Tuned Tesla MC902 CD player

This is my Tesla MC902 CD player from 1987. Basically, it's a rebadged Philips CD460 with the CDM-2/29 mechanism instead of the CDM-4/11 in the 460/560 series.
My unit has been intensively modded to achieve a better sound quality. The changes:
- TDA1541A S1 single-crown DAC chip instead of the plain TDA1541
- oversampling has been turned off
- FET based output amp (bypassing the whole factory analog stage)
- Gold-plated Neutrik RCA sockets on the back
- dedicated extra stable +5V power supply for the DAC
And the work is still in progress...

Note 1: the perfboards are only temporary. A new PCB housing the DAC, it's own power supply (for all voltages, not only +5V) and the output amps is in development.

Note 2: this video is not intended to show off the player's sonic capabilities, that's why I decided to swap the audio track after a while. The player's full potential can be only heard on good audio system, while listening personally.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• cd player
• tesla
• mc900
• philips
• cd460
• tuning
• modding
• hifi
• audio
• audiophile
• high-end
• music
• 1987
• cdm mechanism
• cdm-2
• tda1541
• non oversampling

[BorisYanchev]

Hello, I have the same Tesla MC902. It's in a good condition but the display doesn't work (the "timer" and the other lights - basically the led display). Is the problem in the chip (number XC895075...)or in the display itself?

[AttilaSVK]

@BorisYanchev Hi! That's a problem of all similar LED displays used by Philips on machines, like the CD160, CD460, CD371, CD303 and many others I can't recall now. I'm surprised that you have a Tesla unit in Bulgaria, since in Czech Republic a Slovakia they are really rare. (also I have an MC900 now, serial no. 000277, so it was one of the first CD players in former Czechoslovakia)

[skarsnuten75]

I recognise the typical CDM2 sound of searching a track. Internals is allmost as CD640 i have also