DIY CD(ROM) Transport

[kardus]

I'm doing a few projects this summer and one thing that I no longer have access to is a good CD player. I have a nice DAC and from searching around I found some 'cd rom controller kits' on ebay: http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_nkw=...cqr=true&_nkwusc=cd+rom+contorller+kit&_rdc=1 (no affiliation).

From what I've read the CD-ROM+controller route is just as good if not better than using an old cd player as a standalone transport, it's also my understanding that a lot of 'high end' CD transports use this method and retail for ridiculous prices.

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with any of these ebay products or know of anything similar/better. There are a couple so I have no idea which ones are decent or worth the trouble.

As for the drive itself, I've heard good things about the older plextor/nec/philips drives. Does anyone have any recommendations on this front?

Cheers.

 

[js1138]

My own prejudice is that a modern transport capable of high speed reading should perform better than one designed for 1x.

There are two places in the chain that can make a clear difference in sound. The obvious one is the DAC. The other is the error correction algorithms. Plextors have a good reputation as rippers, but the physical transport is the same as Lite-On. I'm not convinced that you can count on quality differences by brand name.

 

[kardus]

Found an old sony dvd-rom new in box circa 2003 in the back of a closet here. Will give that a try. Need to decide on one of these kits now.

 

[js1138]

I have several Sonys and like them.

 

[kardus]

Anyone have more insight on which kits are good or not?