• Item: CD Player  
  • Type: Marantz CD50  
  • Posted: 6 October 2010  
  • Builder: flemo  
  • Country: Australia  
  • Comments: 2  

CD50 case

I decided it was time to do something about the way my Marantz CD50 CDP looked and try and resolve some niggling issues I had with it.

It has been modified to a dedicated CD transport with modified Trichord clock powered using a 12volt car battery.

The clock and added oversized caps are connected using Cat5 flying leads to allow for cap changes. Cat5 cable is also used as a power cable from the clock to the battery. Anyone who's worked with Cat5 knows it gets caught on everything!

Other issues were that it didn't come with a lid, I hated the flimsy sheet metal bottom and back, loose Cat5 cable inside and outside of the unit, I wanted easy access for mos, and it was plain ugly!!

I also considered the external build quality of the CD50 compared to the CD94, and what struck me was the superior dampened alloy casing of the CD94.

I decided to remove all the tin and build a case which would assist with dampening, allow space to install vintage oil filled caps at a later stage whilst keeping it all enclosed, and hopefully improve the looks!!

I also installed a Cat5 plug at the back for the 12volt cable and vibrapods on the bottom.

I'm considering running a lithium battery powerpack for the clock to see how it compares with the car battery, which can be mounted inside the case.

Comments

  • soundofvoid
  • 6 October 2010 at 02:04PM
  • Wonderful!It reminds me of the
    Pioneer Urushi range or the
    Rotel Michi one.Wooden sides are back in vogue...
    My findings with installing
    high quality clocks is favorable too...
    Although i never tried a car battery (!) to power one but relied on dedicated well regulated PS boards.
    One alarming issue is cable route and length :it seems that you can escape with smaller wiring lengths in there.
    PIOs are a good idea too...
  • flemo
  • 6 October 2010 at 06:14PM
  • Hi Soundofvoid, the length of the Cat5 flying leads is for the ease of changing caps. I agree they are alarming and really annoying at times too! Once I have determined which caps give the sound I'm chasing then it's a matter of trimming them right back. Cheers, flemo.

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