In praise of the Philips TDA1541/A/S1/S2 chips.

I just that is my point. Despite improvements in D/A converters, the TDA1541 remains one of the most musical to my ears. And that is why I come back to the Philips CD960 after having had dozens of other CD players, regardless of price or favorable reviews etc.

 

I just bought a Nakamichi CDC-3A which has the TDA1541A chip. It has the Pioneer 6 CD changer cartridge. (Not a Music Bank system). There are only a handful of Naks with this chip, the CDC-4A, the OMS-20A and the CDP-2A are the only others I know of. It works smoothly and I love it. However, the Philips CD-960 sounds better. The Nak is a bit dull and also a bit more grainy. (Maybe it could use the capacitors upgraded?) I was expecting the Nak to beat the Philips, but I am not disappointed because when I listen to changers, I am typically doing other things rather than listening critically.

I am obsessive, and I like to collect. So, I will probably seek out the Nak CDC-4A, the Philips CD-880 and the Marantz CD94 mkII for fun.

I have a Cambridge CXN v2 to compare its DAC to the Philips and I like the Philips over the modern DAC in the Cambridge.

 

You all know the Phillips LHH-1000 and Studer A730 are calling you, both of which use the double crown version of the TDA1541 chip.

 

Yeah there are a LOT of units with the chip:

