Marantz CD63 clicking between tracks

[theadmans]

I have recently noticed a click when using the analogue outputs of my Marantz CD63 Ki Signature between tracks. As one track ends and the next begins I get a single (fairly quiet) click.

If I route the sound from the Marantz through it's digital output to my DAC the click dissapears. Anyone have a clue what might be happening here?

I like to use both the analogue and digital outputs on the Marantz so I can send one to my stereo amp and speakers and the other to my headphone amp. I have been leaving the Marantz on repeat play over the last few days burning in some new headphones - has something got cooked in the process?

[Deleted]

theadmans
Is the click from both channels ?
I am thinking along the lines of an output muting transistor . (if fitted)

SandyK

[theadmans]

Hi Sandy,

I think the click is only coming from the left Channel when I am wearing my HD650s.. There is no click when I press Play to start the CD on track 1, however, if a press Next Track or Direct Number Track Access or Stop I get the click.

This does not happen on the Digital Output and also does not happen if I connect my Headphones to the CD63's own headphone socket. The problem only occurs on the Analogue Phono socket outputs. By the way these outputs have variable volume control on the Remote.

Interesting that you mention muting - I seem to remember having a similar problem with this player around 5 years ago. At the time I gave the machine to a local guy to fix. This chap I think mentioned something about how he had bypassed the muting circuit to fix the problem. At the time the problem went away after his fix but has now resurfaced? Unfortunately the shop where the repair guy worked has now closed down.

[Deleted]

theadmans

Sounds like the muting transistor on that channel probably needs replacing.

SandyK

[theadmans]

I have opened the Marantz up there is a what appears to be a wire link underneath the legend R/MUT (see pic Marantz.Jpg attached below). Is this likely to be the Muting circuit the Repair guy removed? What doe the R in R/Mut stand for?

I have also spotted an article on the web here which discusses removing the Muting Circuit from a CD63SE. Although it does say you might want to keep the stuff you remove handy in case you get clicks when changing tracks. I am confused - does this mean that I need to undo the work done by the Repair Guy which originally corrected this problem. Here is the link www.xn--grnholdt-64a.dk/diyelectronics/marantz%20CD63MKII/marantz.html

[Deleted]

theadmans
Have both channels been changed , or just the one in the photo? If you reverse his modification ,you are going to have the original problem back again , so you may be worse off !
Reversing the mods and replacing both muting transistors in each channel with the same, or equivalent devices, is the way to go. If you aren't able to do this , perhaps you may wish to live with those little clicks ?
Perhaps someone like Leo or Rowuk may wish to chip in with other suggestions ?

SandyK

[theadmans]

Thanks for all your input Sandy. I have had an idea abut how to get round the problem by recabling my system. At the moment I use the CD63's analogue output for my Headphone Amp. I use the CD63's digital output to go to my Cambridge Audio Dacmagic2 which uses it's Analogue RCA sockets to go to main Stereo Amp for my speakers.

I have noticed that the Dacmagic also has outputs on Balanced XLR sockets. I have noticed that I can gets leads on EBay that go from XLR sockets to phono plugs. If I get these leads I could use them to cable the Dacmagic to my Headphone Amp (which only has phono inputs).

Presumably I could use the Balanced XLR outputs on the Dacmagic at the same time as using the RCA phono outputs (so I could have both my Stereo Speaker Amp and Headphone Amp connected). In this way I could stop using the problem Analogue Outputs on the CD63 altogether. Do you think this will work?

[Deleted]

theadmans
I am not familiar with the Dacmagic. Perhaps the owner's manual that came with the unit can answer that question ? You could always email Cambridge Audio Support and ask them.

Is anybody else familiar with this unit ?

Regards
SandyK

[sometrolls2]

diyaudio.com has a 330+ page thread on 63/67 players, with some expert posters on those machines, they are as good a bet for an online diagnosis as anyone.

[Deleted]

theadmans and sometrolls2
I can see why the service guy did what he did. I tried looking up suitable common replacements for those muting transistors, and it appears that they are a very unusual type, specifically designed for this kind of application.Most likely very hard to obtain too.
I am aware of a large thread in DiyAudio on this subject, but bear in mind that most Diyers bypass the muting transistors to improve performance, thus leaving those small clicks as something to be tolerated, in return for performance gains.
SandyK
SandyK

[theadmans]

Once gain thanks very much for all your input guys - very much appreciated!

I have been studying the articles on diyaudio and there is some incredible stuff on there for the CD63. However, I think for now I will try bypassing the analogue outputs, the XLR to phono leads on eBay are only a few quid so I don't have much to lose.

