Magnavox CDB 500 Single-Disc CD Player, Philips TDA1543 DAC

Magnavox CDB 500 Single-Disc CD Player, Philips TDA1543 DAC

A clean and well-tested Magnavox CDB 500 single-disc CD player in good cosmetic condition — a 1991 sleeper hit among vintage CD enthusiasts, powered by the warm-sounding Philips TDA1543 DAC and the legendary Philips CDM-4/19 swing-arm transport mechanism.

The CDB 500 is one of the last and best of the Philips/Magnavox CD players from the company’s golden era, and is widely respected in the vintage CD community for the engineering pedigree hiding behind its modest budget-line appearance. Magnavox was North America’s brand presence for Philips audio products in this era, and the CDB 500 was built around the same Philips reference architecture used in their European-market players: a Philips TDA1543 16-bit dual-channel DAC paired with the renowned CDM-4/19 swing-arm transport — a combination that has earned a devoted following for its smooth, musical, and notably non-fatiguing presentation.

The audio path uses Philips’ 4x oversampling digital filter feeding the TDA1543, a single-chip 16-bit stereo DAC that handles both left and right channels internally — a configuration well-regarded in vintage hi-fi circles for delivering a relaxed, analog-like character that flatters less-than-perfect recordings rather than exposing them. The CDM-4/19 transport is a true Philips swing-arm mechanism — heavily over-built by today’s standards, mechanically simple, and known for outstanding longevity and smooth disc handling. This combination is part of why the CDB 500 has quietly become one of the more sought-after sub-USD-$200 vintage CD players among listeners who value musicality over raw measurement.

This particular unit has been tested and is in good working condition, presenting cleanly cosmetically. The transport reads and tracks discs reliably, and the unit successfully plays CD-R discs — confirmed by testing — making it ideal for owners with archives of recorded mix discs and personal compilations. The unit is sold without a remote control; all functions remain fully accessible via the front-panel controls. The rear panel provides analog stereo RCA outputs at the standard 2 V line level, ready to connect to any integrated amplifier, receiver, or preamplifier with a line-level input.

Specifications:

Disc format: CD (single disc)

DAC: Philips TDA1543, 16-bit dual-channel (stereo) D/A converter

Transport: Philips CDM-4/19 swing-arm mechanism

Digital filter: 4x oversampling

Frequency response: 2 Hz – 20 kHz

Line output: 2 V (fixed RCA stereo)

Display: Multi-functional liquid crystal

Programming: Standard Philips/Magnavox-era programming, shuffle, repeat

CD-R playback: Confirmed

Remote control: Not included

Power cord: Detachable IEC

Year of introduction: 1991

Dimensions (W x H x D): 17 x 4 x 12 inches (432 x 102 x 305 mm)
Weight: 5 lbs (2.3 kg)

A genuinely musical vintage Philips/Magnavox CD player with the storied TDA1543 DAC and CDM-4/19 swing-arm transport — an excellent choice for a second system, a vintage stereo rebuild, or anyone curious to hear why Philips-era CD players continue to attract a quiet but committed following.

Backed by Radique Audio’s 90-day warranty and our perpetual trade-back policy, you can purchase with confidence.