Sony CDP-70 CD Player - with a few pics - opinions?

Fletch

Well-Known Member
Found this lovely slimline player off of Craigslist. He had it listed for $9 but I had no change so it really cost me $10 but considering the shape it is and the quality sound it is putting out I am more then happy.

Sony CDP-70 CD PLayer Manufactured January 1986. Still has the sticker on the faceplate.

First pic of face:
DSCN1658.jpg


Closer pic:
DSCN1665.jpg


Last pic:
DSCN1666.jpg


Any others have any experience with this unit or ones from 1985-1986? Any idea where to get a service manual, or anything else?

I have just used the headphone jack but so far so good. Black Crowes - Southern Harmony has never sounded so nice. :smoke:
 
Looks like a nice basic CD player, good choice of CD to listen to. Hopefully the outputs are fine on it. Does it have optical or coax out?
 
This was my first CD player when I purchased a Sony "rack system" from Macys back in April 1987 (I am still using the system's integrated amp and speakers, with the EQ in storage). There's no digital output on this CD player, so not possible to connect to an external DAC. When I had it, it always worked and while it wasn't an "audiophile" model, it sounded fine to my ears. I stupidly sold it for $90.00 to my schoolmate back in the early 90s. The CDP-70 is remote controllable but it doesn't come with its own remote. You'll need to connect that connector with the pins in the back to another Sony component that is remote controllable in order for the CDP-70 to be used with a remote.

I think it was featured in a comparison test in the old Stereo Review magazine.
 
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This is a gear sled, single-DAC, non-oversampling player. It very much looks like a CDP-302, but shares nothing with it. A good-sounding standard player, though.

I am now away from the SM and will not return for about three weeks. When I get back, I will look and see if it has an IR sensor or if remote control is only possible via a Sony receiver and cable.

Good score!
 
Well, I am on my third CD, James Blunt was #2 and I am giving the new Dave Matthews a listen and so far I am very pleased with the sound. Of course I am still listening via headphones. I am away from my home for a few days house sitting and had nothing to play the new Dave CD on so this was a pleasant surprise.

I am batting 1 out of 3 for the vintage players
1. Realistic Optimus low end but it cost me pocket change
2. Pioneer 5010 - needs a belt but the time I had it working I was not impressed $2

This Sony unit is by far the best I have found locally for that price. The sled is built like a tank. Very sturdy. The guy I picked it up from told me it had been sitting for a while. The face of the unit is perfect, not a scratch. Of course the top has a few scuffs but it is in excellent condition. Thanks for the info guys!!
 
My first CDP, and still near and dear to my heart (down in my basement system, in fact). Aside from that damned door zombie issue, not a bad s ounding unit even today, even though others think it lacks some modern depth. Can't argue with the build qualify.
 
Well, finally able to get this unit hooked up to my Realistic STA-84 receiver. Should this unit sound so good? The only GOOD sounding unit I can compare to would be a Sony PS1 SCPH-1001. Hard to say if it sounds better, definately different, maybe better. Giving Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms a spin last song........
 
Nice score, passed on a Teac today from about the same year nowhere near as clean as that Sony. You done good.
 
Nice Score!

Don't discount those older DAC's and players.

CD players back in the early days had a lot to prove, and so their DAC sections were extremely well thought out. Philips and Sony invented the standard to convert Analog to Digitial back in 1980 in order to make a CD, of course they knew EXACTLY how to convert that digital signal back into the original analog signal. They also built the players with extremely rugged and precise transports as there was not much in terms of error correction. The more accurately a CD can be read, the less processing power ones needs to get the analog signal back.

I still can't understand why people spend thousands on an external DAC when they don't even stop and listen to a quality CDP with a pair of Philips TDA 1540s or 1541s, or their sony equivalent. Ask certain members on this board, there was no real difference between a well regarded "modern" DAC and the built in DAC in my Marantz CD-94.

YMMV, but im perfectly happy being stuck in the 80s :D
 
Don't discount those older DAC's and players.

I still can't understand why people spend thousands on an external DAC when they don't even stop and listen to a quality CDP with a pair of Philips TDA 1540s or 1541s, or their sony equivalent.

YMMV, but im perfectly happy being stuck in the 80s :D

I couldn't agree more. I have three vintage Sony ES players and the least desirable one from a collectors point of view, but the one I use most often is a CDP-507ESD which contains two Phillips TDA-1541a DAC's. In fact I like it so much I picked up a second one for backup.

Attached is a photo of the 1541a's in my primary 507.
 

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I couldn't agree more. I have three vintage Sony ES players and the least desirable one from a collectors point of view, but the one I use most often is a CDP-507ESD which contains two Phillips TDA-1541a DAC's. In fact I like it so much I picked up a second one for backup.

Attached is a photo of the 1541a's in my primary 507.

I love the 1541 when done right. Most high end players really did the chip justice. Separate power supplies, clean signal transfer, and steady voltages all around.

I also have a few players with the 1540 (Marantz CD-73, Beogram CD-X) and they have the same family sound. Philips had to install some circuitry into the 1540 players to make them "seem" like 16 bit players, but I hear that once you bypass all of the extra circuitry, and let the 1540 do its thing...its a much more ear pleasing analogous sound.:yes:
 
The large issue with a single DAC is the inter-channel delay. And being a standard sampler, the averaging filter is very steep. But this is a nice-sounding player, as I said before.
 
First time post/newbie and unintentional enthusiast

Hi all

I'm posting because I'm a real newbie at this stuff and have sort of fallen into it by circumstance. I'm hoping you might be able to give me a little advice on vintage equipment.
Found your great site after picking up the same Sony CDP at V Village for $7.99 CAD.
The Sony looks like it is in mint condition. I just thought it looked like it was in great shape and if it didn't work, I could spare the 8 bucks to find out. So far it works perfectly without door issues. I have it plugged through my Akai AA-910 receiver (I bought it when I was teen in the 70s). It's also in pretty good shape and sounds great through my Sansui S-55c's (also picked up at VV $20).
I now live in the west and it's pretty dry w/30% humidity.
Is there anything you think I need to know (I am a newbie) to be able to pass this stuff on to my daughter?
I promise I'll never write this much in a post again.
Great and very cool site. Thanks
 
Hey Art - enjoy your old "new" Sony. I bet it's still got a lot of life left in it. Welcome to AK.
 
I just picked a CDP 70 yesterday at goodwill for $9 that is in excellent condition and it sounds great. Nice little deck and has a good heft to it. I am replacing my CDP C7esd with it that seems to be having problems with increased jitter , decreased error rejection and freezing during play that was my work horse since I bought it new for $450 many years ago. I cleaned lens manually but it only made it slightly better and not acceptable so the problem must be elsewhere in deck.
If the origninal poster is still looking for a manual:
http://www.hifiengine.com/manuals/sony/cdp-70.shtml
You have to sign up to downlaod but it's free
Dwight
 
Hi!

I'm new on this forum.
I picked up Sony CDP-70 few days ago. I searched complete internet to find Sony Wireless Remote Control Kit "RM-D1K" for my CDP, but there was no any results. Does anyone know where I could find one?

Regards!
 
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