By the way Sandy here is datasheet for my Dacmagic you will see the phono and XLR outputs I intend to use:-

www.gbaudio.co.uk/data/dac2.htm

I really don't see why I should not be able to use the Balance outputs and phono outputs at the same time.

[sometrolls2]

I have a modded 63ki with the muting tranistors removed, also some filter caps removed and HDAM bypassed and have no problems. I do have extra regulation and upgraded clocks which will be getting rid of extra crap before it leaves the onboard DAC. The only extra noise I get is a barely audible hiss if I turn the volume of the Solo up to max with the player on but not playing.

If it were my player I'd look through that thread or post at the end of it for advice
www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=c221e7f43d17a0c7a183a9ae837ee18c&threadid=54009&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

For pure sound quality adding regs would almost certainly top the Dacmagic, although that DAC is very upgradeable itself.

[Deleted]

sometrolls2
Did you perform all those mods yourself, or get someone to do them for you ?
My point is, if you have a service manual, yet need a professional to rectify a muting problem, then perhaps you shouldn't be contemplating the advanced mods described in DiyAudio ?
SandyK

theadmans
The above is not meant to be a shot at you, I am just suggesting that you shouldn't try and get out of your own "comfort zone"
Many of the mods described in DiyAudio would also cost far more to implement than an ageing player is worth, and from personal experience with a Marantz CD65, even the best modded machine will start to have other problems due to such things as high resistance IDP plugs/sockets. I got sick of having to bypass these things, which failed at the most inconvenient times, and recently, I very reluctantly , put out the old player on a recent "clean up day"

[sometrolls2]

Got someone else to do it by buying a modded player sans clocks for about £25 more than an unmodded one, and then paid for the clocks and PSU to be put in. In general modded players sell at far too low a price given their performance.

IMO, unless you've suddenly come into some cash and can buy a new spinner anyway, its madness to use your main player to learn on - theadmans really needs to find out the likeliest cause from an experienced Marantz modder, and then figure out whether to pay someone to do it, risk DIY or ignore the minor issue. I would not go the DIY route.

[theadmans]

Yes my intention in finding out about this problem was not to fix the problem myself but rather have some idea of the problem and whether it is worth fixing. Even if it was a relatively minor problem - if it required mods to the circuit board I would still get a professional to do it.

As it stands I will try the XLR lead bypass option - I have put a query on the Cambridge Audio Support Centre to see if this will work. Although if I decide in the future to sell my CD63 on Ebay I may consider getting someone to fix the muting problem. CD63 KI Signatures still seem to fetch a reasonable amount of money on Ebay.

By the way Sometrolls - you say a modded CD63 Ki Signature would beat a DAC Magic. How about my standard CD63 KI Signature how do you feel that would stack up against the DAC Magic. I questioned adding the DACMagic 2 to my CD63 when I first got it (after all it only cost £40 on EBay and originally sold in Richer Sounds!) but to my ears it improves on the standard CD63 Ki Signature. My only complaint was that the DACMagic was a little bright so I added an X10D to calm things down a bit.

[sometrolls2]

In general a budget DAC and low-mid range player will beat the same player and its own internal DAC. I doubt that a £100 X10D + £40 DAC would beat £140 of mods, but that is not to say it would be best for you in your system. I know for me, my player with £150ish worth of mods is massively better than unmodded, and better than unmodded + NOS DAC.

A big issue with those players is the low cost of 3 types mods: the regulation of the internal DAC makes a big difference, budget low jitter clock and the caps n diodes upgrades. I read that the stock clock is accurate to about 640ppm and any low jitter clock below 10. The regulation and clock changes should not change the player's character, whereas bypassing filters, rolling opams and cap changes would.

I was using unmodded to Solo+ Senn 650s, and now use modded to Solo + Senns and it has greatly added detail and life to the mix. In character you could say it has added some brightness, which is exactly what I wanted with that amp/phones combo which was great for atmosphere and acoustic work but less good on electronic or aggresive material.

I like a one box approach more than a 3 box + PSUs solution, and for a sub £500 budget suspect that it gives the best value.

[theadmans]

Hurray clicks are gone!

Got the balanced XLR to Phonos lead today and have managed to use it to link the DacMagic to my main Hifi. The Phono outputs on the Dacmagic are now free to connect to my Headphone Amp. The clicking Phono Outputs on the Marantz CD63 are now completely redundant.

The sound on my HD650s appears to be an improvement - the leaner, brighter sound of the Dacmagic is a better match to the dark HD650s than the analogue outputs of the Marantz CD63. All's well that ends well - and only cost me £5 for the leads.