Philips CDM - cd mechanism list 

The single-beam swing arm | Top With only a few exceptions, Marantz CD players, whose sound quality has been highly valued since first appearing on the market, have always featured Philips drive mechanism. The first Marantz CD player, the Marantz CD-63 (1982), was a small-scale top-loading model. The superb design leaves a lasting impression, and thanks to its compact size and simple disc changing system and operation, it is more highly valued now than it was at the time of its original release. The drive mechanism installed in this model is the legendary "Philips CDM0" which is even more highly rated today than it was at the time of its release. This single-beam swing arm system features a fulcrum evocative of the tone arm on an analog record player. This system was first used for the CDM0, and was continually employed throughout their entire series of CD drive mechanisms, including the final Philips CDM9 Pro. The pursuit of stable performance led to Philips' development of the single-beam swing arm system. Imposing a couterweight (balancing weight) on the side facing the optical lens block enables the system to adjust the weight distribution and move the optical system usigin relatively minimal power. It also facilitated increased structural precision and, perhaps even more importantly, allowed overall movement to be controlled using highly versatile analog servo circuitry. CDs are irradiated with a 780nm red laser beam from the polycarbonate resin substrate side, and whether the digital data is "0" or "1" is determined by an increase or decrease in the reflection of the laser beam. Thus, extremely accurate optical technology (lens design, lens fabrication, special coatings, and precise assembly) is required for the small optical pickup block. Rodenstock | Top The company placed in charge of this was the respected German optical manufacturer Rodenstock. Philips has used extravagant glass-backed optical lens blocks designed by Rodenstock in all of their high-grade drive mechanisms beginning with the Philips CDM0. Philips CDM0 | Top The Philips CDM0, as indicated by its model number, was the first CD drive mechanism to be developed. However, not all Marantz CD-63s, Marantz CD-73s and Philips LHH2000s were equipped with the Philips CDM0. The Philips CDM0 was replaced by the new and improved Philips CDM1 after a relatively short periode. The steel plate and some other parts used in the Philips CDM0 were found to be problematic during mass production. Photos of the Philips CDM0 swing-arm cdmechanism Philips CDM1 | Top Thus, the Philips CDM1 was produced using zinc die-cast for all sensitive sections to remove unwanted resonance. The Philips CDM1 also featured major improvements in the precision of all of its parts. The famous Marantz CD-34, with its unprecedented price-tag, was the first model in which the Philips CDM1 was employed. Later, a special fine-tuned version of the Philips CDM1 developed for use in high-end players like the Marantz CD-94 and Marantz CD-95. Photos of the Philips CDM1 swing-arm cdmechanism The Philips CDM1 was used in Philips products manufactured in Belgium and Marantz products manufactured in Japan. The amazing success of the Marantz CD-34 manufacutred in Belgium helped made revision of the system of supplying the drive mechanisms a necessity. Thus, Marantz established an assembly line at the Company's main factory in Sagamihara, produced all necessary components, and began producing Philips CDM1s in Japan. The Marantz CD-54 and Marantz CD-84 released in 1984 both utilized Japanese-made CDM1 units. Philips CDM2 | Top The Philips CDM2, with a resin top plate, was developed with the aim of reducing cost and weight while maintaining the quality of the zinc die-cast in the Philips CDM1. The Philips CDM2 however did not last long and was only installed in less expensive machines, such as the Marantz CD-25, Marantz CD-45, Marantz CD-65 and Marantz CD-75. Photos of the Philips CDM2 swing-arm cdmechanism Philips CDM1 mk2 | Top The last large-scale drive mechanism to follow in the wake of the Philips CDM0 and Philips CDM1 was the Philips CDM1 mk2. This was based on a flat top plate design, with additional intergrated circuitry and a compact base. Of course, the entire unit was made from strong die-cast metal. The Philips CDM1 mk2 was used in the Marantz CD880j, Marantz CD80 and Philips CD880. Period wise, this was around the time that 8-cm "CD-single" was introduced. Philips CDM4 | Top As the Philips single-beam swing arm type drive mechanism evolved, the extremely compact Philips CDM4 appeared. There are many versions of the Philips CDM4, the most representative of which are the Philips CDM4M with a hard resin top plate, and the die-cast Philips CDM4MD. With the appearance of the Philips CDM4, complete miniaturization of the drive unit, including the drawer mechanism indispensable in a front-loading system, became possible. Photos of the Philips CDM4 swing-arm cdmechanism Philips CDM4MD Philips CDM9 Pro | Top The final single-beam swing arm drive mechanism employed by Marantz was the Philips CDM9 Pro. This unit was used in the Marantz CD-23 series of CD players for popular Musiclink Series of miniature components. This drive mechanism was a single-beam swing arm type developed to achieve maximum miniaturization. The "Pro" designation apparently meant to signify the fact that it employed a highly durable brushless servo motor, a glass optical lens block, and a machined aluminum turntable. Photos of the Philips CDM9 swing-arm cdmechanism Philips CDM3 | Top There is one