Sony Playstation 1 for a CD player ???

Was at an auction today and picked up a Playstation 1 model SCPH-101 for $12.50 to see just how one sounds. I hooked it up to the aux. on my Classe preamp, and was able to compare it with my Jolida JD100A which has level one mods. Without warming it up, the Playstation sounded just as good as the Jolida! I haven't gone any further than playing the opening song from one CD because it's getting late, but I sure am impressed with this little box!

Like a good scotch, the PS1 goes down smooth...

My observation is that it's a little flat on the soundstage, but you have to love the 'analog' sound. Haven't yet tried a modded one. Currently it's not in the rig, replaced by another little giant, the EE minimax. But for lack of any resale value, it's worth just keeping to and to throw in every once in a while. I should get the thing modded.

I just modded a PS 1 after reading all this unreal stuff about them being amazing.
I read a German gentlemans site that's dedicated to the tweaks. Found a guy who buys em cheap at boot sales and bought two off him for £ 20 !
I modded the output stage of one of the PS 1's with 2 new caps and 2 resistors, completely bypassing the on board output stage and removing the bits as per the instructions in around 20 minutes ( I'm a novice fiddler that's improving -not a tech'y )
I did an A/B test against the std one and it was night and day better.
I also have an absolutely maxed out and modded Arcam Alpha 5 plus CD player which I consider decent but of course it’s not top - top draw, per se........ as Wadia, Krell.. etc
However, the PS 1 is nicer in the overall easy listen department but not as dramatic and alive as the Arcam – neither of which are criticisms incidentally, they just do their jobs differently.
I have read the feedback of the audiophiles ( I tend to cringe at their descriptions sometimes ! ) but agree with the majority that say there is no tiring of the sound where some players can exhaust you with the action.
The detail is all there, bass, slam, vocals and treble but it’s just... different but also astonishing.
When this crazy hobby got hold of me in the late 80’s I bought a British ( Scottish ) Linn LP 12 as an upgrade to my Rega 3. My distant memory of the lushness of that sound combined with the detail of a clean new LP is coming back to me the more I listen to this $ 15 games machine. It’s crazy, almost a contradiction in terms ( am I going mad or just going deaf as I approach 50 years old! )
The power supply will now get some serious attention - apparently there’s even more to be had from it - I can hardly believe it..
There’s nothing like the thrill of switching something on for the first time that you’ve messed around with for hours....
I certainly don’t need Hi Fi Retailers PLC here in the UK to make my music sound great – I make it sound great at a 20th of the cost myself plus I learn something along the way..... by either loud explosions or electrocution.. 

The problem might be with the power supply. Depending on your unit's history, some components like the caps can go bad from prolonged exposure to heat inside the enclosure.

Thanks Rhing. So is this not a normal issue for these units? I do have another one that I'm using now, working but it's only been a couple weeks. Leaving it on 24/7 as recommended. I'm still considering having you mod the unit -- but not if it will likely break down like this as a matter of course. What's your experience?

Tholt,

The problem might be with the power supply. Depending on your unit's history, some components like the caps can go bad from prolonged exposure to heat inside the enclosure. If you are handy with a digital multimeter, you can remove the 7-pin connector from the power supply PCB and check that the voltages are either 7.2V, 3.6V or 0V. Keep in mind that the switching power supply is connected to 120VAC and some portions of the power supply are at higher DC voltages. These are lethal voltage levels. If you don't know how to work with power supplies, you should seek help from a knowledgeable technician.

No soundstaging problems here.
If you're not getting that lovely reboot melody than something is most definitely off, might be time for a new one.
We have taken a voltmeter and brought the numbers to their correct readings, and that helped with mistracking. If one of your numbers if off it can mistrack badly. I've got the correct numbers somewhere if you need them, off that german site.
I'm using a JPS Labs digital power cord, quite nice.
I still think they're better than many I've heard for $2k and under....

My PS1 also has soundstage tilted slightly to the left. I don't notice in many recordings, but with some recordings I notice slight shift. Not bothersome to me, but it could be to others.

Anyone experience a balance issue with the ps1? Seems like the L channel is weighted slightly more then R. I inserted another ps1 that I had on hand and perceived the same thing. Playing cd's with my dvd player however the sound becomes more centered. I'm gauging this mostly with vocals.

