How to Remove Muting Transistors on a CD Player

A stand-alone CD player has built-in limiter circuits to keep the audio from distorting at high volume, but this is not necessary if you are using high-quality headphones or a good speaker system. You can eliminate this limitation by removing the transistors within the CD player. A few household tools are needed.

Unplug the CD player's power cord from the wall outlet. Rotate the player so that the back faces you. Remove the audio cables from the connectors on the back of the player. Remove all of the screws from the back of the player with a Phillips screwdriver.

Grip the CD player's case and pull it towards you until the front panel separates from the front of the case. Lift the case up and off the player. Place the case aside.

Aim the beam of the flashlight on the components inside the CD player. Locate the copper-colored square module inside the player. Trace the wiring leading from the module to the RCA jack connectors attached to the back of the case until you come to the transistors on the circuit board that are all labeled "QNX," where "X" is a single-digit number.

Cut through the pins attached on both sides of the "QNX" transistors with wire cutters. Bend the cut ends upwards off the circuit board using the wire cutters. Blow off the transistors with bursts of compressed air. Blow off the internal components of the CD player with bursts of compressed air.

Place the CD player's case back on and reattach the screws. Reattach the audio cables and plug the power cord back into the wall outlet.