single-beam swing arm drive mechanism that was never used by Marantz, the Philips CDM3. This mechanism became well know when it was used in the professional-use Studer A730 (1988) developed jointly by Philips and the famous professional component manufacturer Studer. The Philips CDM3 was originally designed for use in car audio and had a lightweight die-cast body, which still managed to provide substantial rigidity. In addition to the Studer A730, the Philips CDM3 was also used by Luxman Japan. Photos of the Philips CDM3 swing-arm cdmechanism Philips CDM3 The 3-beam linear tracking system | Top The Philips CDM9 Pro was the last Philips single-beam CD drive mechanism. Thereafter, they switched to the 3-beam linear tracking system adopted early on by Japanese manufactures. Philips chose a linear tracking construction that moved the optical lens block in a straight line because computer CD-ROM drives requiring high read speeds were in demand. The swing arm system using a counter-weight had too much moving mass and too slow random access times for this application. In addition, because the swing arm system used in tracking error angle, it was not possible to use this system with more than a single-beam. For high-speed reading, a 3-beam system that can pick up adjacent pit streams is more advantageous. Single-beam swing arm type drive mechanisms however are sufficient for audio only systems that do not require high speed operation. Philips CDM12.1 & VAM1252 | Top The first Philips 3-beam linear tracking drive mechanism used by Marantz was the Philips CDM12.1. The Philips VAM1252, equipped with a die-cast body and commonly know as the CD Pro, was employed in the high-en Marantz CD-7. The low cost Philips VAM12 version of the Philips VAM1252 was used in the Marantz CD-17Da and Marantz CD-19a. The Philips VAM2200 series, which may be the last Philips-made CD-only drive mechanism, was used in the laters Marantsz CD-only player, the Marantz CD-7300 (2002). Marantz "engine" | Top Future Philips drive mechanisms will most likely be DVD/Super Audio CD compatible, and we could see a shift towards inexpensive lines due to competition in the marketplace. Meanwhile, the present Marantz, under control of D&M Holdings, has started to develop its own drive mechanisms. Relying on outside suppliers brings the risk of being supplied components with a short lifespan. Therefore, the Company decided to initiate in-house development of drive mechanism. The first Marantz in-house drive mechanism (referred to as an "engine" by Marantz) was installed in the multi-channel Super Audio CD players Marantz SA-17S1 and Marantz SA-8260. The mechanism was a linear tracking system with a twin laser single pickup structure that houses a 650nm red Super Audio CD laser and a 780nm red CD laser in a single optical system. This superior engine featured reduced unnecessary radiation, and was designed to be energy efficient. The laters Marantz engine is mounted in the Marantz SA-8400 stereo only Super Audio CD/CD player. Although names, such as CDM1 and CDM9 Pro used by Philips, have not been asigned to the Marantz engines, this newest engine utilizes a twin laser single pickup linear tracking system similar to that of the first Marantz engine. Sharp engine | Top The Marantz SA-14, and the flagship Marantz SA-1 (which was the first Super Audio CD/CD player produced by Marantz) all utilize a Japanese made Sharp engine. This engine combines an aluminium die-cast disc tray and zinc die-cast mechanism base. The different metals helps to counter resonance. Future high-end machines will also likely feature in-house engines. The first Marantz multi-channel Super Audio CD/CD player, the Marantz SA-12S1, is unique since it is based on the first Philips Super Audio CD player, the Philips SACD1000 (not sold in Japan), has been carefully designed to meet the requirements of audiophile, and uses a Philips Super Audio CD/DVD video/CD engine. (Source: Stereosound - All about Marantz) Overview: Drive Marantz cdplayer Philips CDM-0 cd-63 (1982), cd-73 (1983), Philips LHH-2000 Philips CDM-1 cd-63, cd-73, cd-34(1985), Philips LHH-2000 Philips CDM-1 cd-54 (1984), cd-84 (1984) Philips CDM-2 cd-25 (1985), cd-45(1985), cd-65 (1985), cd-75 (1986), cd-650 (1986) Philips CDM-1 tuned cd-94 (1986), cd-94LTD (1987), cd-95 (1988), cd-99SE (1990), cd-99R (1988) Philips CDM-1 Mk2 cd-880J (1988), cd-80 (1989), Philips cdd-882 (1989), Philips cd-880 (1988) Philips CDM-3 Philips A730 (1988) Philips CDM-4M cd-50 (1989), cd-60 (1989), cd-72 (1991), cd-72a (1993) Philips CDM-4MD Philips LHH-300 (1989), Philips LHH-500 (1989), Philips LHH-700 (1991), cd-15 (1992), cd-16 (1993), cd-16SE (1994), cd-10 (1990), cd-11 (1989) Philips CDM-9 pro cd-23 (1994), cd-23LTD (1996), cd-23D LTD (1996), cd-23Da (1998) Philips CDM12.1 cd-53 (1994), cd-17 (1996), cd-17D (1995), cd-16D (1996), cd-63SE (1996), cd-67SE (1996), cd-19 (1997) Philips VAM-1252/CD pro cd-7 (1998) Philips VAM-12 cd-17Da (1998), CD-19a (1999) Philips CDM-14 cdr-1 (1991), cd-610mk2 (Source: Stereo Sound - All about Marantz 2003) Philips cdm1 Philips cdm1 mk2 Philips cdm4 Philips cdm9 pro The top side view of Philips CD-PRO (Philips VAM1252). The Philips CDM12 PRO is housed with die-cast frame and enhanced sledge guidance and gearing system for 24 hrs heavy duty operation. The bottom side view of Philips CD-PRO (Philips VAM1252). Four layers PCB to ensure shortest electronic routes. The CD7 decoder engine is equipped (Philips CD-PRO 2 use CD10). Photogallerie: Philips CDM-4 Industrial Philips CD-pro2LF

The complete CDM cdmechanism transport list