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Hi everyone,
I have a Don Allen modified CDC 745 CD changer. It has a tube output stage and I like it quite a bit. However, it stopped working in the middle of a track. I hear very faint sound. The player seems to read CDs just fine. A friend of mine who is knowledgeable with tube amps tried to fix it but so far, to no avail. He thinks there is nothing wrong with Don's tube stage and believes there might be something going on with the original circuit board itself.
I've heard Don is retired and I have no way to get in touch with him at this point.
I could replace the CD player but I did try about 7 before settling on this a few years ago and, at that price point, it was by far the best I tried, and the only one that was acceptable to me long term.
Does anyone know who could fix this, preferable in New York?
Alternatively, does anyone have any experience with these type of CD players and/or these sellers on eBay?
Vintage player with TDA 1541 in NOS mode and with tube output:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291855537091?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Vintage player with TDA 1541 in NOS mode
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-CDP-750-with-TDA1541-in-NOS-mode-Recapped-and-Upgraded-Analog-Like-Sound-/201653495129?hash=item2ef37c2559:g:ik4AAOSwU-pXvlqI
I am a bit curious and they are reasonably cheap. At the same time, I have no experience with NOS CD players other than an Audio Note room at the New York audio show last year, which I did think was one of the most musical sounding room at the show.
I was also trying to buy a Sonic Frontier SFCD-1, as I've heard great things about them, and I know Dan Lavry designed the UltraAnalogue DAC in it (and I've used the Lavry Gold ADC converter on three of my records and I know I like it a lot, so I tend to trust that). But I haven't been able to get one so far.
I would welcome any thoughts, opinions etc... I already have a DAC (Wavelength Brick V3) and I like it, but I still want a good one box CD player in addition. And fixing the Don Allen player, if it can be done, would be my preferred option, as I know I like it.
Many thanks!
Jerome Sabbagh
Follow Ups:
He is a great tube servicing/modding guy. I don't know if he can help you, but he'll certainly give you a straight answer. His queue is pretty long, but his rates are very fair and his work is excellent.
WW
"A man need merely light the filaments of his receiving set and the world's greatest artists will perform for him." Alfred N. Goldsmith, RCA, 1922
TY- WW
Thanks everyone! I tried changing the tube, it's not that. I am now looking at buying something else. Thanks!
keep me posted -saxman73
No idea about this. But Bill Thalman
Nice suggestion.
Have you tried replacing the tubes?? If you don't have any replacements, and don't feel like spending much on a test, there are certainly a lot of low cost tubes on eBay. They don't have to sound good - they just need to work. If replacing the tubes brings your CD player back to life, then you can get more sonically acceptable tubes and enjoy your player. Also, I don't know the age of the player, but hopefully your friend took a look at the electrolytic caps.
Good thing that it reads CDs and you hear a faint sound. That would seem to indicate that the digital side of things is working, and you are getting signal out of the DAC. Seems likely the tube amplification stage. I would not invest any more time looking for a replacement until I replaced the tubes.......
regards -- Roger
Throw it in the trash! It has been sonically and technologically surpassed.
Yes, by Music Streaming Services. :-)
Cut-Throat
I have literally never heard of that failure mode on a CD player which leads me to believe that the issue would have to be ,cough obsolescence, the tube output stage. I'm a huge tube fan, but they are far less reliable than SS.
That really depends on the tube and to what percentage of its capability it is driven.
I like tube phono stages too. My mil spec sub mini tubes have a projected life of 100K hours driven nowhere near their max level in my CDP/DAC
ET
"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936
My mil spec sub mini tubes have a projected life of 100K hours...
And they'll survive EMP! which solid-state will not (unless they're specially hardened which you won't find in consumer electronics).
Yes they will. Never thought of that!
ET
"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936
Jerome-
there may be some info on your player over on Audiogon Forums.
Perhaps a Google search as well? Keep me posted on your project.
Happy Listening!
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