ABBINGDON AMR CD-77 Philips TDA1541A Sony
ACOUSTIC RESEARCH CD-06SE Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM-4
ACOUSTIC RESEARCH CD-06SE Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM-4
ADCOM GCD-575 Philips TDA1541 AKSS-212B
ADCOM GCD-600 Philips TDA1541 KSS
AIWA DX-M45 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-4/25
ARCAM ALPHA Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM-4/19
ARCAM ALPHA 5 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-9/44
ARCAM ALPHA 5 PLUS Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM-9
ARCAM ALPHA PLUS Philips TDA1541A
ARCAM DELTA 70 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2
ARCAM DELTA 70.2 Philips TDA1541-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-4/11 / CDM-4/31
ARCAM DELTA BOX 1 Philips TDA1541A D/A converter
ARCAM DELTA BOX 2 Philips TDA1541A D/A converter
ARISTON CD PLAYER Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-4/19
Bang & Olufsen Beogram CDX2 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220 Philips CDM-2
Bang & Olufsen Beogram CD3300 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2/10
Bang & Olufsen CD5500 Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM-4/11
BEARD DAP-1 3 x Philips TDA1541A – YM3623B D/A converter
BLAUPUNKT CP-2850 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/10 / CDM-4/11
BRINKMANN ZENITH Philips TDA1541 – CXD1076 D/A converter
California Audio Labs Aria Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220 Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4/11
California Audio Labs Aria Delta Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2
California Audio Labs Tempest II Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-4/11
California Audio Labs Tercet Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4/11
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO CD1 6 x TDA1540 / 3 x Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-1
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO CD2 4 x TDA1541 – SAA7220 CDM-2/10
Cambridge Audio CD3 4 x TDA1541 Philips CDM1 MKII
Cambridge Audio DAC 3 D/A 4 x Philips TDA1541A-S1 D/A converter
Cary Audio Design CAD-855 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19
CREEK CD60 Philips TDA1541A-S1 – SAA7220P/B CDM-4/14
DUAL CD 5150 RC Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19
DUGOOD GLORY YEAR Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220 VAM 1201
EMT 981 PROFESSIONAL Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-1 Mk II
GRUNDIG CD 35 X-Version 1 x Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2/29
GRUNDIG CD-903 FineArts Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4
GRUNDIG CD 8100 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2/29 / CDM-4/11
GRUNDIG CD 8200 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2/10
GRUNDIG CD 8400 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/10
GRUNDIG CD 8400 Mk II Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4
GRUNDIG CD-9000 FineArts Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM-2/29 / CDM-4/11
GRUNDIG CD9009 2xTDA1541A/S1 CDM1mkII
Kinergetics Research KCD-20 (New) Philips TDA1541A-R1 Philips CDM-4/19
Kinergetics Research KCD-30 Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM-2/10 / CDM-4
LECTOR CDP 3T Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM 12
LECTOR DIGICODE Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) D/A converter
LUXMAN D-500X’s II Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-3
MAGNAVOX CDB460 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/10
MAGNAVOX CDB465 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2
MAGNAVOX CDB470 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2
MAGNAVOX CDB471 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2
MAGNAVOX CDB472 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2
MAGNAVOX CDB473 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-4/11
MAGNAVOX CDB560 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2
MAGNAVOX CDB582 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19
MAGNAVOX CDB630 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19
MAGNAVOX CDB650 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2
MARANTZ CD-5L 1 x Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/10
MARANTZ CD-40 Philips TDA1541A-R1 Philips CDM-4/19
MARANTZ CD-50 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19 Composite
MARANTZ CD-56 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/10 / CDM-4/25
MARANTZ CD-60 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19 Composite
MARANTZ CD-65 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2
MARANTZ CD-65DX Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-2/10 / CDM-4/11
MARANTZ CD-65 Gold Philips TDA1541-S1 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2
MARANTZ CD65 Mk II Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/11
MARANTZ CD-75 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220 Philips CDM-2/10 / CDM-4/25
MARANTZ CD-75DX Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-2/10 / CDM-4/11
MARANTZ CD75 Mk II Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-1 Mk II
MARANTZ CD-84 2 x TDA1540 – SAA7030 Philips CDM-1
MARANTZ CD-12 TDA1541A-S1 (single Crown) Philips CDM-1
MARANTZ CD7 2x TDA1541A-S2 (double crown) CDM 12.3 PRO
MARANTZ CD80 Philips TDA1541A/S1/Q CDM1mkII
MARANTZ CD-85 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) CDM-1 Mk II
MARANTZ CD880J Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) CDM-1 Mk II
