The Marantz CD-63 helped changed the face of the budget CD players by raising the standard. At a time when vinyl sales had plummeted, SACD wasn’t yet invented, the CD-63 was a like a breath of fresh air for those wanting to step onto the audio ladder and be introduced to specialist Hi-Fi. For many it bridged the gap between the entry level and high-end machines winning over many friends. The auction is for the modification only and does not include the Marantz CD-63 KI CD player which must be purchased separately.

Today, the CD-63 has become a ‘classic’ and refuses to be forgotten; so much so that Audiocom have continued developing modifications for this player for 9 years. What makes the CD-63 pull in so many fans is its balanced approach to music making. It certainly has its faults, more on that later, but despite its flaws it manages to string music together exceedingly well. It has the rare ability to convey ‘expression’ in the music at a price point it frankly has no right too.

In amongst the current 24 bit /192 KHz players how does the CD-63’s 1-bit DAC fair? Well, it surprise you to learn that the 1-bit SM5872 DAC used in the CD-63, CD-67 & CD-6000  is still used today in a few high-end designs like the Phonosophie Impuls CD players from Germany which start at £3,675 through to £12,725 for the Impuls 3. The Impuls 1 received 5 globes in a Hi-Fi World review.

The CD-63 was also revisited some years ago by Ken Ishiwata who produced an initial one-off tweaked player for David Price of Hi-Fi World aptly named the CD-63 KI DP. The results were that successful that Marantz started producing the upgrades for consumers for £1000. The DP tweaked player featured a Copper plated chassis, tweaked power supply components and revised analogue stage.

The CD-63 KI Makeover

For 2008 we have revised our modifications for the CD-63 (CD67 & CD600 included), to hone in on the areas of upgrades which add the most significant gains and give the optimum balance of sound. Too many mod companies throw parts in but lack the experience to balance the sound so the result is different but not necessarily better. Our 9 years experience with the CD-63 has taught us some valuable lessons, and this new level-3 upgrade brings together the finest range of products and components to transform any CD-63 to deliver a sonic performance way beyond many modern day CD/DVD player offerings.

In the KI versions of the CD-63 & CD-6000 a high-grade toroidal transformer is used, and beyond this the majority of the passive components for the digital & analogue power supplies are replaced with the level-3 modification. We used revised values of high-grade, very low E.S.R/E.S.L capacitors and HexFRED diodes to improve ripple rejection, lower noise and provide superior sound quality.

Following the main linear supply critical DC regulators are replaced with very low noise types 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. In the Level-3 upgrade we install the Audiocom Super-regulator 3’s, which pack 24 high grade components on to a small, 4-layer, Gold-plated PCB. The Super-regulator 3 rejects noise by using a noise canceling, closed loop system to deliver a much lower noise floor, typically 37db lower than the 7812 type.

To take full advantage of the improved power supplies and clock system we next upgrade the local digital & analogue de-coupling. Here capacitance values and types are revised to provide the best DC filtering and audio performance. We use Sanyo OS-CON SP types for the digital circuits and Rubycon ZA type for the analogue (DAC) de-coupling.

The master clock circuit in the CD-63 is a main area of upgrade, the CD-63’s original clock is configured by using an external crystal (16.9) connected to the input and output of the internal CMOS logic built into the DAC; this arrangement has high jitter. 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.  

The next phase of modifications is centred round 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 final upgrade for the CD63 is Deep Cryogenic Treatment (DCT) for the entire CD player.  The DCT is completed by Frozen Solid Audio, and the process involves extreme cooling of materials, down to about minus 190°C, and all audio components benefit. The theory is that it de-stresses metals; this is achieved in the most effective way by a cooling process that very slowly reduces the temperature over several hours, and once there, holds it for many hours before gradually increasing the temperature. The DCT makes a remarkable improvement to the CD63, bass depth and control is markedly better, the sound-stage is considerably more open, spacious and airy. The recordings are also more incisive and you hear much more of the musical message.

Digital Metamorphisis

If you are thinking that these upgrades result in a few subtle enhancements then think again, the audible gains with this level-3 upgrade drastically improve the CD-63 CD player. From the lowest bass to the highest notes, the modified 63 delivers an accurate, controlled sound that is uncannily natural and free of digital glare, edginess and compression. The sound is full of life allowing you to hear into the inner details of music, expression and contrasts in performer’s voices. The reproduced sound-stage is incredible expansive in both its elements of depth, width and height, with precise placement and spatial effects.

Our modified CD-63 is highly addictive and continues to impress the more you listen. The level-3 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-11S1
Marantz SA-15S1
Marantz CD-6000 OSE KI
Marantz CD-94 mk2
Marantz CD-17 KI mk1
Marantz CD17 KI mk3
Marantz CD-80
Marantz CD-85
Marantz CD-10
Marantz CD-7
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-3 upgrade is supplied & installed by Audiocom for £495.00 inclusive (excludes carriage).

Once you have purchased the Level-3 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 level-3 modification work is completed within 7-10 working days from receipt of the CD player. The modifications are covered by a 2 year parts & labour guarantee, this guarantee excludes any OEM parts such as laser & LCD display.