So, I've DIYed my speakers, amp, preamp... what remains is a CDP right? This plus the fact that the current limiting factor in my system is my "ancient as dinosaur CD63". And which CDP but not the CDPRO2?
Building this CDP turned out to be quite easy! But let me list down the 3 most difficult things.
1. Making the decision to purchase the CDP kit.
2. Terminating those darn tiny connectors
For the money, we can buy quite a number of CDPs in the market so it's tough to justify spending so much dough on this. Plus the fact that the Euros have appreciated by quite a fair amount, it doesn't make the decision any easier to make. But you can take comfort in the fact that this is one hell of a transport! I have modified some CDPs costing RM5k but uses... way inferior transport. In short, you really need to spend a lot of moolah to get transport of this quality but with DIY, you can save, save, save. But first, you need to spend, spend, spend. And this is always a difficult decision to make for me. But I received help in some way. I actually asked Waily to get this kit from AHF Art Audio in Singapore. But deep inside, I haven't really made my mind yet, thinking Waily will take his own sweet time, but suddenly he called me to inform that he has already bought the unit! Talking about speed! Waily, you don't know about this right? But a BIGGGGG thanks to you!
3. Powering up...
4. How the hell do you fit on the clamp?
Ha! Believe it or not! Those are the problems I faced! The power supply is easy to build. I built the one recommended by the website. But note that the LED display is not turned on. I got lazy and decided not to build the negative supply for the display. So I intend to just use the remote control. No display at all! Like a turntable. And that black thing spinning on the disc? It's from 5" floppy disks from the dinosaur age. When I'm done with a wooden chassis, it will look like a turntable. I hope...
Err, apologies for the unsightly construction. It's a prototype mind you. I can't be sure it works until I know it works right? Remember "digit-phobia"? So I built this on plywood. Err, the extra long wires is so that when I FINALLY do up a proper chassis, I won't have the problem of "too short wire". Another side-effect of digit-phobia.
OK, enough talk about the prototyping, how's the sound? First of all, we are refering to the internal DAC. It's... a very basic DAC. The sonics is nothing to shout about but you can hear the potential of this transport immediately. I could hear better detail and better separation of voices and instruments. Wait till I build my non-os dac. And the best thing is,
I2S signal is already available... Ha ha ha ha...
Okay, maybe I shouldn't be refered as the "intrepid solder slinger" anymore. I was quite worried about powering up. You see, I have "digit-phobia". I'm scared of working on digital circuits. For some reasons, even the simplest digital circuit, I have
a natural propensity to screw it up. And I have screwed up a few! But I'm okay with analog circuits, even though analog is pronounced ANAL-LOG. To me, digital is anal. So you understand my apprehension to switch it on? But all great men must make decisions like this so... but it didn't work. The lens bopped up and down non-stop. Huh? After consulting some "guru"s, shit! I found out I didn't even power the micro-controller. After giving its 5V, ah, it's better now, but now we come to the next problem.
If you have built the CDPRO2 before, you will laugh at this idiot! Yes! I spent an eternity trying to figure this out! I kept on fitting the clamp upside down and each time when the motor spins, the CD floats up and down, like a flying saucer. Nothing extra-terrestial mind you but when I finally figured this out, I knocked myself flat. Stupid, stupid, stupid.