Reviving this in hopes someone out there has experience with troubleshooting. Last night it worked fine. Tonight it doesn't read any cd's -- they just continually spin inside. I thought perhaps it was a laser issue but when I turned the unit off and on again, there was no "boot up" sound. So now wondering if it's something else? Any assistance is appreciated

I think it is cool to go against the grain and have a PS1 rather than something with brush aluminum plates... it adds to my maverick image with my friends!

I think it also looks "good" sitting on the same shelf as thousands of dollars worth of high-end gear...for the same reason! Perhaps the knowledge and perversity of using a 15 year old child's toy as a bonafide front-end source adds to its surprisingly good sound.

Have been listening to my "new" PS1. Am very happy, uncoloured sound, not tiring to listen to... the sound has a lot of integrity, the highs lows and mid range work well together. It sounds better than my SCD-777es does on redbook although i miss the extra "air" of the sacd format.

It is an exaggeration to say this offers more fidelity than say a Wadia 861 which I have heard. The Wadia had more texture in the detail. But I have not heard a $1500 or even $2000 that sounds better.

I think it is cool to go against the grain and have a PS1 rather than something with brush aluminum plates... it adds to my maverick image with my friends!

I bought my Sony Playstation 2 DVD remote with IR sensor from a Game Stop (same as EB Games) for $5.00. It was used and needed a little cleanup, but it's been very dependable. It works very well with Model SCPH-1001.

eBay has some Sony-brand Playstation 2 DVD remotes with IR sensors listed, but some of these come from China and are cheap counterfeits that go bad after a couple months. Beware of where they ship from.

...The IR unit plugs into the inputs on the front of the unit.

There is no infra red sensor on the old PS1 1001, so how does one use a wireless controller with it?

the remote controller i referenced comes with IR

There is no infra red sensor on the old PS1 1001, so how does one use a wireless controller with it?

I will say that the PS1 is very interconnect dependent. I used to have an AMR CD-77 and while the PS1 wasn't quite as good it sounded like the cd-77's little brother with a bit less detail and bass. It was uncomfortably close.

search for 'playstation remote wizard' on E.B. It's the one I use and it works great....wirelessly!

Sony Playstation 2 remote controller with part # SCPH-10172 works with Playstation 1. It is made for PS2 DVD controller, but works for PS1 as well. It comes with the IR receiver part and the remote controller, and can start, stop, pause, skip forward/backward your PS1 etc.

Is it possible to use a wireless controller with a PS1 1001 (original big model)? There are some PS1 wireless controllers but not sure if they work with the older PS1s. Thanks

The PS2 remote with matching plug in IR sensor cartridge ( plugs into the controller slot) will work the PSOne. The thing is that you may have to press the SELECT button to stop or pause play instead of the stop or pause button.

my ps2 remote did NOT work, but if i remember correctly, there are some that do, though i'm not sure if they are still available new anymore. the one i have (and which does not work on the ps1) is the official sony ps2 remote.

If you're asking me, I don't know.

Does the DVD remote for PS2 also work for CD navigation for PS1? The wired controllers for PS1 and PS2 are largely compatible so I assume the DVD remote is also compatible, but I want to make sure before buying one.

As I've found (and bought) there are cheap wireless controllers out there. I found one on ebay for $5. Having a remote removes the only thing I wouldn't be able to deal with -- using a wired controller that isn't long enough to reach my listening position.

no, not at all, you just hit the start button to play/pause, r1 to skip forward a track, r2 to fast forward (which it does very fast, which i like), and select to stop.

when it's hooked up to a tv it does show the time elapsed and number of tracks on the disc, but i never bother with that.

Do you need a tv screen to be able to move/click between songs? (I dont have a tv in my listening room).

i agree with everyone that the ps1 is fun as he** to play with. i even like using the wired controller as a remote, it limits the distance you can be from it obviously, but you can punch the buttons without picking it up and aiming it at the unit.

i still don't think it's quite as detailed or dynamic as my regular transport (hooked up via digital), but the sound the ps1 makes is wonderfully smooth, and on a badly recorded cd (deathcab for cutie and r.e.m. come to mind), i prefer it to my transport as it smooths out the grit like a shock absorber.

and it's just cool. i love the look of a fully modded ps1, they remind me of monster trucks with their huge damping feet - or maybe a better comparison is to the old renault le car turbo...

