A Legendary Classic; the DENON DCD-1500

I used to sell these back in the eighties. We had one in the sound room with Carver components and the big Infinity speakers.

BTW, stuffing that foam in there is bad.

Doug

 

kay, i'm yanking it...

 

I don't care if its a new DAC or an old DAC, if it has a transistor in the signal
path for the muting function and a circa 1980 op-amp doing the current to
voltage conversion (and you'd be shocked at how many contemporary CD\SACD\DVD-Audio
players do), your not going to get the best sound out of the unit.

 

Yes. It is possibly a fire hazard as well. Not a good idea, IMO.

If you want to address vibration issues, consider using something like Audio Additives 3M Vibration Sheets. They are not expensive, and if applied intelligently should not cause heat dissipation issues. More importantly, they won't catch fire.

 

According to the cd data base, this machine was built with 2 different dacs and transports. There also is a mk2 version.

16 bit dacs


DENON DCD-1500


2 x PCM54HP-K – 2 x SM5801P - Dac chips


KSS-121A / KSS-123A- Transport

 

mine has the PCM54HP on board.

it also has the KSS-123A pickup, but
in all honesty, i have two spare transport assemblies
stockpiled, both taken from the two 1500s i had in the
interim before i found my prime example, and, at least one of them has the
KSS-121A installed. judging by memory, there was nothing physical i could recall
that differentiated the KSS-121A from the KSS-123A, besides the model number label,
at least. one thing's for sure; somewhere in the 1500's 2/2-1/2 year production run,
(mid/late 1985 to mid/late 1987) the pickup models were changed out...

 

Agree w/ Doug G. -Back in the 80's I listened to those classic Denon CD players w/ Carver electronics and Infinity speakers! Fine sound indeed.

 

oh yeah,

the foam is all bye-bye, save for the power switch damper,
and a couple pieces that hold the power cord rigid,
and prevent it from shifting around inside the chassis...

 

Yesterday I pulled out my old DCD-1520 after many years in it's box in the garage. I plugged it in, pushed the power button and sadly, and no one was home! I'd really like to resurrect the unit so I'll probably pull the cover and take a peak inside before possible taking it over to Fred's Sound Of Music to see about a repair. There are many fond memories of this piece and it would be great to have it back.

 

Don't remind me of the 1500. I paid BIG MONEY for one (for me) back when it came out. I must have been crazy spending that kind of loot ($450?) for a CD player when I was broke as hell. And guess what? The laser died in mine in a little more than a year! This was before there was an aftermarket in those kinds of parts. I was so mad, I trashed it!

 

That looks exactly like my 2nd CD player, a Marantz of about the same vintage now long gone. Badge engineered?

 

Blown fuse maybe?

 

I really dig the lay 80's early 90's Japan made Sony cd players. They sound really nice to me.