MARANTZ CD94 Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM1
MARANTZ CDA 94 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) D/A converter
MARANTZ CD94mkII Philips TDA1541A/S1 Philips CDM1
MARANTZ CD-95 2 x Philips TDA1541A-S1 + 2 x SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-1
MARANTZ CD-99SE 2 x TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-1
MARANTZ CD-99SE Limited 2 x Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Double Crown) Philips CDM-1
MARANTZ PROJECT D-1 2 x TDA1541A-S2 (Double Crown) D/A converter
MARANTZ CD273 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2
MARANTZ CD583 Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM-4/19
MARANTZ CD650 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/10 / CDM-4/25
MARANTZ CD873 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4/11
MARANTZ CD883 Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM-4/19
MARANTZ CDV780 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown)
McCORMACK PRISM II Philips TDA1541A-R1 – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19
MCINTOSH MCD7005 Philips TDA1541A CDM-2/10
MCINTOSH MCD7007 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-1
Meridian 206 mkII Philips TDA1541
MERIDIAN 206 TDA1541
MERIDIAN 207 (16-bit) Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) CDM-1 / CDM-4
MICRO CD-M2 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-1
MICRO CD-M100 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-1
MICRO CD-M2000X Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-1
MICROMEGA CD F1 Premium Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-1 Mk II / CDM-4/26
MICROMEGA CD F1 Pro Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2/29 / CDM-4/25
MISSION PCM II Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM-4/11
MISSION PCM4000 Philips TDA1541-S1 Philips CDM-2/10
MISSION PCM7000 Philips TDA1541-S1 Philips CDM-2/10
MOD SQUAD PRISM Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220 Philips CDM-2
MOD SQUAD PRISM II Philips TDA1541A-R1 – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19
MUSICAL FIDELITY DIGILOG Philips TDA1541A D/A converter
NAIM AUDIO CD1 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2
NAIM AUDIO CD2 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-9
NAIM AUDIO CD3 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-9
NAIM AUDIO CDI Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-4/27 / CDM-9 Pro
NAIM AUDIO CDS1 Philips TDA1541-S1 (Single Crown) CDM-4/25
NAKAMICHI 1000p 2 x Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) D/A converter
NAKAMICHI CDC-3A Philips TDA1541A – CXD1088 Pioneer PWY1009 / PWY1010
NAKAMICHI CDC-4A Philips TDA1541A-S1 Pioneer PWY1009 / PWY1010
NAKAMICHI DA-101p 2 x Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) D/A converter
NAKAMICHI DA-111p 2 x Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) D/A converter
NAKAMICHI DAC-101 Mobile 2 x Philips TDA1541A-S1 – YM3414 – PD0037 D/A converter
NAKAMICHI OMS-20 Philips TDA1541A – CXD1088 KSS-152A
NAKAMICHI CDP-2E Philips TDA1541A– CXD1088
NEC CD-10 2 x TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) KSS-150A
NEC CD-620 Philips TDA1541 KSS-150A
NEC CD-720 Philips TDA1541 KSS-150A
NEC CD-730 2 x Philips TDA1541A KSS-150A
NEC CD-816 2 x TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) KSS-150A
NEC CD-830DS 2 x TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown)
ORELLE CD-100 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-4
ORELLE CD-100e Philips TDA1541A / TDA1545A Philips CDM 12.1 / Panasonic
ORELLE CD-160 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-4/19
ORELLE CD100SE Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-4
PHILCO CD2471 Philips TDA1541-R1 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4/11
PHILIPS CD-60 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19 Composite
PHILIPS CD-80 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-1 Mk II
PHILIPS CD-85 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-1 Mk II
PHILIPS CD160 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/10
PHILIPS CD207 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A – TDA1542 Philips CDM-2-P
PHILIPS CD304 Mk II Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A – SAA7210P Philips CDM-1
PHILIPS CD360 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/10 / CDM-2/29
PHILIPS CD371 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2/29 / CDM-4/11
PHILIPS CD372 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2
PHILIPS CD373 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4/11
PHILIPS CD380 TDA1543 – SAA7220 Philips CDM-4/19
PHILIPS CD450 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2
PHILIPS CD460 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/10 / CDM-4/25
PHILIPS CD465 Philips TDA1541
PHILIPS CD470 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4/11
PHILIPS CD471 Philips TDA1541-R1 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4/11
PHILIPS CD472 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4/11
PHILIPS CD473 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4/11
PHILIPS CD480 Philips TDA1541 / TDA1543 – SAA7220 Philips CDM-4/19
PHILIPS CD560 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/10 / CDM-4/25
PHILIPS CD580 Philips TDA1541
PHILIPS CD581 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-4/19
PHILIPS CD582 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19
PHILIPS CD584 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19
