CD Players: Dissected

Yes in another video. In fact I just posted about the player that will be used for the demonstration (which also explains why I didn't include a Sony system in the last video).

Technology Connections

At what point in the video is the Sony tracking system explained? I can't seem to find it. At about 2:50 it is mentioned that it will be shown later on... but when? In another video maybe?

Rudo de Jong

This is one of the few videos where I feel like I need to thank the creator for making it, which is what I am doing with this. Exceptionally awesome explanation and presentation. Also the planned followup is what I would love to do if I had the means and motivation for doing it. I even upped my pledge for now (lots of good creators and limited money) and made the 2999$ as of the day before yesterday. With your previous post in mind I hope you finish your degree and continue to make videos.

4d6178

the plastic power button extension is because the power switch switches the mains. they didn't want to have to route 120v (or 240v) around the chassis, so they just put the power switch on the PCB right next to the mains input, and routed the mechanical connection to the front. This way, when the power switch is off, the unit has 0 standby power draw.

adcurtin

Those dolly/romantically-lit shots of the chips were 100 EMOJI. More of that.

Thomas Smith

What a fantastic video!! I can't imagine the time it took to edit in all those traces. BTW, I have an original Sony CDP-102 unit from 1985, that has both Index scanning on the front panel and remote and a SUBCODE OUT jack. Common to these units over time, the tray motor died or just succumbed to too much stiction. If you want it to dissect for a future video, just let me know.

Hank Lloyd Right

Any plans to explain SACD?

It really is! I haven't yet brought this up, but this player's display (if you haven't noticed) does display the index that it's reading. It's a very limited display (likely due to its budget nature) and can only show the current track OR the current time. But the track display shows Track AND Index! What I don't know is if the index display is simply informational, or if an indexed disc would be navigable with this player. Trouble is I don't have its remote, so no real way to tell. Plus, I don't know if any CDs that I have that are indexed, though my dad has a rather extensive classical selection so perhaps I should poke around his discs to see if I can find one and try it out!

Technology Connections

Thanks for another great video. Can't wait for the next one, and more details about the other *book standards. It's quite a shame that the index jumps were rarely used. I remember having them on some early classical CDs where it was quite convenient to jump around in long performances!

Paul Schuur

In fairness, they are stamped 1.44 MB right on the disc. I'd rather say what is currently onscreen than get nitpicky, only to have people yell at me for not being able to read!

Technology Connections

Really great video! You could easily have got bogged down in all the deep technical stuff, but I think you got through it in a really entertaining and clear way. Can't wait for the next part!

Kevin Kostka

Good point about the tedious caption. I sorta meant that as an easter egg to the Twitter followers, as I had mentioned how rough this edit was becoming. And it was the circuit traces, layering, and subcode explanation that was really tedious. If I could pick a better word I might leave it in, but you're right--it sounds complainy. Time for a re-render!

Technology Connections

Nitpicking: they're not "1.44 megabyte floppies". They're "1.4 megabyte floppies" or "1440 kilobyte floppies". Work the 1024 math.

Thanks for the details on the difference between Philips and Sony laser tracking designs, and how to tell them apart from the shape of the cutout in the CD tray. Now I know what brands to look for, and which to avoid, when digging around yard sales.

Roger Beal

Really a good video, Alec. You explained the entire process clearly and made it much more interesting than reading a bunch of engineering documents! Amazing how this music delivery and storage technology is already approaching marketplace obsolescence. I suspect that within 3 or 4 years music will be delivered via FLAC files over the web, and stored on SSDs. Even today, our local thrift shops are full of CDs at 50 cents each.

Roger Beal

Can I ask if you did the PCB traces by cranking contrast on the image and using a paintbucket tool?

Take out the "tedious" caption towards the end, Alec. It's a bit of a downer, viewers like to think you are enjoying the whole process. Enthusiasm is infectious. Don't make us think you dislike making these videos for us. Excellent work on all the B-roll stuff. those circuit traces etc., were epic, excellent work. I got a bit lost in the data streams, but your description of what happens when you put a disk in was excellent. I never knew if you pushed the tray in it started playing immediately. Every day is a school day. :-)

Stephen Bell

"Continuity errors" and puns! haha

Jason Wellband