The auction is for the modification only and does not include the Marantz CD63 KI (CD67 & CD6000) CD player which must be purchased separately.

This is a service for modifying Marantz CD players (please ask for other manufacturers & models)

Brief Description

The level-4 upgrade is a comprehensive modification for the Marantz CD63, CD6000 & CD67 KI, SE & OSE CD players. The modification upgrades the OEM power supplies, adds the Superclock 4-S ultra-low jitter master clock, upgrades the analogue filter stage with the excellent LME49720,  rebuilds the analogue output stage with a pair of Audio Consulting Signal Coupling Transformers, this topology eliminates the HDAM’s, power supply and signal parts for the purest signal path. All wiring is accomplished with Single Crystal Copper (UP-OCC) wires, the OEM chassis mount RCA phono’s are replaced with a pair of Neutrik phono RCA sockets

The CD-63 KI Makeover

For 2008 we have revised our modifications for the CD-63 (CD67 & CD6000 included), to hone in on the areas of upgrades which add the most significant gains and give the optimum balance of sound.

Both the main digital and analogue power supplies are reworked with high performance parts such as HexFRED diodes to replace the small, axial, Silicon diodes. We made extended evaluation on a variety of diodes here and found a type of Fast Recovery Epitaxial Diode (FRED) to give the best overall sonic results. Specially selected low impedance audio grade electrolytic capacitors are used to form the highest performance digital & analogue linear power supplies.Rubycon ZA capacitors are used for regulator bypass followed by decoupling with Sanyo Os-Con capacitors with revised values for optimum noise filtering.

Continuing the theme of low noise power supplies we then upgrade the critical +5V DC regulator which is replaced with very low noise type and the capacitor bypassing revised and upgraded. The OEM regulators have a typical Ripple Rejection Ratio of 55 db (f = 120Hz, load = 100 Ma), and noise is in the region of 45µV. The impact of this noise riding on the DC rails affects clock lines, digital filter and the digital to analogue conversion process of the DAC chip. The sonic result of this is unwanted glare, edginess and compression to the sound.

The OEM CD-63 uses a simple Pierce oscillator implemented directly on the DAC chip using a purpose, built-in logic gate. The clock is plagued with high levels of jitter, Hi-Fi News & record Review (HFN/RR) measured the CD-63 KI at 687ps Jitter. With such a high levels of jitter the CD-63 is incapable of extracting all the information, potentially presented by the CD replayed. Our upgrade removes this and installs an external clock using the highly acclaimed Superclock 4-S, with jitter less than 2ps RMS, the SM5872 now is referenced to a very low jitter external clock enabling a more accurate conversion of the digital-to-analogue signal in the DAC with greatly reduced losses. 

Moving on, we turn our attention to the analogue stage. Here the JRC2114, another flavour of the industry standard ‘NE5532’ op-amp are upgraded to the excellent LME49720. This op-amp is essentially the same as the LM4562 but on A/B tests we have found the LME49720 is less “Hi-Fi” sounding. The LME49720 has extremely low noise, low distortion and high speed and provide stellar filtering for the DAC output.

The next phase of upgrades for the CD63 (CD6000 & CD67) are of paramount importance to the increase in sound quality from the level-4 upgrade. The stock CD63 uses HDAM modules and capacitor coupling for the analogue output stage. This area of the CD63 creates a bottleneck in the sound and degrades the output from the DAC, masking, veiling sound, reducing detailing, dynamics and realism.

In the level-4 upgrade we remove all circuitry post DAC filter, all signal & power parts are removed and replaced with a pair of Audio Consulting Signal Coupling Transformers. This eliminates all output stage and power supply elements, and owing to the transformers galvanic isolation, music is more resolute, cleaner and free of compression. All signal wires are Single Crystal Copper (UP-OCC). The output connections are finished with the excellent Neutrik RCA phono connectors.

When listening through the Signal Coupling Transformers you are aware how much solid state or valve output stages corrupt the sound. Nothing will get you closer to the music; the sound is lusciously open, detailed, grain free, and natural sounding.

Digital Metamorphisis

If you are thinking that these upgrades result in a few subtle enhancements then think again, the audible gains with this level-4 upgrade rewrites the book on what a sub £1K CD player is capable of. Having A/B compared the modified 63 against several well reviewed players in the £800 - £1000 bracket, the modified CD63 trounced them all by a considerable margin.

Where the modified CD63 really scores is in its ability to deliver a lifelike uncompressed sound that sounds like matches a good vinyl set-up. The music is accurate, detailed, controlled with a natural flow and free of digital glare, edginess and upper mid-band hardness. The sound-stage gives a true sense of acoustic space, both its elements of depth, width and height, with precise placement.

Our modified CD-63 is highly addictive and continues to impress the more you listen. The level-4 modified CD-63 to date is our preferred choice of CD spinner this side of £2K, and that is pricing it modestly. If you own a CD-63 KI and are on the path the upgrade than this modification is fiercely recommended

Other Marantz Upgrades

We upgrade all Marantz CD, SACD, DVD players from the Marantz CD12 & DA12 through to the latest SA-7S1.Here is a shortlist of the some of the players we have upgraded to varying levels:-

Marantz SA-7001 KI
Marantz SA-8400
Marantz SA-8260
Marantz SA-11S1
Marantz SA-15S1
Marantz CD-6000 OSE KI
Marantz CD67 SE
Marantz CD-7300
Marantz CD-94 mk2
Marantz CD-17 KI mk1
Marantz CD17 KI mk3
Marantz CD-80
Marantz CD-85
Marantz CD-10
Marantz CD7
Marantz SA-1
Marantz CD-12 & DA-12

Please contact us for details of upgrades & pricing, or visit our website.

How to Order

The Marantz CD-63 (CD-67 & CD-6000) level-4 upgrade is supplied & installed by Audiocom for £650.00 inclusive (excludes carriage).

Once you have purchased the level-4 upgrade please contact us to schedule and book your CD63 for the installation. We can offer reasonable rates for insured courier collection & return to mainland UK from your home or workplace (excludes weekends). 

The modifications are covered by a 2 year parts & labour guarantee, this guarantee excludes any OEM parts such as laser & LCD display.