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Marantz & Philips Classics

Philips CDM Mechanisms – Page 1 – CDM-0, CDM-1, CDM-2, CDM-3

Christiaan Punter 27 November 2020 20 Comments
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When CD was introduced around 1982, Philips’ CDM transports were made extremely well, to the point of being almost over-engineered

Not only Philips and Maranz used these transports: various other players were outfitted with these massive cast-iron swing-arm Rodenstock glass-lense mechanisms. Today, many of these products are still around, spinning CD’s as happily as before. They still produce excellent sound and as it turns out these transports are virtually indestructible. There’s also an extensive review, a direct comparison between many Philips and Marantz cd players.

Whenever possible I use my own photos, but for this page, I have been reliant on various sources such as the very friendly Stefan Runge, various forums, the Enco website and dutchaudioclassics.nl.

The information about the mechanisms is divided over 3 pages.

Page 1 – CDM-0, CDM-1, CDM-2, CDM-3
Page 2 – CDM-4, CDM-1 mkII, CDM-9
Page 3 – CDM-12, CD Pro


Philips’ pursuit of stable performance led to the development of the single-beam swing-arm system where a balancing counterweight on the opposite side of the optical lens block enables the system to adjust the weight distribution and move the optical system using relatively minimal power. It allowed the overall movement to be controlled using analog servo circuitry and the assembly has proven to be extremely durable.

CDM 0

cdm0-500pix

CDM 0 – The original, as used in the prototype cd player called “Pinkeltje”. only shortly used, alledgedly due to difficulties in mass production

cdm0-philips-pinkeltje-cdmechanism-500pix

CDM 0 – slightly different from the original, probably a later type


CDM 1

cdm1-027-klein-500pix

CDM 1 – The Classic, fully made of die-cast zinc.

Used in almost every player of the time, and many of those players, while by over 30 years, are still going strong.

Update October 2020

Many of these players are now actually almost 40 years old and while they will certainly no longer be on spec and in dire need of recapping, most of the players that I encounter STILL work!

cdm1-032-klein-500pix

cdm1-500pix

cdm1-stefan-500pix


CDM 2

cdm2-500pix

The very rare CDM 2/10 – weight reduction and simplification achieved by using a resin cast top plate instead of zie-cast zinc.

I’ve heard only two players with this transport and both sounded way more average than the ones with the CDM1 transport. Having compared the CDM2 players with many CDM4 players (resin) with many CDM1 players (zinc), there seems to be a correlation in how natural a player sounds. However, because the CDM2 and CDM4 players tend to be entry-level models and there are further differences in terms of power supply, decoder, filter, DAC and output stage, it’s impossible to attribute any audible differences to the transport only. But still, I have a sneaking suspicion that they do have an audible impact.

The CDM2 was actually a white resin-cast version of the CDM1 v3.

cdm2-10-004-500pix

cdm2-10-021-500pix


CDM 3

cdm3-004-500pix

Lightweight and originally designed for use in car audio but apparently the CDM3 was also used by Studer and Luxman.

cdm3-500pix

More Mechanisms

Page 1 – CDM-0, CDM-1, CDM-2, CDM-3
Page 2 – CDM-4, CDM-1 mkII, CDM-9
Page 3 – CDM-12, CD Pro

Read Also

Classic Philips and Marantz CD players compared
Inside Pics of classic Philips and Marantz CD players
Philips CD player, DAC, Filter, Decoder, DOBM and Transport List
Marantz DAC and Transport List
Philips timeline
Marantz timeline
CD Mechanism Masterpieces

Related Posts
Philips CDM Mechanisms – Page 2 – CDM-4, CDM-1 MkII, CDM-9
Philips CDM Mechanisms – Page 3 – CDM-12 and CD Pro
Inside Pics of classic Philips and Marantz CD players
The almost complete Philips CDM range of CD Mechanisms
Philips CD player Timeline
Philips CD player, DAC, Filter, Decoder, DOBM and Transport List
HFA Audio Setup History 04 – Maximum Expansion!
Classic Philips and Marantz CD Player Comparison – part 4
Marantz Philips
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Christiaan Punter Owner of Hifi-Advice.com

20 Comments

  1. Mauricio says:
    14 June 2021 at 00:37

    Hola amigos existe algún reemplazo para cdm 1 en un philips cd 200 mi CD 200 no trabaja necesito reemplazar la unidad óptica lente

    Reply
    1. Christiaan Punter says:
      14 June 2021 at 07:11

      CDM1’s typically do not die. The lense may need cleaning or the capacitors in the power supply or servo section may need replacement. If you do want to replace the mechanism, you’ll need to find another CDM1, perhaps from another player. Thankfully, they’re in virtually every player from that era.

      Reply
  2. Greg O'neil says:
    3 July 2021 at 04:57

    Hi, thanks for all that useful information, really opened my eyes on the history of Philips based CD players

    Quick question, my shop is trying to find a CDM1 mk2 mechanism as mine has failed (Marantz CD75 mk2).

