PlayStation 1: The audiophile's dream

Sometimes we get these tips that come out of left field. We got one late last night from reader Riku, who talks about his dad's unusual acquisition for his high-end audio setup:

Hi!

My father's hobby is to search for "the perfect sound" making him a high-end audiophile. I was very surprised when I saw an old Playstation 1 (Version SCPH-1001/2) plugged into his super expensive audio rig. He told me, that that particular version of the console has RCA-inputs in the back which has a superb sound output. The console has become an underground sensation in the Hi-Fi scene. He told me to check out some articles at 6moons.com, an audiophile website.

So wait, the old beatup PS1 that I gave to my friend is a high-end audiophile machine? There's no way this can be true! Yet Riku was kind enough to provide us some links from 6moons that talk about the power of Sony's debut console. In one article:

During all this audio fun, my pal Pete Riggle stopped by with an audio underground digital favorite, the Sony PlayStation 1 (Model No. SCPH-1001). I had heard rumors of just how good this particular version of the PS1 is when used as a CD player and was curious to give it a listen. This kid's video game player really does have outstanding audio performance. I'm guessing you'd have to spend more than $6000 on a one-box CD player to equal let alone better it.

$6000? To eBay and beyond (the jump)!

[Thanks for the wonderful pic, Dyson!]

I'm impressed that Sony put together such high-end parts in the PlayStation 1 that it could produce such quality sound. Running a quick search on eBay for SCPH-1001 brings up consoles priced at $5-$35, way below the $6000 equivalent system. Another article provided to us says:

The Sony Playstation 1 SCPH-1001 is another giant killer that's a darling of the audio underground. If you're looking for audio sonic fireworks, the PS1 might not be your cup of tea but if you're looking for an outstandingly musical digital front end that can play music better than just about every multi-kilobuck digital source, look no further - way recommended.

Now, I want to ask all our audiophile readers out there (i.e. Dale North): what about the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3? Do these two later iterations of Sony's console keep up the good work and provide a great deal for audiophiles? Or instead, did Sony only provide mediocre parts for your sound system?

http://www.destructoid.com/playstation-1-the-audiophile-s-dream--32269.phtml

KRELL escreveu:Sinceramente, até custa acreditar no que está escrito seja verdade.
Eu tenho uma ps2 e fiz o teste e os resultados foram muito maus.
O mesmo em relação a imagem ligada por scart rgb.

ps2 =/= PS1

Epá eu tenho uma PS1 guardada algures lá em casa.

lowrider escreveu:Já li várias confirmações disto, mas só a PS1, e nem todos os modelos...

De facto já tinhas escrito sobre isto e eu tb já li citações...

A minha PS2 slim (série 70000) é fraquíssima em DACs audio embora boa me video (chegava-me para leitor DVD) mas acredito que na sua simplicidade a PS1 possa ser melhor...

OOPS, e eu à procura de um leitor de CD's, e com uma PS1 no quarto da minha filhota, ela agora é que está

Já experimentei a PS1.

O som não é mau de todo, alias não fica muito atras do cambridge 640.

O problema é que o nivel de saida é consideravelmente mais baixo.

Outro problema é o controlo sobre as faixas pois tentei ouvir a faixa 10 de um cd e não consegui lá chegar (mas também não sei mexer nesta m***a)

lowrider escreveu:

I'm guessing you'd have to spend more than $6000 on a one-box CD player to equal let alone better it.

Isto acho um exagero.............

A achar morreu um burro, testa, depois fala...

A minha nem dá para experimentar, não tem saidas por RCA.

Já agora, a Schallwand, fabricantes das minhas colunas, vendiam esse modelo de PS1 modificadas, cabo de corrente, suportes e KITT, uma espécie de plasticina para absorver vibrações, o mesmo que fizeram no meu TEAC, que ficou a tocar muito bem...

Daqui a pouco vamos nos cruzar na ebay a licitar uns contra os outros ps1

lowrider escreveu:A achar morreu um burro, testa, depois fala...

Estava á tua espera...

vejam o post #46

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=6beb050393a7750d4d4c223061b25c90&threadid=49778&perpage=10&pagenumber=5

Recomendada: (Model No. SCPH-1001)

Nesse link: SCPH-1002

No entanto dizem: Playstation 1 is like 14 bit TDA1540, esta não é das multibit altamente recomendadas...

Olá!

Nem tinha reparado nisso. Será significativa a diferença entre a 1001 e a 1002?!

Se é recomendado, não é por mim! Mas já ouvi uns leitores com TDA1540, amplamente modificados, a tocar bem.

Provavelmente, já que recomendam específicamente a 1001...

