UV101
21-11-2012, 22:21
Ok so a couple of times a year, I build a modified 63 or 67 to assist with my obsession building and modifying HiFi. Right now, I'm mid way through building ANTs Kora phono stage and I need funds to pay for the premium parts I need furnish the board Alex kindly sold me. To that end, I have spent a few evenings turning another CD63 into a giant killer!! :stalks:( I also fancy a mike bearing for me Techie!!!!)
I've done well over 10 of these now and they are getting pretty neat!
I use Rubycon low impedance low esr caps on analogue rails, Nichicon Solid polymer (extremely low ESR) on digital rails and a mix of panasonic TSUP and FC as smoothers (reservoir) caps before the regulators. These are what I have chosen after many hours trying different types. These represent great value for money and excellent sonic characteristics. I usually fit my own regs and clocks but in this one I've used up some prototype bits to keep the cost down.
Its a basic CD63 but its a MKII which means its actually an SE (has the SE cross brace) but without the additional baseplate (don't worry about this because the bitument damping more than makes up for the baseplate!) In fact the difference between it an the KI are the transformer is better in the KI, it has a copper plated chassis and it has a badge!:rolleyes:
Extensive Modifications
Audio PSU and output stage
Replace pre reg reservoir caps with oversize Panasonic TSUP 6800uF (2)(increase) (Int/ext remote switch removed to allow space for fitment)
Replace post reg caps with Rubycon ZLH 470uF low impedance (2)
Replace opamp caps with Rubycon ZLH 470uF (4)
Modify filter characteristics to Bessel filter with 470pF styrene caps (2)
replace opamps with Nat Semi LM47920NA on gold rolled pin sockets to enable opamp rolling if required (2)
Bypass HDAM and remove HDAM connectivity to PSU
Disconnect headphones circuit including PSU
Servo and 5v PSU
Replace pre +5v reservoir cap with Panasonic TSUP 22,000uF (1)
Replace post +5 regulator cap with Rubycon ZL 1800uF (1)
Replace unregulated -10v rail reservoir cap with Panasonic FC2200uF (1)
Replace all driver IC rails caps with Rubycon ZLH 470uF (6)
Replace servo rail and vref caps with Nichicon Solid polymer 330uF (3)
RF amp
Replace cap with Nichicon Solid polymer 330uF (1)
HF amp
Replace PSU cap with Nichicon Solid polymer 330uF (1)
HF toward decoder Replace ceramic cap with styrene 2200pF (1)
Decoder
Replace PSU cap with Nichicon Solid polymer 330uF (2)
DAC
Replace Digital PSU cap with Nichicon Solid polymer 330uF (2)
Replace Analogue PSU cap with Rubycon ZLH 470uF (2)
Separate analogue PSU and regulate with MIC5219 ultra low noise regulator
Separate analogue PSU and regulate with MIC5219 ultra low noise regulator
*these are prototype and built on vero. The soldering is untidy and the SMT regs are glued to the vero.
Clock
The clock in this player is a hybrid
The oscillator is a Trichord low phase noise high quality oscillator.
The regulator for the oscillator is an Audiocom super reg 2
There is a clock divider to enable direct high quality clock to be fed to both the DAC and Servo directly. The circuit incorporates inductor PSU separation to reject noise between the oscillator and divider chip and local Nichicon solid polymer PSU caps (2)
Other
Microprocessor on separate std regulator (to stop its noise polluting the rest of the player)
Headphones circuit disconnected from audio lines and PSU
Laser and spindle motor replaced (single assembly)
Mains replaced with IEC socket to allow use with better mains cable is required.
Although not fitted yet, the case will be treated with bitumen damping once soak test is completed.
What can you expect? well its well known these player mod very well. The mods here should give you clearer better defined and accurate mids and tops and the bloated ploddy bass should be much tighter and controlled. Overall it should sound more accurate balanced and together.....blah blah blah I could just go on but I'd rather you just tried it if you fancy the sound of it!!;)
I'm looking for £250 plus £15 insured p&P and it will be ready for despatch after the weekend. I will offer a 3 month guarantee although in the unlikely event of an issue, I'll obviously sort (within reason) after that time. I'll also offer a no quibble 14 day period. If you don't like it, send it back for a refund (less the postage!!!)
Just testing the water to see if there is any interest before it hits ebay!:cool:
Photo's from my phone at the moment and the cross brace hasn't been refitted. I'll update pics when I take the decent ones.....
Thanks for looking
*EDIT Just noticed I described all the analogue caps as Rubycon 470uF ZLH in the description. They are in fact all ZLG which are even lower impedance than ZLH which is more desirable. Also tidied up some spelling
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/cd63mkii/85257681-250F-4A50-8E84-9595FFA6C031-5721-00000216E7BCE3EE.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/cd63mkii/D642B2CA-9AC2-4FFA-AA3B-B37163034BB1-5721-00000216D52DA1D3.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/cd63mkii/2C11BA9D-200E-4DF7-A2C5-C572C78CFBCF-5721-00000216C4C2C4E4.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/cd63mkii/FD7A10A1-3E3E-486B-8E47-CDD253A76804-5721-00000216CA6873CC.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/cd63mkii/69F40DB4-E21E-4100-B20A-F44D6E7B4AFB-5721-00000216EC8FCA48.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/cd63mkii/2ABA38B0-1738-4EE5-84C5-0DB59667B68B-5721-00000216F1F56D93.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/cd63mkii/E26F4771-E36F-47FB-981E-3461D84973D2-5721-0000021700D22844.jpg
I've done well over 10 of these now and they are getting pretty neat!
