fi Riff features Mike and David's unedited, unexpurgated views about all manner of weird and wonderful hi-fi designs. Business executive Mike has a wealth of knowledge from previous hi-fi retail experience, and David has written about hi-fi for thirty years. Now Editor-in-Chief of StereoNET, he's picked up a few things along the way.
So relax and enjoy some one-take hi-fi riffing - and please leave your comments below. And don’t forget to hit the Subscribe button, this one goes up to eleven!
The eighties-tastic title tune is called ‘UFO/Mike’s Jumper’, and used with the express permission of our old pal and rights holder Simon Lythe.
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[@asrarul12]

The more you watch Hi-Fi Riff, the more you get lost in time. Love this channel.

[@MrVinylista]

Cheers. Sometimes it's fun to live in the past.

[@Hi-FiRiff]

Hello Jethro Tull.

[@gratmatassa5432]

amazes me how these vintage players read the table of contents so fast or as the featured player went from the drawer closing to playing

[@Grampus854]

Thank you gents - another great episode and very nostalgic for me. I’d forgotten about those selected 1541A chips, a big marketing ploy at the time. I bought a Cambridge Audio CD2 around then which had 4 standard 1541A chips (16x16 oversampling). Replaced that with a Quad 67 which is now 30+ years old but still in my system today.

[@johnshaw359]

Just bought a Philips CD 473 TDA 1541 with a CDM 2 mech for kicks. The CDM swing arm mechs are also nearly indestructible.

[@johntucker5994]

What a great riff! You two are a joy to watch with your good-natured banter, ribbing and lifetime friendship. While I have long known of the TDA 1541A S2, I wasn't sure in which specific products it was implemented. The Philips CD960 looks to have been extremely well-manufactured, and IMO its quirky outward design only add to its charm 37 years later. FWIW, if you can find this unit for sale anywhere, you can still find the rubber belts on ebay which need to be replaced from time to time. Love your channel and thank you!

[@Hi-FiRiff]

One was sold on every on the day we made this riff... at a tasty price. David..... anything you need to tell us? Mike

[@highfell1]

I have the DAC sort-of equivalent with the Marantz PM 75 which came out two years later in 1989 and a Silver crown TDA 1541A chip. Also sounds fabulous and not that expensive

[@bjk6994]

Two stroke, four stroke, Mike & Dave’s dorm room countless strokes

[@MrVinylista]

That's quite enough of that, thank you.

[@Hi-FiRiff]

How did you know we were at boarding school together? Mike

[@aidanpallister7784]

Brilliant as always gents! 👏🏻

[@DJNeiloSF]

Love the musical references - excellent review 👍

[@705johnnyboy]

my first player could double as a orbital sander so i saved money on diy house reno as well...

[@pittsburghpenguinstv9735]

Owned a Philips 6-disc cartridge CDC 875. Apparently it had a TDA1541A. At that point in time the (very expensive) Meridian players were recommended in the magazines. With perspective, how does the Philips - Meridian compare today?

[@redpill4431]

Yes, it is a top album , I have it on LP . Use it all the time for setting systems up , love Thomas Dolby

[@domo3552]

Back in the days of that era, we didn't sell this Philips machine but we did sell the Marantz CD 94, which was an excellent machine. That and the Cambridge CD2 were the two CD players that we sold which we would have been more than happy to live with as vinyl enthusiasts. Properly built too. Another great episode chaps. PS. Slave to the Rhythm is rockin' on ANY player.

[@MrVinylista]

Thanks, and yes, it's a seminal 1980s pop song.

[@Hi-FiRiff]

Where were you retailing from. Mike

[@gilesdavis6345]

I still use a marantz cd94 with a marantz cda94 matching dac with the same chip and an up rated power supply and output stage ( as standard). It really does sound good and still works perfectly after all this time. I also use a chord hugo which I love but the marantz is just so musical and enjoyable. Thanks dudes.

[@Ricky-cl5bu]

Brilliant riff 😊

[@Synthematix]

The Fujitsu MULTITAINER and Fujitsu/ICL PCTV were my favourites for playing music.