PHILIPS CD620 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19
PHILIPS CD630 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19
PHILIPS CD640 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2
PHILIPS CD650 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A – SAA7210P Philips CDM-2/10 / CDM-4/25
PHILIPS CD660 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4/11
PHILIPS CD670 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/10 / CDM-4/11
PHILIPS CD680 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-2/10 / CDM-4/11
PHILIPS CD770 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/10 / CDM-4/11
PHILIPS CD771 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4/11
PHILIPS CD780 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220 Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4
PHILIPS CD820 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19 Composite
PHILIPS CD782 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4
PHILIPS CD830 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/19 Composite
PHILIPS CD880 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-1 Mk II
PHILIPS CD960 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A – SAA7210P Philips CDM-1
PHILIPS CDC586 Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM-4/20
PHILIPS CDC875 Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM-4/19
PHILIPS CDV496 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B – TDA1542 Philips CDM-10
PHILIPS DAC960 1 x Philips TDA1541A D/A converter
PHILIPS LHH1000 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-1
PIONEER PD-8070 Philips TDA1541
PROTON AC-300 Mk II Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4
PROTON AC-620 Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM-4/19 Composite
QUAD 66 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-9
RADFORD WS1 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-1 Mk II
RADIOLA CD1006 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/10
REVOX B 126 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-1 / CDM-4/27
REVOX B 226 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-1
REVOX B 226 Mk II / Signature Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-1
REVOX B 226 S / E Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-1 Mk II / CDM-4/26
ROTEL RCD-820B TDA1541
ROTEL RCD-855 Philips TDA1541A-S1 CDM-4/19
ROTEL RCD-955 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-4
ROTEL RCD-955AX Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4
SAE D103 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2 / CDM-4
SANSUI CD-X211E Philips TDA1541A-R1 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-4/19
SCHNEIDER CD4006 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/10
SHERWOOD CDP301R Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2
SONY CDP-68 1 x Philips TDA1541 – CXD1088 KSS-150A
SONY CDP-207ESD 1 x Philips TDA1541 – CXD1088 KSS-150A
SONY CDP-222ESD 1 x Philips TDA1541 – CXD1088 KSS-151A
SONY CDP-227ESD (Old ver.) 1 x Philips TDA1541 – CXD1088 KSS-151A
SONY CDP-227ESD (New ver.) 2 x Philips TDA1541A-R1 – CXD1144 KSS-151A
SONY CDP-301V Philips TDA1541 – CXD1088 KSS-210A
SONY CDP-307ESD 1 x Philips TDA1541A – CXD1088A KSS-150A
SONY CDP-333ESD 1 x Philips TDA1541 – CXD1088 Sony BU-1E
SONY CDP-337ESD 2 x Philips TDA1541A – CXD1144 KSS-190A
SONY CDP-505ESD 1 x Philips TDA1541 – CXD1088 KSS-151A
SONY CDP-507ESD 2 x Philips TDA1541A-R1 – CXD1144 KSS-151A
SONY CDP-555ESD 1 x Philips TDA1541A – CXD1088Q Sony BU-1E
SONY CDP-605ESD Philips TDA1541 – CXD1088 Sony BU-1E
SONY CDP-705ESD 1 x Philips TDA1541A – CXD1088Q Sony BU-1E
SONY CDP-710 1 x Philips TDA1541 – CXD1088 KSS-150A / KSS-210A
SONY CDP-750 1 x Philips TDA1541 – CXD1088 KSS-210A
SONY CDP-910 1 x Philips TDA1541 – CXD1088 KSS-151A
SONY CDP-950 1 x Philips TDA1541A – CXD1088A KSS-150A / KSS-210A
SONY CDP-C100 Philips TDA1541A KSS-210A
SONY CDP-M75 Philips TDA1541 – CXD1088 KSS-150A / KSS-210A
SONY CDP-M95 Philips TDA1541 – CXD1088 KSS-150A / KSS-210A
SONY DAS-R1 2 x Philips TDA1541A-S1 – CXD1144 D/A converter
SONY LDP-550 Philips TDA1541
SPECTRAL SDR-1000 2 x Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-1
STUDER A727 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-1
STUDER A730 TDA154 1A-S1(Double Crown) Philips CDM-3
SUDGEN CDT-1 Philips TDA1541AS1 (single crown)
SUGDEN MASTERCLASS Philips TDA1541A-S-Crown – SAA7220 CDM 12.1
SUGDEN SDA-1 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) D/A converter
SUGDEN SDT-1 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-9/44
SUGDEN SDT-1SE Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-9 Pro
SYLVANIA CD1460 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2
SYLVANIA CD1470 Philips TDA1541 Philips CDM-2
SYLVANIA CD1473 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2
T+A CD1000 AC Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/29
TANDBERG TCP 3015A 16 bit Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220 Philips CDM-2
TEAC CD-Z5000 2 x TDA1541A KSS-210A
TEAC CD-Z5000 2 x Philips TDA1541A – PD0050 KSS-210A
TEAC D-500 2 x TDA1541A-S1 – SM5813 D/A converter
TESLA MC 902 Philips TDA1541 – SAA7220P/A Philips CDM-2/29
TESLA MC 911 Philips TDA1541A – SAA7220P/B Philips CDM-4/25
TOSHIBA XR-9118 Philips TDA1541A Philips CDM-4/11
TOSHIBA XR-9128 Philips TDA1541A-R1 Philips CDM-4/11
WOODSIDE WS2 Philips TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown) Philips CDM-1 Mk II
YAMAHA CDX-630E Philips TDA1541A – CXD1088 KSS-150A
ZANDEN MODEL 5000 Philips TDA1541A-S2 (Double Crown) D/A converter

