Philips CD 850 specifications

General

Tech nical data

Special features

The Philips CD 850 is in a way the successor of the legendary CD 880. However, while the latter is technically actually a single product among the Philips CD players, the CD 850 has to be considered the top model of the 800 series introduced in 1989 due to the built-in technology (in the Netherlands - much more accurate - initially offered as a 600 series). In the design of his aluminum front panel, however, he should obviously continue the prestigious design of the CD 880 - matching the 800 series of Hi-fi devices - but with only one turquoise light strip (instead of two).

The display has not only been completely changed, but also flatter and wider (3.5 cm * 11.4 cm instead of 4 cm * 10 cm), but actually just as large and valuable as that of the 880. In addition, it has been supplemented with a 12-digit alphanumeric display, with the help of which this CD player outputs all sorts of messages and thus even looks much more communicative than the old one. In addition, the display is now 2-color blue/green.

From the other CD players of the "800" (actually 600) series, it stands out externally not only by the use of the mentioned aluminum front panel and the approximately twice as large, luxurious-looking and high-contrast display, but also by the housing made of sheet metal (instead of plastic). In addition, the design of the CD 850 moves it close to the CD 880 and deviates significantly from the (uniform) appearance of the other CD players of the "800 series". The feet not only look like this, but are actually made of turned aluminum, and not of painted plastic. By the way, the height of the case is even incorrectly indicated in the operating instructions (and repeated just as incorrectly on the Internet): in fact, the player is not 90 mm high, but 117 mm, and thus exceeds the unit height of the other family members by 9 mm.

Inside, however, it is much more closely related to these than to the CD 880:

According to the listed changes, the weight has decreased significantly, from 10.5 kg to 6 kg, and is still 1.2 kg more than that of the other members of the 800 series. The price has also fallen: while Philips had asked for 1,500 DM for the CD 880, the CD 850 cost only 1,200 DM; the CD 850 Mk II a year later even only 1,000 DM.

Philips was obviously ahead of the competition in error correction: in a test of the magazine FonoForum from 9/91 (but CD 850 Mk II), Philips was awarded 10 out of 10 points for the so-called "horror CD", while all three competitors from 85e9ff08f186d29daf40875f980c2e43, Sony and Pioneer received 0 points.

Conclusion: Despite the high-quality appearance, the Philips CD 850 anticipates a drastic change in the strategy of the Philips Group's audio division: real "high-end" devices were henceforth reserved for the Group's sister Marantz . The CD850 offers good home cooking instead, but in a very noble guise. Thus, one can probably interpret the designation CD 850 instead of CD 880 as an unspoken admission of a certain descent.

P.S.: The naming of the players CD 840, CD 830 and CD 820 is somewhat confusing, since they clearly belong to the 600 series of Hi-fi components both in terms of design and build quality and not to the high-quality 800 series. Perhaps a pure marketing measure, which should signal a corresponding quality by the higher number, justify higher prices and ensure better sales. To be honest, these players were offered in the Netherlands as CD 630 and CD 620, as can be seen from the Philips magazines of 1989/90, 1990 and 1991 (there was probably no CD 640 there). Only in the Philips magazine 1991/92 the 800 count is adopted.

Test Results:

Manufacturer:Philips
Model: CD 850
Years of manufacture: 1990-1991
Manufactured in: Belgium
Color: Black
Remote Control: Yes
Dimensions: 420 x 117 x 280 mm
Weight: 6 kg
Factory price approx.: 1,200,-- DM / 1990

Sampling frequency: 44.1 kHz
Quantization: 1 bit
Frequency range: 2 to 20,000 Hz
Amplitude linearity: 0.03 dB
Phrase linearity: 0.2° (20 – 20 000 Hz)
Dynamic range: 97 dB (20 – 20 000 Hz)
Signal-to-noise ratio: 104 dB (A-weighted)
Channel separation: 100 dB
Total harmonic distortion: 0.0018%< /li>
Synchronisation fluctuations: Quartz precision
D/A converter: 2 X SAA7321GP, digital filter: SAA7220P/B
Digital/analog conversion: bitstream conversion (256x oversampling, 1 bit) using the differential method
CD drive: CDM4/19

Random playback
AGV memory
Automatic insertion of blanks
Digital output optical and coaxial

The expensive die-cast drive CDM-1 Mk II has been replaced (as with the rest of the 800 series) by the CDM-4/19 made of plastic, which, however, still relies on the low-wear, typical Philips rotary arm technology. This could prove to be an advantage for collectors' devices, as it has been installed in many CD players and can be easily replaced in the event of damage.
The housing chassis of the CD 880, which is also made of die-cast, has been replaced by the standard chassis of the 800 series made of braced plastic (according to the polystyrene user manual). As a result, the housing depth drops from 363 mm to only 280 mm. The curious consequence is that neither the matching amplifier FA-890 nor the tuner FT-980 can be stacked flush on the CD 850, because then their rear feet hang in the air! So there was only the possibility to position the amplifier and tuner at the bottom and put the CD player on it.
Instead of the selected TDA1541 S1 (crown) there are now two separate 1-bit D/A converters SAA7321GP – unselected. After all, the SAA7220P/B digital filter has remained the same.
The PCB assembly also identifies the CD 850 as the maximum expansion level of the 800 family and has little in common with that of the CD 880. Its copper-coated rear wall has also disappeared.
the variable rca outputs of the CD 880 (useful for amplifiers that cannot be controlled remotely) have disappeared and will only be reintroduced on the CD 850 MkII.

Stereoplay 10/90: Absolute top class II
HifiVision 10/90: Reference class
Audio 10/90: Top class