Hi-Fi Update 5: Marantz CD-63
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- čas přidán 28. 07. 2024
- Hello VC. This is a Hi-Fi Update Video. No music is shown (or played), only Hi-Fi equipment! This is the Fifth in my series of Hi-Fi Update videos.
In this video I show my newly purchased second hand "Marantz CD-63" CD Player form 1994.
Featured Hi-Fi:
Marantz - CD-63 -- CD Player
Technics - SL-PG490 -- CD Player
Graham Slee - Solo -- Headphone Amplifier
Denon - DA-300USB -- DAC
Kimber - Timbre -- RCA Interconnects
Kimber - Timbre -- RCA to mini jack Interconnects
Kimber - D60 -- Coaxial Digital Interconnect
Non Brand - Toslink -- Optical Digital Cable
"VC" stands for "The Vinyl Community". - Hudba
I sold this range in the 90's and brings back memories. I can remember that we sold very little of this model. The SE was great, and our main seller, but the KI Signature was in a different league, especially on a more revealing system. The copper chassis on the KI was truly beautiful. It was also tuned, by ear, by Ken himself. It should have been nearer £1000 for sound quality. It punched well above its weight. All had the noisy draw mech, so yours is fine.
The ki63 sig kicks arse, still one of the best ever CD players
That's an excellent price for a CD-63. There are some fantastic mods you can make to this player as well if you feel like it. I love Marantz equipment, especially their CD players. Even the modern ones are excellent - I have both a CD-6004 and a PM-6004 which, despite being budget components, are both excellent. In fact, both have outlasted a few higher end components which have failed within their warranty periods.
You can quieten that drawer down by removing it and applying some teflon grease to the gears. While you're in there, I'd lubricate the CD mechanism too. Check out the aforementioned mods online - you might just find the solution to your sound quality issues.
Interesting video once again. Its always nice to see your Hifi experiments. I am starting to believe also to the sonic differences of transports. Past 2 months I have been ripping lots of CDs with EAC software. Exact wav copies. Now, I have been playing them from USB hard-drive plug into a bluray player. From Bluray player -> Arcam irDAC with coax -> to my amplifier with quality RCA. I have noticed that playing the same music from CD (wirh bluray player) sounds ok. But exact same music (digital wav files) from hard-drive sounds much more detailed and relaxed. Not a big difference but enough to notice. All the other things (cables, DAC...) being excatly the same, I have really wondered where the difference can come from but its there. I have made sure also the EAC rips are 100% accurate, dynamic range not messed around.
Interesting. I'm still using my CD42 mk2 bought new in 1993 via a coax cable to the DAC in my Marantz amp. What you are describing is ubiquitous across electronics. Electrical components do not improve with age, they wear out. And they wear out due to thermal fatigue - you switch them on, they warm up. Switch them off and they cool down. Just like the old light bulbs - eventually they fail. It's the same principle as bending a piece of metal back and forth until it snaps. Basically, your CD63 has been played to death. If you had a brand new unused one it would sound fine.
Hello,Tudor! I know where you're coming from my friend. I too have trouble seeing those CD players for cheap (just sitting and not being used)...and want to give them a certain,second chance. Indeed,now-a-days,these machine can be had for the cheap...which is very cool...what,if needed,a backup. ***Just between you and I,I am always amazed at how some people mistreat their past stereo equipment. Damn,these things cost a lot money (originally) so why not take proper care of them in the first place?*** I think this is what I love the most about your technical/CD cleaning,etc,etc videos...the care you have for making the outmost out of the product. It's nice to see. Keep em' coming,buddy! Ol' Uncle Marty
Just picked up a Marantz 6006 and it really packs a punch on sound quality
Good price, good review. I have the CD-6004, which i really like. Sorry this one didn't make the grade. Keep the videos coming. I learn a lot from your segments. Best wishes. Frank
Yes, I have both and they suit my purposes very well. All the best! Frank
I have the next model from this, 6000 OSE I think, and a CDr one they made, which broke sadly. Back home ofcourse, marantz cds were all the rage in the 90s, I don't know how they compare with other ones of the time, but I am happy with the one I have.