 

I guess your "obsession" (in a good way) with this converter is like mine with Matsushita and Hitachi 12AX7 and 12AU7 tubes, they're old, outdated, they're not even the best "vintage" tubes available NOS out there, but I love them, when I see them NOS in their original boxes on Ebay I can't resist and have to buy them.
I received today two NOS Canadian General Electric 12AX7A/7025 made in Japan by Matsushita and two Canadian General Electric 12AU7A made in Japan by Matsushita for my Phono preamp and I'm in a sonic bliss .

 

I can totally relate!

 

I wish I had bought a Philips CD960 ...



The only Philips CD player I have ever bought was the following 3-CD carousel player and CD recorder combo, which I have not used in years ...



It is a sad story that Philips has entirely exited the audio/video component business ...

 

Wow, that is a neat unit! I never saw even a picture of one before.

 

I presume you were referring to the CDR 820 I posted earlier. It is a nice machine that has not been heavily used. I recorded fewer than 20 CDR's on it. I bought the deck in the early 2000's. So you have been able to find the Philips CD960 on eBay quite easily?

 

I found a Philips CD960 in need of repair (belts) on Ebay recently. It is my current main unit. I bought a Nakamichi CDP-2A today. I intend to go full capacitor upgrade on it. Nakamichi only made a handful of CD players with the TDA1541 chip:

Nakamichi CDP-2A
CDC-3A
CDC-4A
OMS-20

And several standalone DACS as well.

The Philips CD880 and the Marantz CD-94 mkII are other units I am interested in.

 

BTW, the Philips CD960 is quite pricey even as used.

I am always nervous about those Nakamichi CDP's (ditto those Pioneer Elite CDP's) that came with the magazine for fear of jamming. As such. I only go for the carousel. I have always used my Anthem CD1 as a single disc player for the same reason though I can load up to six CD's. Anthem CD1 is a tube-based CDP ...

 

The NAK CDC-2 and 3 also come with a single CD drawer. I have had the same pioneer 10 CD changer mechanism in two of my cars for years. No jamming experienced. The biggest problem is the lens tends to fall out because it fires downward (you load the discs label side down).

 

I am looking to have this guy do my mods:

 

Here is a vintage Tandberg 3015A CDP currently on eBay auction ...

 

I also just bought a Sony 337ESD.

 

Is it another outstanding CDP?

I do not care much for the feather-weight, mass produced CDP's made in you-know-where nowadays. Back in the day, even the CD tray was made of metal ...

 

All metal from what I understand. 25 lbs.

 

An audio buddy of mine has his Yamaha CD1 in the repair shop for almost 5 years. The CDP, circa 1983 weighs over 30 lbs needs a new laser pickup. I was able to locate an aftermarket laser pickup at a German parts store but the owner of the repair shop adamantly refuses to buy from the German supplier and obviously no American parts suppliers have that laser pickup ...

 

It even has a headphone jack and output control knob ...

 

Never owned headphones in my life, never will. Refuses to buy from a German supplier? Must be some painful history going on there.

 

If the vintage CDP has a digital output jack, you can connect it to the latest outboard DAC to get a superb CDP ...

 

Yes, it has both optical and RCA, but regardless of "specs" or reviews, the built in DAC is excellent and sounds better than my Cambridge CXN DAC or Maverick DAC (for example). And is sounds better than the forum beloved Oppo BDP105 or the low budget favorite the Onkyo 7030, in my opinion. I don't need no stinkin' "latest outboard DAC" to get superb sound. I would rather spend my money on upgrading the caps etc, to improve on the best sounding CD player I've ever owned. You may not agree, and that is fine. But your suggestion is counter to the whole point of my thread. In PRAISE of the TDA1541. It is not in praise of vintage CDP to be used as transports for modern DACs.

 

The guy is just stubborn. There is no family background affecting that attitude ...

 

Oh, that is too bad. It is his loss then I guess.