has anyone attempted this mod on this player? i know it has a digital optical out but it makes no reference to it carrying the digital signal.

and would i need a circuit with transistors or is there a rf tap on the audio board?

AC-3 RF can be added to any player, it is totally independent of the digital outputs. Do an internet search and you can find schematics. You’ll need a 3070 service manual to install.

So yes you will need a schematic to know where the points are on the circuit board of the 3070 (it’s more than just the AFM tapppng point) but you’ll also need to build your own AC3-RF board to bring it all together.

No one I know of has made these boards recently to sell as a DIY kit (I bought five of them all about 18 years ago). In any case, I am in the middle of testing my own homemade AC3-RF board and hoping I did it right. If it works, i’m going to retrofit the rest of my players to make them all AC3 compatible.

Dave

I found a few schematics for the ac3 boards. But they had a mute wire and I'm not sure I need or have a mute line. I'm still hunting down schematics and working out the logistics.

The mute circuit is not totally needed but preferred as it will mute any extraneous noise (very loud at times) when you're going from pause/stop to play.

Like all Pioneer players, the mute signal does exist on the 3070 (it might even be labeled if you’re lucky; look in the area of connector plugs on the audio board). The only players I know of that had no available mute signal were Sony’s and I was told to short the Mute to GND on the AC3 board just to keep the AFM signal triggered (it was terrible without the mute as it scared me out of my seat several times when changing sides).

Maybe if someone who owns a 3070 can take pics of their AC3 mod, that will make your job that much easier.

Dave

Attached are the tap points.

Very cool CPlus!!!!

You just made my job easier whenever I get around to doing this mod on my player

Epic C++
Love AC-3 and any improvement for future upgraded players is a must

Thanks! No labeling made it a slow process. On other side, just the components not signals are labeled.

I will probably move the mod to the underside of the board (which is actually the top) though since the RF modulator can be removed for two holes. I'll probably install a dummy coax connector in the other.

Although the picture quality is lesser than the CLD-3080, CLD-3070 is a cool, well-built model with every major feature if you can add AC-3 RF. I have used this player more over the last several months than all my Elites combined (mainly because it was my bedroom player).

Yeah, I do see that w/ this player and my CLD-3030. It appears from what I have noticed is that '80 series players (e.g.: CLD-1080, 2080, 3080) were the first players I have found where a greater effort is made to the labeling of points on the boards. You literally can "almost" identify a particular point w/o the need of a service manual.




That was my thought as well since there is no room to mount the AC-3 board on the green side since it's so close to the top of the casing (unless it's very thin like a board made w/ surface mount parts). I have also thought of removing the RF mod to use the existing hole leftover for the AC3 jack but I think I'll still punch a new hole out instead as I prefer to leave most of the player intact even though I would never use the RF Modulator to watch an LD (such a bad picture and a reduction of resolution).

Same. My solution is to give the RF modulator to new owner in the event it ever wants to be reinstalled or the mod moved to another player. RF modulator pulls +5V, but only when TV/LDP is toggled. RF from FTSB that feeds both analog and digital audio is sent right next to the modulator and its connections. Maybe less interference with it gone? Probably nothing discernible though.

CLD-3070 is a VERY tightly packed player (the lowest profile two-sided player made)... it wouldn't be my first choice to mod, but best of luck if you take it on!

Actually.... the 3070 has plenty of room to fit in a tiny AC3 mod board....





I think you might be thinking of a 3030. It's much more cramped but it fits snugly when installed from the bottom (better w/ a board made w/ only surface mount components for a flatter profile)....

Yeah CLD-3070 is probably my favorite layout. Loading assembly is a nightmare, but I like how the boards fold out.

Mod finished. I installed a dummy RF jack from a junk VCR and hot glued just the plastic CH3/4 switch from it for the channel select port (mainly so dust doesn't get in over time). AC-3RF out can be snaked through a hole at the very back down to where the RF modulator once was. There is a hole on the cross support it can be zip tied too as well. Someone will be getting a nice player!

Nice job C Plus!!!

Loved how the RCA jack mounted from the “Antenna In” turned out; looks very inconspicuous.

BTW…. The AC3 board doesn’t look familiar to me. Is this a surface mount design you created on your own?

Thanks!


New board from: https://www.ebay.com/itm/255150584268

He is planning on selling assembled ones in the future.

Wow… that is awesome that there is now another supplier instead of just BDE.

Yep. I haven't had my hands on a Benedictus, but this PCB is high quality. He said the assembled ones will be made in USA.