View Full Version : Esoteric P-700 Transport
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Just got this from Perth, Australia.
https://www.jkwynn.co.uk/VRDS/Pics/Eso_01.jpg
Its the Esoteric P-700 CD Transport, but is identical to the TEAC P-700, bar the branding, they have the same service manual etc.
It's a very clean unit for its age and was checked over by the seller, who runs a HiFi restoration business, before being advertised.
The mechanism is the TEAC VRDS CMK-3.2 with Sony KSS-151A Laser assembly.
I'll be doing a few mods along the way, including re-clocking, so if anyone is interested, you can follow my progress on my blog here:
https://www.jkwynn.co.uk/VRDS/VRDS_Thumbs.html
AJSki2fly
23-05-2024, 10:34
Looks great, supposed to be a lovely CD transport Ken. I will be interested on how you modify it, and gains you get.
Looks great, supposed to be a lovely CD transport Ken. I will be interested on how you modify it, and gains you get.
Thanks Adrian, the guy down under said he had worked on a dozen or so of these and this was the cleanest, almost like new inside.
The original remote looks as though it was made yesterday.
He even made a YouTube video of it for me, showing it run a test CD and the scope trace of the SPDIF output, nice square wave.
He said the laser diode, as measured, and compared to the manuals specified range from new to end of life, showed it had only had about 10% use.
I will be changing the fixed chord to an IEC C14 inlet socket, its a common mod on these.
I have my eye on the Tentlabs XO3.2 clock board, this also has a re-clocked SPDIF shaping/output buffer on it, I can run this to a new 75ohm BNC output socket.
The rest of the system, plus the existing RCA Coax and Toslink outputs, will benefit from the new clock, but the XO3.2 SPDIF output is supposed to be superior.
I've already worked out where to attach this to the Servo and decoder processor pins for Clock and SPDIF connections.
This board uses its own PSU separate from everything else, keeps it nice and clean.
This will all have to wait though, I have to modify my HiFi rack to accommodate this taller unit and build some stands for my speakers, so I can play the thing.
I will be following your work on this CD/ transport Ken.
Ali Tait
24-05-2024, 08:08
Nice Ken. Used to have a P-30, wish I'd never sold it.
Nice Ken. Used to have a P-30, wish I'd never sold it.
Nice machine the P-30, same VRDS version and laser as my P-700.
I will be changing the fixed chord to an IEC C14 inlet socket, its a common mod on these.
I assume that as others have done this it is not double insulated? I understand that adding an earth to a DI unit is not reccommended.
I assume that as others have done this it is not double insulated? I understand that adding an earth to a DI unit is not reccommended.
It is Double insulated and has just a 2 core lead. Folks just leave the earth disconnected internally on the 3 pin socket.
If you use a 2 pin IEC socket it's less compatible with ready made leads.
Ali Tait
25-05-2024, 08:56
How are you getting on with the amps Ken?
How are you getting on with the amps Ken?
Was loving them, but my system is down while I'm working on it, they only have about 20hrs on them.
At the moment, I'm making an extra shelf for my HiFi rack and new spacer posts to accommodate the taller CD Transport.
You know what I'm like about detail, so the new shelf has to be bow fronted and veneered/stained/varnished, even the edges and radiused corners, to match the others.
Then I have to make the stands for the Canton speakers, that allow the amps to sit underneath, got the design sorted, got all the tools, just need the wood.
I might be able to play this Transport after that, as I've not even heard it yet. When I unpacked it, I plugged it in and loaded a CD, I went through the various functions, which seemed to initiate the correct response on the display. That's all I can do for now.
It's a busy time, just finished some repairs and paintwork on the motorhome and I'm trying to sell quite a bit of gear at present. The Yamaha based speakers and PrimaLuna power Amp have gone, but I still have active ATC 20 ProII, Event Opals and a pair of Subs to move. Along with a DAC, Pre Amp, Phono stage and Power Amp. It's surprising the work in creating the adds and posting in several locations. I hope my set up is fully sorted for the Maverick Show and next NEBO - That's the plan.
I got the Rack finished and the Esoteric Transport hooked up.
https://www.jkwynn.co.uk/VRDS/Pics/VRDS_14.jpg
Wow, it sounds very nice as it is, I think I'll keep the modification's to a minimum.
If it ain't broke don't fix it, as they say.
Get rid of that antique thingamajig off of the top shelf and move the transport up there. :D
Orange display - very good.
Looks awesome Ken, well done.
ha ha, love it Martin.
I filled the rack in such a way as to keep the leads as short as possible.
Digital path - Transport into DAC/Streamer above it, into Pre Amp above that.
Analogue path - TT into Phono stage below it, into Pre Amp below that.
Note the CD drawer in this Transport is very rigid and well supported.
Ali Tait
26-05-2024, 22:18
Looking good Ken.
Looking good, pity the Eversolo DMP-A6 is only available in black.
Looking good, pity the Eversolo DMP-A6 is only available in black.
The Eversolo is the DMP-A6 Master Edition, with the Beatechnik LPS upgrade and BNC SPDIF input/output sockets. It's a great performer.
I considered having the Aluminium front and control knob stripped and re anodized clear (Silver).
Trouble with that is the badging looks very well stuck down and then there's the lettering, which is lasered through the Black anodized finish, so it exposes the Silver. The glass screen looks bonded in, so that's another issue. I could have new lettering lasered deeper and Black paint filled, or just printed in Black. I have contacts that could do all this, but its a lot of trouble for two small areas either side of the display, which looks Black anyway.
It would not be cheap to do all this.
They should have done it in Silver to, most companies do.
Nice looking rack of gear Ken especially that piece on top!:lol:
Nice looking rack of gear Ken especially that piece on top!:lol:
I played a bit of everything, this morning Jim, CD, File based and Vinyl.
It all sounds equally as good, regardless of the source, which has been a long term goal of mine.
I have no loyalty to any of the formats, there is good and bad in them all.
For 70's material, it has to be original vinyl, nothing touches it, forget the remastered/digital versions, the master tape has degraded to much to better the original releases.
There are some great CD's from the 80's and especially the 90's and for current material, you can't beat good file based tracks.
Listening to a George Michael CD at the moment - Songs From The Last Century and its all sounding damn good together.
The Neurochrome 686 Monoblocks and Canton CT-1000/2 speakers work so well together.
Apart from some minor tweaking I'm going to do on the CD Transport and the Speakers XO, that's it for me, I'm very content with this set up.
ha ha, love it Martin.
I filled the rack in such a way as to keep the leads as short as possible.
Digital path - Transport into DAC/Streamer above it, into Pre Amp above that.
Analogue path - TT into Phono stage below it, into Pre Amp below that.
Note the CD drawer in this Transport is very rigid and well supported.
Which is the right thing to do, and one of the reasons I make up my own leads.
Well done. :)
Which is the right thing to do, and one of the reasons I make up my own leads.
Well done. :)
Thanks Barry.
I made all bar the Phono stage leads.
This morning, I adjusted the length of the pair of XLR's between DAC/Pre and one of the Mains leads, to suit this arrangement.
They are all optimised in length now.
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