Digital Drive

Marantz CD94

81.66.215.237

I have just acquired an old Marantz CD94 with perished belts. I have just managed to repair it, and as many before me, I am surprised by the deep bass, dense, quite musical, rather organic, Garrard 301-like, sound.
I am comparing with my Sony CDPX300ES used as transport, to a RAKK DAC with SACthailand ouput transformers.

The RAKK DAC goes higher, and is more refined in the highs, but the Marantz is excellent in the mid and bass: the Rakk is like a good Burgundy (clear), the Marantz like a Bordeaux (dark).
My next attempt will be to use the Marantz as transport to the RAKK DAC, and switch between its own DAC and the RAKK's.
In any case, the Sony's own DAC is inferior to the Marantz. It may well be that the Sony is also inferior as a transport, but the Sony transport mechanism itself, is supposed to be quite good.

I have read that the Marantz transport was good in its day, with a glass lens for the laser. The components look quite good (except for the opamps, and the output cinchs). Apparently, this and the 16x4 TDA1541 chip, and the very short filter path explains the fairly good sound.

I would be grateful for comments about the Marantz by previous owners and tweakers. I suppose only Revox repairers now have stock of the early Philips transport. Obviously reclocking and changing opamps could be a good idea; but the suggestions here
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=cc040e7d7de5d891d22f1169154ac688&threadid=15551&perpage=15&highlight=&pagenumber=2
seem a little extreme for on an ageing antique; perhaps it is best to be as conservative as possible.

For those looking for replacement belts, I tried to obtain them via the address suggested by World Hifi : charleshyde.co.uk, but they are now completely out of stock. Doing a search on the web, I found substitute belts from CPC thanks to primalsea at http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread/t-60588.htmlhttp://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread/t-60588.html

I ordered a number of different ones, just to have enough to play with:
Qty 4 of 38mm dia X 1.2mm Sq section CPC No AVBELT78
Description
BELT AUDIO SQUARE (AV7328)
Qty 2 of 42mm dia X 1.75mm Sq section CPC No AVBELT82
Description
BELT AUDIO SQUARE (AV7312)
Qty 2 of 52mm dia X 2mm Sq section CPC No AVBELT93
Description
BELT AUDIO SQUARE (AV7006)
Qty 4 of 37mm dia X 1.2mm Sq section CPC No AVBELT77
Description
BELT AUDIO SQUARE (AV7318)

Qty 2 of 41mm dia X 1.75mm Sq section CPC No AVBELT81
Description
BELT AUDIO SQUARE (AV7329)

Qty 2 of 51.5mm dia X 2mm Sq section CPC No AVBELT91

Cost about £18

Contact details were as follows : CPC is a Premier Farnell Company

mailto:sales@cpc.co.uk>

T: 08701 202530

F: 08701 202531

< http://www.cpc.co.uk/>

Regards
Anthony

http://www.theanalogdept.com/anthony_hind.htm (Open in New Window)

Follow Ups:

RE: Marantz CD94 - niws 20:36:24 09/04/07 (0)
Lucky you. - jusbe 12:41:22 09/03/07 (0)

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