Para o bem e para o mal não conheço as playstaions... para mim, as consolas de jogos "acabaram" com o videopac da philips:
http://computermuseum.50megs.com/brands/g7000.htm
(passava horas de volta daquilo, depois entrou o spectrum, que foi seguido de um PC da IBM... )

Era giro alguém encontrar os esquemas das PS 1001 e 1002, ou referências às mesmas, para saber se usam chips ou topologias diferentes na parte de áudio.

As PS1 com Dac's Philips
Acho que têm conversão de 1 bit da Sony.

A unica máquina de jogos que tive foi aquela ranhosa TI99, se não troquei o nome, de resto só joguei no PC, e agora nem isso, os forums não me deixam tempo...

FReis escreveu:As PS1 com Dac's Philips
Acho que têm conversão de 1 bit da Sony.

Se alguém disse que as PS1 têm dacs da philips, não reparei!

O que hoje é um luxo antes era comum...


Consola eu só a PS2 slim e assim continuará por muito tempo.
Até para DVDs bastava desde que com o comando IR e DACs externos...

Pelos vistos 1001 é igual a 1002...

Sony Playstation 1

Certainly the most unconventional part of this system has to be the Sony Playstation 1 used as a digital source. The PlayStation 1 was launched in Japan on December 3, 1994 and about a year later in the rest of the world. There is only one model worth considering - the SCPH-100x. The 'x' depends on where in the world you live. In the US and Canada it's a SCPH-1001, in Japan the last digit is 0, in Europe its 2 and its 3 in Asia. None of the other Playstation models sound good I'm told so stick with the SCPH-100x versions. The underground buzz says the newer versions of the Playstation suck for music but I haven't checked 'em out myself. There's a lot of technology and computing power in that cheap looking little grey plastic box that no high-end audio firm could ever afford to pay the development costs for but Sony knew they had a couple of hundred million or so parents that would make the intense R&D pay off in a big way. It did too and Sony sold over a 100 million units, meaning there are plenty of them around for us HiFi nuts. I was able to pick up one locally in mint condition for $25.

There are a number of audio insiders that use the Playstation as a reference but they don't admit to it. They're too embarrassed! Check your local used computer gaming store and it's likely they'll have number of them in stock ready for you to purchase. Make sure it has the RCA jacks on the back for audio. Until you actually try it, itl'l seem ridiculous that you could get this kind of audio performance from what is essentially an inexpensive child's toy but it's the truth. A PS1 SCPH-1001 will hold you over in grand style until I get a chance to survey the latest crop of one-box players and other interesting digital devices for you. In fact, the PS1 is so good that it wouldn't surprise me at all if you never felt the need for something else. Really!

There is a bit of a quirk to the Playstation that you should know about in case you encounter it with your own: it can overheat if not placed in a well-ventilated area due to poorly placed vents in its chassis. Apparently the plastic moldings inside the player can warp slightly, causing the laser mechanism to skip if it gets too hot. If you have trouble with overheating and skipping, I am told the solution is to put them up on tip toes so there is plenty of airflow underneath or to leave them on top of a cabinet where they get plenty of cool air.

You'll want to leave your PS1 on all the time and it will take it about a week to come up to its considerable performance potential. A cold Playstation merely sounds okay but after a week, you'll be treated to perhaps the best digital you've ever heard. The PS1 does a wonderful job with tone color and has a very analog quality that no other digital source I've yet heard can match. It really excels in the linearity of micro to macro dynamics much like the Miyabi 47 phono cartridge does. The PS1 comes with a controller that plugs into the chassis which is a bit of a nuisance to use if you're used to a wireless remote. I've got a Logitech wireless controller on order which I'm assuming will correct that little inconvenience.

You might think it a bit looney to use a $950 Shindo silver interconnect for a used $25 Playstation. Until you hear it that is. Then you'll get it. If it makes you feel better, you can pretend that the Playstation costs $6000, which is what I'm guessing it would cost to get a one-box CD player that could outperform it musically and sonically.

http://dogbreath.de/PS1/index.html

DAC: http://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/54935/AKM/AK4309.html

amcgouveia1 escreveu:

FReis escreveu:As PS1 com Dac's Philips
Acho que têm conversão de 1 bit da Sony.

Se alguém disse que as PS1 têm dacs da philips, não reparei!

Eu é que li algures "Tda-1540", e associei

Bom trabalho Lowrider!

Bom agora vai tudo apanhar as playstations os putos

lowrider escreveu:DAC: http://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/54935/AKM/AK4309.html

Para aqueles que não percebem nada de especificações técnicas (como eu ) podes trocar essa ficha por miudos? O que quer dizer?

Conan escreveu:

lowrider escreveu:DAC: http://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/54935/AKM/AK4309.html

Para aqueles que não percebem nada de especificações técnicas (como eu ) podes trocar essa ficha por miudos? O que quer dizer?

Eu também não percebo, era para os DIY...

Mais:

http://www.destructoid.com/playstation-1-the-audiophile-s-dream--32269.phtml