I use Rubycon low impedance low esr caps on analogue rails, Nichicon Solid polymer (extremely low ESR) on digital rails and a mix of panasonic TSUP and FC as smoothers (reservoir) caps before the regulators. These are what I have chosen after many hours trying different types. These represent great value for money and excellent sonic characteristics. I usually fit my own regs and clocks but in this one I've used up some prototype bits to keep the cost down.
Its a basic CD63 but its a MKII which means its actually an SE (has the SE cross brace) but without the additional baseplate (don't worry about this because the bitument damping more than makes up for the baseplate!) In fact the difference between it an the KI are the transformer is better in the KI, it has a copper plated chassis and it has a badge!:rolleyes:
Extensive Modifications
Audio PSU and output stage
Replace pre reg reservoir caps with oversize Panasonic TSUP 6800uF (2)(increase) (Int/ext remote switch removed to allow space for fitment)
Replace post reg caps with Rubycon ZLH 470uF low impedance (2)
Replace opamp caps with Rubycon ZLH 470uF (4)
Modify filter characteristics to Bessel filter with 470pF styrene caps (2)
replace opamps with Nat Semi LM47920NA on gold rolled pin sockets to enable opamp rolling if required (2)
Bypass HDAM and remove HDAM connectivity to PSU
Disconnect headphones circuit including PSU
Servo and 5v PSU
Replace pre +5v reservoir cap with Panasonic TSUP 22,000uF (1)
Replace post +5 regulator cap with Rubycon ZL 1800uF (1)
Replace unregulated -10v rail reservoir cap with Panasonic FC2200uF (1)
Replace all driver IC rails caps with Rubycon ZLH 470uF (6)
Replace servo rail and vref caps with Nichicon Solid polymer 330uF (3)
RF amp
Replace cap with Nichicon Solid polymer 330uF (1)
HF amp
Replace PSU cap with Nichicon Solid polymer 330uF (1)
HF toward decoder Replace ceramic cap with styrene 2200pF (1)
Decoder
Replace PSU cap with Nichicon Solid polymer 330uF (2)
DAC
Replace Digital PSU cap with Nichicon Solid polymer 330uF (2)
Replace Analogue PSU cap with Rubycon ZLH 470uF (2)
Separate analogue PSU and regulate with MIC5219 ultra low noise regulator
Separate analogue PSU and regulate with MIC5219 ultra low noise regulator
*these are prototype and built on vero. The soldering is untidy and the SMT regs are glued to the vero.
Clock
The clock in this player is a hybrid
The oscillator is a Trichord low phase noise high quality oscillator.
The regulator for the oscillator is an Audiocom super reg 2
There is a clock divider to enable direct high quality clock to be fed to both the DAC and Servo directly. The circuit incorporates inductor PSU separation to reject noise between the oscillator and divider chip and local Nichicon solid polymer PSU caps (2)
Other
Microprocessor on separate std regulator (to stop its noise polluting the rest of the player)
Headphones circuit disconnected from audio lines and PSU
Laser and spindle motor replaced (single assembly)
Mains replaced with IEC socket to allow use with better mains cable is required.
Although not fitted yet, the case will be treated with bitumen damping once soak test is completed.
What can you expect? well its well known these player mod very well. The mods here should give you clearer better defined and accurate mids and tops and the bloated ploddy bass should be much tighter and controlled. Overall it should sound more accurate balanced and together.....blah blah blah I could just go on but I'd rather you just tried it if you fancy the sound of it!!;)
I'm looking for £250 plus £15 insured p&P and it will be ready for despatch after the weekend. I will offer a 3 month guarantee although in the unlikely event of an issue, I'll obviously sort (within reason) after that time. I'll also offer a no quibble 14 day period. If you don't like it, send it back for a refund (less the postage!!!)
Just testing the water to see if there is any interest before it hits ebay!:cool:
Photo's from my phone at the moment and the cross brace hasn't been refitted. I'll update pics when I take the decent ones.....
Thanks for looking
*EDIT Just noticed I described all the analogue caps as Rubycon 470uF ZLH in the description. They are in fact all ZLG which are even lower impedance than ZLH which is more desirable. Also tidied up some spelling
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/cd63mkii/85257681-250F-4A50-8E84-9595FFA6C031-5721-00000216E7BCE3EE.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/cd63mkii/D642B2CA-9AC2-4FFA-AA3B-B37163034BB1-5721-00000216D52DA1D3.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/cd63mkii/2C11BA9D-200E-4DF7-A2C5-C572C78CFBCF-5721-00000216C4C2C4E4.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/cd63mkii/FD7A10A1-3E3E-486B-8E47-CDD253A76804-5721-00000216CA6873CC.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/cd63mkii/69F40DB4-E21E-4100-B20A-F44D6E7B4AFB-5721-00000216EC8FCA48.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/cd63mkii/2ABA38B0-1738-4EE5-84C5-0DB59667B68B-5721-00000216F1F56D93.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/Trunky1812/cd63mkii/E26F4771-E36F-47FB-981E-3461D84973D2-5721-0000021700D22844.jpg