Digital Drive

Posted by roxymott (A) on May 17, 2012 at 09:13:45

I had bought this tank-like unit as a dedicated two channel CD player for only $15 as the Craigslist seller couldn't get it to work. As earlier posted a few threads down, it would accept the CD fine - but never proceeded past the "Loading" display and simply wouldn't play anything. I kept salivating after reading the Stereophile review, but figured I would only give it one more shot before declaring it a boat anchor.

I (again) took the lid off and also took the lid off over the loading mechanism. There are three plastic gears. One medium, one fairly large and one very small. I noticed the small one had somehow "popped up" and was not engaging the larger gear as it should.

So I gently pushed it down until it made a snapping sound. VOILA !!!!. I then kept the drawer open and plugged it in to see the laser light up.

I screwed both lids back on and loaded a CD. To my great satisfaction it worked like a charm. I was shocked and strutting around like a peacock all by myself.

Hooked it up to my Parasound P3 preamp, NAD 262 power amp, PSB Stratus Goldi speakers and let her rip. IMO, a big improvement from the Pioneer DV-37 I had been limping along with. Better in every way.

Then listened to Phil Manzanera "Diamond Head", Mott The Hoople "Mott", "801 Live", the first three Bob Ludwig HDCD mastered Roxy Music discs, Be Bop Deluxe "Live In The Air Age", Robin Trower "For Earth Below", my own comp of Blue Aeroplanes stuff, Strawb's "Grave New World", some Jeff Beck,
Rory Gallagher, Procol Harum, King Crimson, Radiohead, My Bloody Valentine, Television, Can and Wishbone Ash "Argus".

Jazz was the stupendously recorded Cyrus Chestnut "Revelation" (engineered by Jim Anderson), David Murray "Saxmen" (which I believe is one of his best although it was slammed by AMG - Andrew Cyrille is incredible on it), Joe Henderson "State Of The Tenor", Art Tatum "Group Masterpieces with Ben Webster" and James Carter "JC On The Set".

I just have to say that this is a fine two channel audio CD player and I'm ecstatic that I didn't give up on fixing.

Especially for the lowly sum of 15 bucks.