playstation1 as a high end cd player!

[blip]

The funny thing about digital is that if you are willing to put enough work into it, it seems like just about any transport can be turned into a great player. The PS1 (from what I remember) had a pretty lousy transport but I'm sure that with what those German guys have done to it (the tube stage really blew me away) it is pretty amazing.

That said, if you're just looking for a source to mod up, your time would probably be better spent working with a cheap DVD-player.

 

[elmoe]

This is absolutly true. However, not all old playstation models are good. There is a specific model number for which the CDP is of exceptional quality and does not require any mods done to it. I dont know the modelnumber but Ive heard one of these and it beat my old NAD C542 as well as a Rega Planet that was there.

 

[firefox360]

I just checked my PlayStation, and the model is SCPH-1001, which I'm guessing is the North American model of the SCPH-1002 which is listed on the PlayFidelity.com site as one of the models with the excellent transport. I also opened up the thing and found that the transport model is the KSM-440 ACM, which is the revised version of the original transport but built with aluminum. So I'm guessing I'm one of the lucky ones with the perfect PS1! I'm going to try the thing out and see how it sounds compared to an old Panasonic DVD player I have (which has a 24bit DAC, albeit a crappy one, built in).

 

[Oliver :)]

I just gave my SCPH-1002 the quick "Talula Test", and what shall I say... even with very good ICs it is not as good as good as my €2000 drive/DAC combo. In comparison it lacked punch, bass power & detail, general detail. What a surprise. But, to my surprise, it was *not* bad. In fact it was pretty good

, and I did not even give it time to re-burn for a while. It was good straight from the cold

 

[firefox360]

Just tested it out, and it's not bad. Pretty good for a cheap consumer product that you can probably get now for $20... Guess with a tube output stage it'll start to really shine.

 

[noir]

i talked a bit with that german guy who did the mods... according to him, that specific psx model needs to get out of its plastic case, with some damping, good RCA connectors, linear PSU, and maybe a tube output stage... maybe ill just drive one day to him and give his modded one a listen

 

[Uncle Erik]

MSNBC is running an article about this here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15484873/

I was just about to start picking through the PS1s on eBay, but decided to check here, first. It seemed pretty incredible to me that an old game console could knock off high-end sources. I think I'll stick with the Planet/Central Station combo for Red Book.

 

[GreatDane]

This is new to me. I need to dig my PS1 out and check the #.

 

[ichiboy]

hmm... does this apply to the PSone (the small redesigned one). This could possibly be interesting.

(by the way, this is my first post here after a long time of lurking- hi guys )

 

[GreatDane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ichiboy hmm... does this apply to the PSone (the small redesigned one).

Re PSone:

Quote:

Originally Posted by irchel PsONE and PS2 are extremely crappy though.

Don't know if that is true.

 

[Auricle]

As I recall, the Playstation sounded horrible.

Of course, it was in the worst of positions to make good sound. The kids had hooked it up to a VCR in order to use the co-axial out to an older television. Can't expect much with this nightmare set-up.

 

[oicdn]

Well, the thing is, is it has to be an SCPH-1001. Not the 9004, not the 1002....it has to be the 1001 as it has the seperate plugs in the back. It'd be easy to mistake as another model, as there as SEVERAL revisions, but still in the OG case.

Somebody get a 1001 PS1, and find out...if anything, it's only $20.

Those are fairly rare, as they're the FIRST ONES shipped to the US. You can't even buy them in Rhino Video Game shops....they won't take the 1001 models because as a whole, they're glitch bombs....only place you would find one would be a Flea Market or a garage sale...aka eBay.

 

[Auricle]

I'd like to see a picture of the 1001 with the extra RCA connectors on the back. Every console should have these, instead of silly proprietary all-in-one connectors.

Scratch that! Every EVERYTHING should have regular connectors!

 

[oicdn]

Crappy pic....

 

[spritzer]

I just found my old PS and it is a 1002 model so no overheating problems but it has rca jacks and straight from storage it isn't half bad. I'm listening with a modded Stax SRM-T1 amp and Lambda Signature phones all IC's and internal wire is silver.

The sound is flat, dull and lacking in detail but it has some potential. With a bit of patience it could be turned into a good cd deck. A new case with built in controls and a remote plus a new psu and internal wiring and it should shine.