Shigaclone cd transport

bikerboy

I finally found a jvc boombox that I can mod into a cd transport ala the diyaudio shigaclone. I havent recieved it yet but will soon be ripping out the cd drive ect and make it into an transport to replace the esoteric. All the posts on diyaudio (over 140 pages) should be enough info to figure it out. Then I will be able to compare it to the esoteric while it still works. Should be fun.

zingo

I'll be interested if watching your project as i've thought about doing this before also. Good luck!

bikerboy

The boom box arrived today. No remote but that can be worked out. I hope to have time next week to do the tear out and mods. The modded transport has bested CEC and flatfish transports. We'll see how it sounds soon.

fbm211

I am really interested in this also as I have been watching ebay and audiogon to replace my adcom 575.

dudeinaroom

I want pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bikerboy

Heres whats left of the boombox! Now the hard part of ordering parts and designing a case.

Bigbang

What a great "Secret". I love it when I find this stuff out from you guys!

d

bikerboy

I got some parts from digikey to build the 8 volt power supply. Still waiting for the other replacement caps but loosely assembled it all and it works. Got digital out to lock into the Buffalo dac and it made sounds. I'm very happy it still works. Still have to load the digital out, just wanted to see if the Buffalo could lock onto the 5v signal. It works but some clicking noises. Probably trying to unlock. I'll mess with that tonight. I need to find a remote, the harmony doesnt seem to have the correct codes.

strider

Good to hear you're on your way. You deserve an award for wading through that thread, it's definitely a monster!

bikerboy

Added a couple of resistors to the digital ouput and listened to Physical Graffiti late last night. It sounds good. Bass isnt very full but it needs to have 50-100 hours on it before I get too critical. I am still waiting for the parts I ordered from reference audio mods to swap out some caps on the board. I ordered Rubycon VA and VL as Blackgates in the values I need are NA. I need to see if someone on Diyaudio has a spare remote I can buy. This work so far has been relatively easy but designing and building the case is going to be hard. The display and control buttons will be a challenge. I've read only up to page 65 of the 140+ pages of posts.

fbm211

Ifound this online.It looks interesting but I dont think I could build one although Id like to.. Link>> http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/armoniacd1_e.html

bikerboy

Ive thought many times about making a CD-Pro transport but the drive alone is about $270 plus shipping. I think a total build price close to $800. If I mod this drive a lot I will have about $200 total in parts plus the cost of a case that will be make of nice wood. So this is a way to learn about digital playback on the cheap. There is a lot to learn!

bikerboy

I removed 4 little tiny surface mount caps today and listened to the transport and what an improvement! These things are smaller than a grain of rice. But now the top end is more open and the bass is much better. Then I installed 6 of the rubycon caps I received friday. It sounds great now. Now I need to design a case for it. Thats going to be fun.

danz1906

Great-Job

bikerboy

The shigaclone now has a new crystal and I mounted it on a more substantial base. I used a base I made for the toshiba 3950. It is 4" thick and the mechanism is mounted with 4 nylon spacers and brass screws. I also increased the size of the heatsink for the regulator because it was very warm. It sounds better. Less symblence? and the bass is tighter. The midrange is very sweet and the backround is quieter. I made a seperate box for the ps transformer and need to find a better jack and plug for that connection. Any suggestions? I have seen some use a xlr type. Heres a pic of the current setup. Its on the concrete floor because is sounds better compared to being on the shelf. I still need to order some Black Gate caps that everybody raves about.

bikerboy

I've had some time to listen to the shigy and it sounds great. It is very detailed but not in your face with the cymbals. The midrange is very real. The bass has improved significantly. The sound stage is very good, great front to rear placement. Queen-Bohemian Rhapsody is a good reference for that. I think I will replace the nylon spacers with hardwood blocks and try to mount the mechanism more rigidly. I am going to find a solid piece of marble or other stone and glue a 1"-2" thick piece of hardwood to the top of it. Then screw the mechanism to it. That will make the whole unit much heavier and may improve the bass even more. I still need to order some Black Gate caps as everyone seems to think they add something special to the sound of the shigaclone. But as is it sounds great. Now if I could get a remote that works I will be happy.