She didnt believe me when I told here again....38.50 not 3850.00. I hope she doesnt think this price will become a trend around here. ;-)

LOL. Gotta love the perversity of it.

O.K., after reading this thread, you guys got me. Bought one off ebay today for 38.50 shipped. I told my wife I was going to take 38.50 out of paypal for a CDP, and she said she didnt know if there was enough there. She didnt believe me when I told here again....38.50 not 3850.00. I hope she doesnt think this price will become a trend around here. ;-)

Well, no new news here but thought I'd chime in with my .02 now that i've had it in my system for almost a month. Very positive. In fact I just sold off my Musical Fidelity a308cr cd player (MSRP when new $3400) and don't miss it. I say this honestly: my rig has never been more engaging and enjoyable. I'm getting a feeling of holistic music and not 'what's missing or doesn't sound right?'. At the same time, sound is refined and I don't feel I'm missing much of anything in the details. Plus plenty of air. I'm a little awestruck actually. To me the most noticeable difference is that sound has a fluidity and ease to it I've never heard or experienced before.

The only 'tweaks' I did were upgrade the power cord to a PS Audio Power Punch (better bass, fuller sound, more focused) and put the unit on 3 brass cones sitting directly on my hardwood rack (not in brass pucks). I did this mostly to get airflow underneath and also my racks are solid slabs of Ash and not 100% straight or level. The adjustable cones enable the unit to be leveled and going directly into the wood I've found doesn't lighten up the sound as does on brass pucks.

The unit I received seemed well taken care of (ebay find) and no mech issues whatsoever (knocking on lots of wood). Just in case, I also have a back up that I'm considering modding, but as I listen now that things have had time to settle, I am enjoying the stock version quite a bit.

Associated equipment:
Shindo Aurieges-L preamp
Nuforce Reference 8V2 amps
Usher 6381 speakers
47 Labs OTA Stratos cabling throughout

No memory card req for playback. Assuming you've got the thing plugged in sounds like something is broke. You could try http://www.richspsxparts.com/ for parts/advice or just get another one.

Rhing may be able to shed some light...

I have a 1001 model. After making connections and pressing reset, I still cannot get the player to spin or Q-up. Are memory cards required to be installed for it to play?

The output stage can be modified with a choice of caps and resistors that would work with whatever downstream equipment you have in the signal path. I have modded a few Playstations with different caps in the output signal path, and obtained different results. Using the widely acclaimed Black Gate N or Sanyo OS-CON SC electrolytic caps seems to match up very well with tube amps where top end roll off could be a problem. I recently sold a modded unit with the Elna Silmic II caps in the output stage, as the buyer's tastes fit very well with the smooth treble response of the Elna Silmic II caps. He's using that unit with an SET amp and he is quite satisfied with that. It just comes down to personal preferences.

Have you also tried changing interconnect cables? That can largely influence the sound quality as well.

it may be an impedance mismatch. i'm running it through a tubed pre, sounds great.

i have used a playstation 1 with tube amp and preamp. there was no problem. there was no attenuation in the treble.

Is anyone using PS1 with a tube preamp? I have been using PS1 as a secondary CD player with McCormack solid state preamp for some times. I liked the smooth and natural analogue-like sound very much. Then I've recently replaced McCormack with a CJ tube preamp. While the sound from everything else improved, the sound quality from PS1 nose dived. It now sounds like a cheap $20 CD player, with limited freq extremes, dull, and just not as exciting as before. Talk about system synergy!

The tracking and the transport in general seems to be a little on the cheap and flimsy side; it skips in a heartbeat. But mine is playing everything i throw at it (knock on wood).

I've got a backup ps1 just in case...

Bad news in Playstation-land. Rhing, I appreciated the link you passed along above, but the process to tune the player was beyond my technical abilities. So I bought a second Playstation on eBay. And it turns out that not only would it not play burned CDs either as I described above, but after a few days it started skipping the same way (though not as badly) on perfectly good new CDs. So I put the old one back in the system, and after a day it started doing the same thing. So I'm thinking the inability to play burned discs may have been a symptom rather than the problem itself. I'm bummed.

