thatsright
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It's hard to find much info on NEC's brief plunge into digital audio (roughly 1986-91). NEC did put out some very interesting CDP's including a flagship from 1986:
audioaddictsforum.com
www.stereonet.com
The Dutch list shows several models from NEC and CDPs from various manuf. that use "µPD" series chips. Maybe the final IC was the UPD6376 (2-ch, 16-bit from 1991; readily and cheaply avail from Ali in SOIC form factor)
Back around 86/87, NEC put out some interesting models, incl. model CD-810, using the PCM56 BB chipset and NEC's own DIP-size digital filter chip. I can't find any info on the uPD6352ACA IC, with bunch of 74-series logic chips around it (reclocking, buffering ???)
Some photos here: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/nec-cd-810-revival-and-mods.338152/
Any help with more info on the NEC µPD6352ACA -- or any other NEC digital product -- is much appreciated!
About that flagship NEC903 ... I have no idea what's inside that mysterious device. The Dutch list says PCM56, but those stereone photos indicate some sort of custom R2R job. Not sure the stereone player is a "real" 903 or some kind of mod job???
In any case, NEC is a serious designer of semi chips themselves. This is unlike many Japanese brands that used other manufs' chips. Give NEC stature ...
When companies, like NEC, have deep pockets, they can afford to create "loss lead" products -- show-off, cost-no-object projects that will never recoup development costs in sales. But will sell to certain CEOs and govt officials ... and are political showpieces, too.
In the 70s and 80s, Japanese companies put out many flagship products such as this.
NEC CD-903 Monster High End Vintage CDP | audioaddicts: Everything HiFi, Music and More!
Only recently learned about these and from what I know, not a lot of people were or are aware of them, I certainly wasn't, in fact NEC hifi in general slipped my radar - This thing from what I do

NEC 903 TRUE AUDIOPHILE CD PLAYER
This is one of the finest CD players ever made! It is built like a tank, as soon as you go to lift it you realise this thing means business. 22 kg. plate alloy, quad dacs, 19 regulated power supplies twin power transformers, Sony transport, the volume control is a cost no object series of relays ...

Back around 86/87, NEC put out some interesting models, incl. model CD-810, using the PCM56 BB chipset and NEC's own DIP-size digital filter chip. I can't find any info on the uPD6352ACA IC, with bunch of 74-series logic chips around it (reclocking, buffering ???)
Some photos here: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/nec-cd-810-revival-and-mods.338152/
Any help with more info on the NEC µPD6352ACA -- or any other NEC digital product -- is much appreciated!
About that flagship NEC903 ... I have no idea what's inside that mysterious device. The Dutch list says PCM56, but those stereone photos indicate some sort of custom R2R job. Not sure the stereone player is a "real" 903 or some kind of mod job???
In any case, NEC is a serious designer of semi chips themselves. This is unlike many Japanese brands that used other manufs' chips. Give NEC stature ...
... they may indeed have some magical powers when it comes to DACs (even basic consumer-grade models).wikipedia:
NEC was the world's fourth-largest PC manufacturer by 1990.[5] Its semiconductors business unit was the world's largest semiconductor company by annual revenue from 1985 to 1992, the second largest in 1995, one of the top three in 2000, and one of the top 10 in 2006.
When companies, like NEC, have deep pockets, they can afford to create "loss lead" products -- show-off, cost-no-object projects that will never recoup development costs in sales. But will sell to certain CEOs and govt officials ... and are political showpieces, too.
In the 70s and 80s, Japanese companies put out many flagship products such as this.
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