bikerboy

I replaced the nylon spacers with wood spacers and that helped clean up the midrange. I remove the black plastic cover over the laser sled. I changed the resistors on the digital out. I used variable resistors so I can change the voltage divider on the spdif out. The 390/91 is very rounded and mellow sounding. I had 275/100 before. That was a lot brighter, more imaging but fatigueing after a while. I need to find the post that someone had described the formula to calculate the values. I also used gorilla glue to glue 4 bricks to the side of the base of the transport. Now the transport is very quiet and the imaging is more layered. The bass and mid bass are so much better now its incredible. I am waiting for parts from parts connexion to replace the variable resistors after I figure out what value I like best. I am building a new base that will have 4 bricks inside the box to increase the mass of the base. Then it will look a lot nicer. Right now it is ugly! But it sounds wonderful. I havent been able to listen to the esoteric for more than a couple of minutes before I switch back to the shigy. Now if I could get a remote for it I will be on the road to nirvana. Anyone else using a transport into a dac?

bikerboy

I made a new base for the shigaclone. It is curly maple on the front and top. I used the wood to cover 4 old very heavy bricks to make the base heavier than if it were made of wood. I glued the bricks into the wood base with gorrilla glue. It is very solid, no sound to speak of when you knock on it. I also received the black gate caps for the power supply and new resistors for the digital out loading from parts connexion and installed them last night. The black gates will take about 2 weeks of continuous play to burn in. I'm liking the sound of this transport a lot. It looks better now also. I still need to make a top cover to house the lcd display and buttons.

AudioGenics

very cool project

bikerboy

The black gates have settled down finally after 2 weeks of continuous play. They really are the magic elixir that everyone talks about. The transport sounds great. Bass is so much better-deeper, more mid-bass impact and growl. The detail on the top is open and easy on the ears. The vocals are very real. The quiet parts of the music are deeper. The front to back is bigger. Bad recordings are still bad but I can listen to them without wincing. The sda-2s sound like they have grown into bigger, better speakers. I am waiting to finish the top of the shigy with a curly maple cover. I need to make a box for the transformer and relocate the digital out and PS wires first. I am very happy with the outcome of this project.

bikerboy

So I finally made the top for the shigi. It turned out ok, looks better in person than I can photo at night. Still need to make the buttons. Still sounds great but I have taken the top off about 20 times trouble shooting it. I used 4 old bricks for mass and it weighs 37 lbs! I bought a spare so if it dies I have parts. Remote works and led is now bright enough. It sounds sooo good.

danz1906

Wow, the player looks great-Enjoy!

Systems

Great project,nice job on the chassis.

madmax

Do you do all that wood work? What kind of wood is it and what do you coat it with?
Nice project!
madmax

bikerboy

Hi,
Thanks for the nice comments. The wood is curly maple with Matco cherry danish oil finish. It needs more work to make it really shine but soon as the buttons are finished it will be done. I have a issue to work out still. It plays to about track 11-12 and then starts to skip like needle on a bad record. So something is in the way of the sled. Sorry I havent online as to installing windows 7. Almost done! So far so good.

zingo

The CDP looks a lot better than last time I saw it! Great work and I love how it matches.

xsb7244

From the long thread at diyaudio Shigaclone is now Shigaclone MKll CD transport. This transport has been improved thanks to the hard work and dedication of Tibi from Vicol Audio. There is suppose to be a group buy of this kit in MAR 2014. This is probably the best bang for the buck.

xsb7244

Here is the group buy.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/group-buys/238895-shigaclone-new-gb-2013-a.html

bikerboy

Quite the effort this cdp has produced. I hardly ever use it any more. This has replaced it. It sounds much better.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?146012-SDTrans384

xsb7244

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/120229-finally-affordable-cd-transport-shigaclone-story.html
Since this thread started many years ago, the diy community have improved this transport many times with the latest version.

xsb7244

bikerboy,

I am sure your SDTrans384 sounds great. But for those who are interested in non computer audio, the Shigaclone has been improved a lot with latest version. Vicol Audio is offering kits for you to build.