Sony CDP291 dedicated Tube Out Stage

The Sony CDP291 

......this player (original - Sony made) is the strangest player I've ever seen inside!!!

From the top view you can see only laser mechanic  on left side and a very small PCB on the other right corner with a small power transformer and a couple of capacitors .....but the rest was only empty room!!!!!Wow! That's weird! ....but a huge benefit for my job!!!!!! ....considering its inner DAC is one of the mine favorite : the great TDA1543 !

But were is hidden the main PCB????? all is on the hidden front PCB behind LCD

On Philips players with philips receivers chips  no dubt........TDA1543 was great !! ... this Sony was for me was a curiosity to unveil!!! TDA1543A (accept only the japanese EIAJ receivers )

...the challenge is on

...a new power switch was necessary

...a lot of new brilliant toys inside!!!!!!

...the digital samplig filtering

...here we are the main character : the 6N8S ...a great tride indeed!!!

...some people use to add some buffers  after operational amplifiers  ....my job is quite different!!!!!! ;)

 ......  I decided to keep out of main PCB the TDA1543A to avoid modifying the same main PCB build with SMD concept!

...a good power supply with a well done triode Biasing it's a great part of the magic

...the new implementation

...this is the new top view

....here you are a dedicated tubed, I/V conversion LPF stage etc etc to fill all those empty space!!!!

The sound

Starting from the very first note I understood the difference.......is it weird??!!!maybe but by the right side!!!!!

... after less than a minute of listening you 're captured by the rich softness of this "guy" ....it's like to listen at  an old vintage radio adding richness and precision of the most recentplayers!

I think listening at Sony CDP291 tube player is a great experience indeed: great deepness , very natural  both female and male voices , very coherent instrumental rapresentation.

It gives the soul to the sound!!!!!