Love my new marantz cd6005. Great sound
tuturtle Ohyes Got the CD6005 NA6005 and The PM7005 AMP! Sound is great!!
tuturtle Well i havent Heard the much more expensive NA8005 and so on but i plays compressed files very well and the Marantz DAC are great. I using the dac from the Pm7005 for my CD6005 and NA6005. But they also have build in dacs offcourse.. The NA6005 is great!! I really recommends it!! I dont wanna Place to much Money in a player mainly for compressed Music. Mostley using it with spotify and im really satisfied.. Warm rich sound as Always with Marantz
tuturtle You will love it =)
+silenz1970 Very good value for money. Bought a Marantz based on Ken's dress sense: sharp but smooth at the same time.
Hi Tudor
I've seen a lot of the Marantz CD-63 for sale used here in Denmark. And I've been wondering if it was any good... Now I know :)
You got a cheep toy to play with for just 19 pounds. I'm still keeping an eye out for the CD-5000.
As always, it was a great Hi-Fi Update episode.
I had the same but with the K.Ishiwata signature fantastic player
I think you are on to something about the output being intentionally muddled with - cheaper to make basically the same unit twice and only change a few things than redesign the whole thing. I just read an article where this one manufacturer took an oppo blu-ray player and literally just put a box around it (kept the old oppo in its case) and charged $3k more for it - they even cut holes out for venting where you can see the real unit underneath. They went component for component and they changed nothing but the splash screen.
Great review. Have you thought about reviewing old portable CD players ("discman"). I use one from Sony "Sports". Not as functional as regular CD players, but the sounds sounds good to me. Although I have nothing else to compare it with. :)
I have this model SE model the cd door seems to move forward once a cd is placed inside it? Any ideas why? Thank you
Interesting. I've owned mine from new back in the '90s. I never noticed any significant jitter (which I'm generally quite sensitive to), so I (as I see others have) wonder whether you've got one with a component or two that have gone a bit dodgy. I'll get mine out again and compare it to my Audiolab CDQ, but I do recall noticing it didn't have quite as much low end as much higher end gear. It's always been a very enjoyable listen though.
I have an issue with this cd player. It tends to leave scrach marks on the cd, a ring located in the outer part of the cd. Anyone knows what might cause that / how to fix it?
Good afternoon. I beg you to help me. I have a Marantz cd-63 mkII 80cd63 / 92 / b. He has a transformer cut out. And I do not know what conclusions and with what voltage go to the board. Can you tell me?
Nice CD decks! I've noticed a on going rise in prices of CD & esp cassette decks in Cash Converters recently tho.
Hello, Thanks for watching and commenting on the video, it's much appreciated! I've certainly noticed a complete lack of any decent Hi-Fi in my local Cash Converters or charity shops over the last year or so. So it would make sense that the price would go up unfortunately.
Where does the 63 Special addition fit into this range?
Did you match output levels to within 1db? While comparing different CD players.
Is it not just worn out with age? I have a CD-63 and a few years ago when I still lived in the UK picked up an SE at a car boot sale for a similar price to what you paid. It too sounded harsh, far worse than my standard CD-63, I ended up getting rid of it and keeping the CD-63. So, I wonder if you copy is a) just a bad one, or b) some components are tired with age.
how big deference in sound is between coax connection and analog in CD to amp.?
Thank You, So if Marantz what model/years do You suggest this brand got better?
in my opinion I may say that these days CD players are very average and if we want something better sounding we need to look for models from 90' and 80' or spend few hundreds for new one for a bit higher class, do You agree?
Hi! Thank you for the honest review of this player. You said it's not very good as a transport. Do you think it applies to all older cd players? I have a CAL DX-2 from '96 and I like it a lot but the dac is of course outdated. I'm in between replacing it or buying a dac/headphone amp. Any thoughts? I raised my eyebrows when you showed the Techics player. My first player was a SL-PG390 (if I remember correctly) then I replaced it with a CD 67 in the late '90s. I didn't like the headphone quality on the 67. It sounded very digital and lifeless. I always used my PM66 amp for the headphones. Cheers!
