Are you curious to hear how much of a different Op-Amp upgrades make in CD Player?

[rulerboyz]

I just picked up a JVC XL-F252 CD Player (circa 1996). The original Op Amps inside are JRC 4580D. I connected the CD player directly to my soundcard using 3 Feet of Bluejean LC-1 interconnect cable. I then captured an assortment of different songs. I then removed those Op-Amps and dropped in the Burr Brown OPA2604. Here are some before and after samples (Warning: very large 24 bit files, sorry):


JVC XL-F252 with JRC 450D:

1. Elvin Jones http://www.yousendit.com/download/QlVpRm85RkVwM2swTVE9PQ

2. Rossini "Petite Caprice" (Piano) http://www.yousendit.com/download/QlVpRm96b0JFc0kwTVE9PQ

3. Drums N' Bass http://www.yousendit.com/download/QlVqYURBUzhqV0EwTVE9PQ

4. Natalie Merchant http://www.yousendit.com/download/QlVqYUROQ1JWRDgwTVE9PQ

JVC XL-F252 with BB OPA2604:

1. Elvin Jones http://www.yousendit.com/download/QlVpRm8xaTFGR0UwTVE9PQ

2. Rossini "Petite Caprice" (Piano) http://www.yousendit.com/download/QlVpRm85dENGOFEwTVE9PQ

3. Drums N' Bass http://www.yousendit.com/download/QlVqYURDZ2cwVWswTVE9PQ

4. Natalie Merchant http://www.yousendit.com/download/QlVqYUROQ1JPSHcwTVE9PQ

5. Surprise mystery song: http://www.yousendit.com/download/QlVqbUpTOC9wcFUwTVE9PQ

[Whitehall]

Could you summarize your impressions? I'm curious but don't think I can download adequately.

[rulerboyz]

There is a much warmer tone with the BB OPA2604, especially noticeable in passages with female vocals. I have another track with Cecilia Bartoli that demonstrates this pretty clearly. The piano selection above also benefits from the warmer tone in the harmonies. There is a series of glissandi in that piano piece which sound a tad shrill in the original version, yet are clear and listenable in the upgraded version.

In comparison, when the original Op Amps were still in, the upper ranges sounded dry and cold. Ironically that may actually seem like a positive at times during the Elvin Jones drum solo, but overall the tone and individual details are more pleasing to listen to with the Burr Browns in place.

On the Drums N' Bass piece, you can appreciate the tone of the quieter bass notes that John Paul Jones is playing in the middle section much more than before the mods.

My initial impressions might even suggest that this player sounds better than my modified Toshiba SD-3860.

[Nikko75]

My current CD player sounds worse than my PC's line out. The high's are harsh and rolled off a few db at best. Best way I can describe it is like scraping over a singers voice with fine sand paper. No one else hears it but me here. I pondered this type of upgrade but I can find no info on my CD player. I'll upgrade in time.

[rulerboyz]

You could find out if you could open the cover and look at the circuit board. Ocassionally, this can involve a fair amount of disassembly on certain players (such as 5 disc changers, like the one in this thread). If it is a slightly older player it will probably have 8 Pin DIP Dual Op Amps which are relatively easy to swap out for new ones. Also look to see what kind of DAC it has. If you do a google of those original parts in your player, you can find out more info about them, including comments about their limitations.

[rulerboyz]

My current CD player sounds worse than my PC's line out. The high's are harsh and rolled off a few db at best. Best way I can describe it is like scraping over a singers voice with fine sand paper. No one else hears it but me here. I pondered this type of upgrade but I can find no info on my CD player. I'll upgrade in time.

While playing with these kinds of issues, I've also come to notice the important role that quality interconnects play. I think that if you are really serious about getting the best sound out of a given component, then you need to select an interconnect cable that is better than the cheapest grade of cable. Just how high quality will depend on your budget. To my ears there is an obvious difference between cheap cables and something like a Zebra cable or a Bluejeans cable. I can also see a difference in the resulting sound image of the recorded wav file.

[JustBuyNew]

Why op amps there the cheap way of not building a proper output stage?

[rulerboyz]

Why op amps there the cheap way of not building a proper output stage?

My goal here was to put a very simple tweak to the test within the parameters of the existing design. Building a new audio stage was beyond the scope of my little experiment. Perhaps next time I'll do something along those lines.

[zenith2134]

I am very tempted to attempt this upgrade on an older player, where the circuitry is simpler and less integrated circuits are used. Guess I would need a schemat though for voltage matching, etc... If I do this I'll start a new thread of course

[rulerboyz]

Zenith2134,

This is actually the second CD player I've tried this on. The other was a Yamaha CDX-550. If memory serves me correct, that other player had the same Op-Amp in it, JRC 4580D. I imagine you would probably find that most of these players use one of only a couple different kinds of Op-Amps. I think that the beauty of this tweak is that it doesn't seem to require too much research (ie schematic help).

I've also upgraded the Op-Amps on amplifiers and receivers from the late 70s to early 80s that have a more primitive Op-Amp in the amplifier section. In those cases I connect the two power supply pins on the Op-Amp to a small film cap (0.22uf) which is then connected to ground. That is too slow down the slew rate a bit, since the original Op-Amps were a fair bit slower than the Burr Brown ones are.

[zenith2134]

Hey rulerboyz, good idea with the small capacitor. I suppose if you used modern high-speed devices without this mod the amp would oscillate? I plan on doing this to a circa-1994 Sony CDP-C345, which is a 5-disc changer. I found this OLD AA thread...http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/tweaks/messages/98351.html

Not very helpful but I'm about to start a new thread about mine. All I know without taking it apart is that the DAC and most opamps are Sanyo's. Needs updating fer sure lol:thmbsp:

I was able to download the before and after of the Elvis file and I can definitely hear the difference. You have inspired me :D :music:

[rulerboyz]

Hey rulerboyz, good idea with the small capacitor. I suppose if you used modern high-speed devices without this mod the amp would oscillate?

Yes, it's actually a trick that Echowars showed me.

All I know without taking it apart is that the DAC and most opamps are Sanyo's.

These 5 disc players are a little bit trickier to take apart than the single disc players are, so it's a good idea to take your time, and keep the screws organized in such a way that you know which ones go where when you put it back together. Black screws tend to be used on the outside of the case. Gold or silver screws tend to be used inside and on the bottom plate. Sometimes smaller screws are used in certain places, so it's good to keep a note of where they come from. Also pay attention to the wire connections so that you will know how to reconnect anything that needs to be disconnected in order to gain access to the main circuit board with the Op-Amps on them.

[systemerror909]

I've seen others make this upgrade:

http://www.sacdmods.com/CE775.htm

Maybe this would be something to try in my unmodded sony ca70es.