    Are all the CDM4 and CDM1 mk2 mechanisms interchangeable?

    thanks again
    Greg

    Reply
    1. Christiaan Punter says:
      3 July 2021 at 09:24

      Hi Greg, nice to hear the article has been of help to you. Good question… CDM4 and CDM1 mkII are largely identical and they just might be compatible indeed, but I’ve never tried swapping them. Do note that these mechs are not self-calibrating and you will need to adjust two potentiometers using a voltmeter according to Service Manual specs. Officially, a calibration CD is required but you can also do it with a stack of CDs and averaging the results. If they are indeed compatible then it will probably work even if you don’t adjust anything but you likely won’t get the best sound possible. When not set ideally, the sound will be slow and rounded.

      But are you sure it’s the laser mech itself that has failed? I find that they are very nearly indestructible. Often, the root cause of what seems like a defective laser mechanism is actually a capacitor in the servo part or the power supply.

      Reply
  3. Greg O'Neil says:
    4 July 2021 at 10:51

    Thanks for your response, not sure what parts is broken. My Repair Tech says I need a new CDM1 Mk2 mechanism, have to go with what he says.

    Problem is that he can’t get a replacement as yet, been looking for 4 months.

    Reply
    1. Christiaan Punter says:
      4 July 2021 at 10:59

      Just get another cheap Philips player that also uses the CDM1 mkII and use it as a donor.

      Reply
  4. Greg O'Neil says:
    4 July 2021 at 23:32

    will try. Greg

    Reply
  5. Steve says:
    10 January 2022 at 20:29

    My Cambridge audio CD3 player has a problem with the cd drawer opening slowly when the player is cold, it closes ok. Any ideas on what it could be, it plays fine though.

    Reply
    1. Christiaan Punter says:
      10 January 2022 at 20:49

      Either the drawer motor belt is slipping or the gears/rails may require some lubrication. Pls make sure not to use regular grease but special Lithium grease, Teflon grease, or another non-sticky synthetic lubricant and be sure to use only a little.

      Reply
  6. Steve says:
    10 January 2022 at 23:08

    Thanks for the reply would wd40 lithium grease be suitable?

    Reply
    1. Christiaan Punter says:
      11 January 2022 at 00:06

      Actually, I would go with Silicone or Teflon grease/spray only as even white lithium grease contains mineral oil which in the long run can deteriorate plastics.

      Reply
  7. Steve says:
    11 January 2022 at 12:40

    Thanks will prob use WD40 dry PTFE spray. Out of curiosity do you know anyone/anywhere in the UK that fixes these players or services them now? Thanks for all your help

    Reply
    1. Christiaan Punter says:
      11 January 2022 at 16:07

      Hi Steve, that sounds like a good plan. Alas, my awareness of repair shops does not extend to outside the Netherlands.

      Reply
  8. Steve says:
    19 February 2022 at 23:50

    Hi do you have any links to where I could get transport parts from as I need a new tray as it’s cracked & one of the rollers is missing. Anywhere in Europe would be fine. Thanks again for your help.

    Reply
    1. Christiaan Punter says:
      20 February 2022 at 12:36

      Hi Steve, you don’t mention the CD player model, but in any case, spares for these classics are scarce or unobtainium. I would suggest finding out which in other players the same tray was used and use one of those as a donor.

      Reply
  9. Steve says:
    20 February 2022 at 14:58

    Hi sorry it’s a Cambridge Audio CD3 I know they used a Phillips transport along with other models at the time do you have any model numbers of compatible parts. Thanks again

    Reply
    1. Christiaan Punter says:
      20 February 2022 at 15:06

      I always use Vasiltech’s excellent list: http://vasiltech.narod.ru/CD-Player-DAC-Transport.htm. Looking there, I see the transport mech is a CDM-1 or CDM-1 mkII. Alas, that means that any number of loader mechs could have been used. On the upside, these mechanisms are in bucketloads of players of that era. Just search the list for CDM-1 or CDM-1 mkII to find them all. Then, buy one or two players cheap or for parts and hope the same loader is used in one of them.

      Reply
  10. Dominik says:
    15 June 2022 at 20:54

    My Philips CD100 seems to deteriorate. Basically it still plays many CDs, but some only after it’s been running for a while (30-60 mins), if the player is “cold” all I get is more or less discernible crackling noise/music. I’ve already spoken to a local HiFi repair shop with 35+ years of experience (or so they say) and the guy told me the laser is probably in need of replacement but that he can’t source one. Before I buy a NOS unit on Ebay for a lot of money I want to make sure this really is the problem and there’s no other way to get the unit back running normal. Do you have any advise?

    Reply
    1. Christiaan Punter says:
      15 June 2022 at 22:40

      This sounds more like aging capacitors (in the main power supply, the servo section, or perhaps even both) than a worn-out laser. These first-generation lasers really do not wear out easily. First, I would take it to someone who can recap it. If that did not fix it then you can always get another CD100 and do some organ-swapping. I doubt that actual NOS CDM1’s still exist. Likely, any such units are actually lifted from a used player.

      Reply
      1. Dominik says:
        16 June 2022 at 05:27

        Thanks for the advise! I’ll try a recap first then.

        Reply

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