In any case, though I love the sound of the Playstation I'm looking now at spending a few bucks more on something a little more reliable and less quirky in its operation (and with a remote! and a non-plastic case!). I'm thinking of an Onkyo DX-7555, though I'm going to take some time looking around. I'll post a comparison when I'm able.

Damn this guy never did answer my question of how he connected it, ic's or whatever.

hi coffee2:

i own three of them and will probably sell two or three. if you don't use an aftermarket power cord, it is a mediocre cd player.

I have been using the Playstation 1 periodically in my system with fine results. However, when I put my Modwright 9100 back in the system the magic returns. PS1 is very good & for the money & it is a no brainer. If you don't want to spend thousands on a cdp the PS1 is a good choice.

i've had one for years and all i can say is i dare anyone come up with anything that sounds as good for less than 2grand.

Posted this yesterday, still no show. Just wanted to note that there are remote controllers for PS1's. I found one on fleabay for ~$5

these things are going like hotcakes here on the 'gon. i've seen 3 up and 3 down within the last 2 weeks (myself included). should get mine monday. looking forward to it. Rhing I'll hit you up if i want to take it to 11.

Did you try resetting the laser intensity level and bias using the procedure outlined in Mick Feuerbacher's Web site?

http://www.dogbreath.de/PS1/LaserAlignment/Laser.html

This usually cures most tracking problems.

Anybody having problems with the Playstation 1 playing burned discs? After the disc clamp broke I recently replaced my 5501 model with the original 1001 (and, yes, the original sounds worlds better--and the 5501 had been making me pretty happy, too). The only problem I have now is that the 1001 does not play SOME burned CDs.

It plays them, but the servo in the player makes noises like it's having trouble tracking and then the music starts glitching with static. I can't see any correlation with age of the burn or scratching or brand of blank CD. I'll buy another 1001 model if the problem is just with my unit, but I don't want to waste the dough if it'll be the same story. Thanks in advance.

As an update, I upgraded the power supply caps on my Playstation 1. I replaced the MKT X2 line filter cap with a Wima MKP10 cap of similar rating. Next, I installed a low ESR, high ripple current Nichicon CS electrolytic cap for primary stage smoothing. For the secondary stage smoothing caps, I installed a combination of Nichicon KT audio-grade electrolytics and Panasonic FM electrolytics with a bit more capacitance. After about 45 days of periodical listening, the improvements are quite noticeable. For one, the Playstation now has outstanding dynamic range. Where some crescendos and audio peaks would sound a bit compressed and the soundstage would collapse, the music just tracks smoothly with expanding volume and peaks without a hint of sibilance or loss of detail. If you know the RCA Living Stereo SACD hybrid disc recording of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition," you might know what I'm talking about. The bass is signficantly deeper and better defined than before. The level of detail has further improved in the mids and highs, especially with bells, cymbals, chimes and brush work. I am sure that another contributing factor is that the Black Gate N caps I installed in the signal output stage have more than 200 hours of play time now. The best part about these upgrades and mods is that the Playstation's special midrange texture and detail is still there. It's like upgrading from a Rega to a Linn Sondek LP12--you just retrieve more music from the disc while improving on musicality.

I recently scored on some 4.7uF/25V Sanyo OS-CON (Organic SemiCONductor) electrolytic caps that I've been experimenting with as DC blocking caps in the signal path. These might be even better than the Black Gates, and they don't have the long burn-in period that Black Gates require. We'll see...

My covers blown : ) I wanna see photos you guys, cya on DIY thanks Audio Luddite.

Woah! That is sweet! Thanks for the links. I will show my dad and maybe we have a winter project in store!

db

Souterncross,

I thought you might be "Audio Luddite" on diyAudio. Your high gloss black Acrylic enclosure is beautiful and matches your McIntosh MC-240 very well. I'll post this link to your post on the Playstation 1 thread on diyAudio.com:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=1651350#post1651350

I recommend anyone reading this thread to check out Souterncross' detailed enclosure build.

Besides my Playstation 1 mod project, I am also building a PassDIY B1 buffer preamplifier (same as First Watt B1 Buffer Preamplifier) and finishing my Class D amp. Needless to say, I'll be busy this coming Winter tinkering in my garage shop.