EXPIRED Wanted CD Player with PHILIPS TDA1541aS1 Chip

@rockeater ?

There are very few players that had the S1 chip in them. They tend to go for much higher prices.

Most players have the standard Tda1541a in them, whilst some cheaper machines had the R1 chip.

Good luck with your hunt!

On 06/02/2025 at 4:51 PM, dcathro said:

There are very few players that had the S1 chip in them. They tend to go for much higher prices.

 

Most players have the standard Tda1541a in them, whilst some cheaper machines had the R1 chip.

 

Good luck with your hunt!

That's right.

CD-94 Mkii, CD-75 Mkii, CD-85, CD-95, CD-99SE and CD-80 have the S1 chip.

The 'Reference Standard' CD12 also had it.

I had a CD-50 and the label on the chip was TDA1541AS.  I think CD-60 had the same.  These were 'selected' TDA1541 chips, but not quite the 'S1' or 'S2' level.  It was my first player and made my experience of CD playback a positive one right from the outset.

Marantz was owned by Philips through that period, so had better access to the higher spec'd chips.

The funny thing is, many standard TDA1541A chips could have the same performance as those actually labelled 'S1'.

From any production batch, once the desired number of specially selected chips (S, S1 & S2) was obtained, the remaining chips from that batch were not subjected to the additional testing and all received the standard labelling.  Some batches might not have been subjected to the additional testing at all, if stock of the special chips was not required at the time.

This of course is fairly standard procedure and wouldn't just apply to this particular chip.

If you struggle to find a player with the S1 chip, maybe you can settle for a DAC that has the chip and buy an appropriate player to just use as the transport.

6 hours ago, surprisetech said:

 

That's right.

CD-94 Mkii, CD-75 Mkii, CD-85, CD-95, CD-99SE and CD-80 have the S1 chip.

The 'Reference Standard' CD12 also had it.

 

I had a CD-50 and the label on the chip was TDA1541AS.  I think CD-60 had the same.  These were 'selected' TDA1541 chips, but not quite the 'S1' or 'S2' level.  It was my first player and made my experience of CD playback a positive one right from the outset.

Marantz was owned by Philips through that period, so had better access to the higher spec'd chips.

 

The funny thing is, many standard TDA1541A chips could have the same performance as those actually labelled 'S1'.

From any production batch, once the desired number of specially selected chips (S, S1 & S2) was obtained, the remaining chips from that batch were not subjected to the additional testing and all received the standard labelling.  Some batches might not have been subjected to the additional testing at all, if stock of the special chips was not required at the time.

This of course is fairly standard procedure and wouldn't just apply to this particular chip.

 

If you struggle to find a player with the S1 chip, maybe you can settle for a DAC that has the chip and buy an appropriate player to just use as the transport.

 

An S1 chip alone sells for $200+ and you have to be aware of counterfeits.

I have a couple and have compared them with standard 1541s. I couldn't hear any difference.