+J Sz Hello, Thanks for watching and commenting on the video, it's much appreciated! Many older CD players make great digital transports but not this Marantz. Often the presentation of the CD player will come through even when using an external DAC with it. A smooth CD player will make a DAC sound smooth, a lively CD Player will make a DAC sound lively etc. Cheers Tudor
+tuturtle Thanks Tudor. I'll buy the recommended attenuator first and see how I'll like the sound quality and go from there. Cheers!
I hv a Marantz CD63 which I bought in the UK in 1994. I hv a problem with the Disk tray being jammed up now. Do you know where I can get the replacement "wheel/small disc" to fix the Tray problem.
Appreciate any tips. Thanks.
Forgot to mention,I'm residing in Malaysia. Not sure where to get the parts here. 😣
Hello. I have such a device. I got it with a disconnected transformer. Help me figure out which windings and where go to the board. I've been looking for information for a year. It's difficult in Russia. Please help me!
i have marantz cd 52mark 2 and cd60 both superb 52 being quite exeptional for its price
Bought SE today with remote it doesn't seem to read the cd at all? Any ideas how to fix this??
It's the optical pickup (laser) that's usually at fault here. The output becomes weak over time. Sometimes you can cure this by cleaning it but my experience of this is that it usually has no effect.
Suggest the player has some thing wrong with it if it doesn't sound very good, I have had 2 over the years in the man cave and through a Nad 3130 they had a great broad sound stage with a lively pace to them, it lacked real bass depth but much of that was down to the small mission 760i speakers they played through, Now where near as good as my CD17KI SE, which second hand cost me £500 a long time ago, it still knocks the socks of most modern players, and over the years I have had it has seen off a Meridian 207 dac and transport, a Teac cd10 and a Wadia which new was around 2k. I will keep it till its broken, lol.
I am still using my marantz 63 se with a tube amp with epos m12 . From Singapore.
Glad to hear it, I have the same Epos speakers too!
@@tuturtle nice to hear that you got the epos. What amp do you use in the system ?
voltage reg 7805 running everything digital and dac I clock these players & mod them they beat vs players costing thousands standard marantzis thin and bright
there was also the mk2
Hi. I just bought a CD63 mkII - where does that come in re the 63 range? I paid £36 on eBay but it came with a remote and virtually mint condition so still really happy with it - absolute bargain! Sorry if you've had this question already I haven't read all the comments. Great video - very informative. Cheers
I see. Thanks for clarifying things. I'm really happy with and it sounds fantastic to me although I'm new to hi-fi separates. Thanks again!
Okay.. My mistake - and it's slightly embarrassing - I've now realised mines the CD67 mkII not even 63! It looks identical in appearance. Do you have any experience with the 67 at all? Cheers
Okay that's great to know! I've got a lot to learn. Thanks again
Don't know, but my CD-67 SE sounds great still......and I haven't even modified mine....
Hi.
I'm looking to buy an old cd player from the 90's.
I'm thinking on a Marantz, Philips or Technics...
I've seen some models but i really don't have a clue about them...
Can you help me?
Here are some models i've found:
1. Philips cd 614 twin
2.. Marantz CD50
3. Marantz Cd 60
4. Marantz cd 48
5. technics sl-pg490a
6. Philips CD 614 TwinDAC TDA 1543
Thanks
Hello, Thanks for watching and commenting on the video, it's much appreciated! I have owned the Marantz CD 50 and 60. They are good but synthetic sounding. They sound great when upgraded, but that's expensive unless you are into DIY electronics. I would avoid the Technic's at all costs, well made but poor sound. I assume that the Marantz CD48 is similar to the CD63, lively but rough sounding. I've not heard the Philips CD614, but it uses the TDA 1543 it will sound smooth but lack punch compared with the Marantz CD50 and CD60.