[@nickevans3190]

Another fantastic rift going back to the golden years of cd players and music, ohh I laughed at your joke Mike 😂😂😂

[@Hi-FiRiff]

Which one! Mike 🤣

[@johnshaw359]

You see, now you made me go back to the Meridian MCD & MCD Pro CD players days, you keep triggering me.

[@giuseppelavecchia775]

Adoro il philips CD960,apparecchiatura che suona benissimo,top di gamma della sua generazione.ottimo modello!

[@TheBjp0001]

Hey guys , I couldn’t help noticing that you have a couple of guitars on the wall. Who plays them? A short jam session would bring in an extra dimension to your riff I reckon 😊😊😊

[@peterpanjaeger9546]

Danke, ich genieße das 🥂

[@MrVinylista]

Thank you, and hello to our German friends.

[@MrSidMuff]

Slide control for the phones volume is an immediate 'No' from me...an aesthetic abomination 😱

[@MrVinylista]

Good point. It's very eighties!

[@jdekong3945]

hi folks

[@Jezza-m5k]

The battleship build Marantz CD80 is aesthetically more pleasing to the eye and sonically superior, in my opinion. Great riff.... CD rules!

[@markanderson4574]

Is that a very rare ovation 4 string on the wall?

[@Hi-FiRiff]

I wish! It's a very common 6 string with a high action that's painful to play! Mike

[@kjbunnyboiler]

Afternoon Gents👍👍

[@MrVinylista]

Afternoon, KJBB.

[@kjbunnyboiler]

@@MrVinylista evening👍👍

[@kjbunnyboiler]

@@MrVinylista 👍👍

[@Hi-FiRiff]

Kjbb 😎

[@kjbunnyboiler]

@@Hi-FiRiff 👍👍

[@ronlysons6750]

I have a Marantz CD40 with the Philips TD1541A Dac chip, not the super duper chip you have, but it's sounds really good. People keep banging on about how fast chip technology is moving one, personally I don't see it. Dave, When are you going to sell me your Exposure Super V111 power amp. You may as well let someone get some enjoyment from it. If it's never going to be put to good use, it's useless.

[@MrVinylista]

Mike's the one with the Exposures!

[@ronlysons6750]

@@MrVinylista Sorry, yes I know, have a word with him for me. It would go to smoke free, child free and pet free home. I'll even send him a picture every Christmas.

[@Hi-FiRiff]

It is my "go to" budget power amp. Pound for pound it takes a lot to better it, and there are few speakers which David and I review which it cannot drive. Admittedly it's not in the same class as the 1v, but it's a quality amp. Hats off again to John Farlowe Mike

[@stephenfurley1025]

Thomas Dolby. Splashed out 7 grand on a new wig, recently. Tempted? Would link the video but it would just be removed.

[@MrVinylista]

No need, am happy with mine!

[@stephenfurley1025]

I imagine so, sporting the fine mop you have. I do sometimes wonder, though, if Mike doesn't harbour some eny every time he's confronted with it?

[@Hi-FiRiff]

I love TD's Barnet. I'm secretly hoping that Karl Pilkington watches Riff and he discards his one in my direction. Mike

[@stephenfurley1025]

I don't honestly think it's as impressive as Dave's. Have to say, a goodly portion of my attention watching you both, is, looking at the hair - and the lack of it. I do, myself, fall into the latter camp, sadly.

[@davidwilliams2840]

The LP vinyl sounds 10 times better than the CD copy of Grace Jones Island life

[@takeiteasy6154]

it's in the mastering ,don't blame the cd format ,far superior to vinyl .

[@davidwilliams2840]

@@takeiteasy6154 I'm just stating the vinyl sounds 10 times better an the cd . Don't get your knickers in a twist

[@alanjacobs9216]

@@davidwilliams2840 You are stating it, but it's your judgement based on your gear, ears, environment, state of mind and so on. There are so many variables that might not be identical in everyone else's life. I've got a CD version of "Slave To The Rhythm" which sounds amazing but I cannot say that it is absolutely better than vinyl.

[@Hi-FiRiff]

I'll happily buy it on vinyl to double check in that case 👍 Mike