My advice would be get a Marantz CD5000 (not 5001 or 6000, only 5000) if you want smooth accurate sound. They can be bought very cheaply! Also all the 90's Rotel models are very good. Cheers Tudor
What about the 63 mk2 model?
Thanks
Sorry, i wanted to wrote 67 Mk2...
+Bruno Mateus I don't know, I haven't heard them. I assume they sound similar to the other CD63 type players, a lively but rough sound, a fun listen though.
See my post above. You're better off buying a brand new player. Go to Richer Sounds if you live in the UK.
Your RCA outputs may be faulty in some way.
nice review but I still can not get the point you plugging the maranz to external DAC and you get horrible sound.
The "digital stage" of CD player as you mention it, is just decoding IC that outputs either I2S or PDM signal; either to internal DAC or out to SPDIF/digital out. As all CDs are 16 bit, taking the PDM out to your external DCA that is at least 16 bits as well just can't sound worse. I don't get it...
...maybe it is just cause 63 uses 2-in-one SM5872BS decoding IC with buid in DAC that outputs post-filtered PWM...maybe.
but all of the 63 range use the same decoding IC chip. SM5872BS was used in 63, mkII, mkii KI and even in SE. thay all even use the same Laser pick-up mechanism CDM12.1 which in my opinion is a good one.
so the "bad" sound coming from the digital/out spdif is in my opinion not because of the laser-pickup, neither because of the decoding IC but if I search for service manual, I bet the "bad" sound is just because of horrible SPDIF output stage
Yay, paint drying stuff!
Sorry to hear this Marantz sucked, Tudor :\
I thought you had more than 10 players?? maybe I've been sleeping or you recorded this before buying a dozen more, hahah
Interesting about the headphone socket / remote thing and only half volume? as in you cannot turn it up any further? got a little confused here, hah. I'm barely awake
I hope the other model is better... hearing the disappointed voice is no good :P
tuturtle I should be more awake than I am... just not feeling good :\
btw, were you asleep when typing up the segments between 'cause you spelled surprise wrong ;P easy typo, just messin' with ya
Ahhh okay, 10 marantz players... my bad. I still thought you said you had more than that total, but maybe you tossed some in the meantime!
Ahhh wow, yikes! no to that volume control! I like listening below half volume / quietly on headphones... hahah
Yay, heart! that'll make me feel better :P
Well tuturtle, I wonder if you realise that the basic CD63, the SECD63 and the Signature version all use the same DAC and transport. So how are the latter two going to sound any better using an external DAC? I think the head phone problem and the phono out may be related to digital volume control. It's useless bypass it. With Marantz's the SI versions generally don't much except use Elna Cerafine caps on the Power and output opamps. My hobbyists can do this mod easily. No need to fork out for overrated designer caps either. Cheaper quality low esr caps work just as well.
Probably something wrong with it...it shouldn't sound that bad.
You are plugging it into a shit dac that doesn't reclock the incoming signal via the coaxial and toslink. The jitter induced by the cd63 just makes it through to the DAC and thats why it sounds like trash. If you plugged it in to a Benchmark DAC1 or something along those lines it would basically remove nearly all the jitter in the incoming PCM stream as it reclocks the signal. The reason why this DAC sounds good via USB as it has an asynchronus input meaning that the dac master and the computer is the slave when it comes to signal clocking. When plugged into the marantz its the opposite so it gets a shitty jitter filled signal with timing errors.
Mid range/"main stream" Marantz stuff is shit. Started out with similar CDP and a PM 7200 amp and latter "Ken Ishiwata" version amp with the copper replaced internal shielding, and replaced linear PSU with toroidal supply. It was meant to be 25wpc class A and 95wpc in class A/B into 8 ohms. What a crock of shit, pressing the button to switch it made no difference whatsoever even when it was hoked up to highly illustrious PMC speakers at 10K+ and similar level digital sources + wiring. FFS, I ended up selling it and making a decent PROFIT on Ebay even though it was already at least 2nd hand. This was 10 years ago, even today I get shit loads of emails from ebay following the same amp and CDP trading like crazy. Go figure...