Best Digital Amps


Out of Spectron, Tact, CarverPro, Bel Canto etc.
twilo
I just saw this mod for PS Audio Amps.

www.asi-audio.com

Audiophile Sound innovations has just introduced a reference style Modification package for the PS Audio HCA-2 Digital amplifier.
This a great sounding amplifier stock, it is a STEREOPHILE CLASS A rated amp, and has alot of hidden potential. We take it to a much further level than one would expect. So much more realism, wider soundstages, blacker backgrounds, emotion, resolution, refined bass, attack, etc etc etc... You'll enjoy the natural presentation.

Why upgrade to a better amp when we can to your HCA-2 to a whole different level?

The mod package-

-Jensen 4-pole Electrolytic Capacitors-
We replace the main power supply caps with the Jensen 4-pole versions. Talk about fast and natural and neutral sounding as well as bass refinements and dynamics to die for. What else can we say, these caps rock! Major improvement in total tonal character and resolution.

-Blackgate capacitors-
We replace specific critical rail voltage and critical signal path capacitors with Top of the Line BlackGate N & FK series caps!! Major improvement! The background becomes blacker, and instruments emerge like they are so real. A definite change in total sonic tonality and character over the stock caps!

-Audio Consulting 99.99% silver wire & Natural Unbleached Cotton Tubing-
We use various lengths of Audio Consulting Silver Wire and Natural Cotton Tubing to act as damping. This is used to connect the Jensen Capacitors together or to the PCB. This wire is the best we have heard to use in circuits. No Teflon or Plastic is found on this wire but rather than a Polymenstride enamel coating so it will not muffle the sound.

-ASi Custom made Exotic Diode Bridge-
We handmake custom diode bridges from exotic diodes to further better the sound and even further reduce any glare, grain or such in the stock design. These test out to sound better than the Harris/Fred types. These take approx. 20-30 minutes to handmake.

-Our Quick Review-
The amplifer sounds really good stock. We definitely admit it! Kudos to Paul McGowan!! After this modification, this amplifier sounded so much more neutral and natural and filled with emotion, much more bass refinement and attack, resolution galore and authority and control of speakers in a different league. We did some comparisons against some other amps on hand costing in the $3-4K+ region and we were surprised the difference the modified HCA-2 made against these amps! The best part about it is that is doesnt get warm and it sounds as good as many much higher costing amps on the market. Best of all, electricity bills will be great since this unit pulls nill a from the wall!!! Get one, mod it and be surpised in the emotion department!

-Costs and Options-
Complete package is available for $600 (return shipping is included)
(Labor & Fed-ex ground return shipping (Lower 48 US states) is included)
Return Fedex Ground Shipping is included for the lower 48 states only. The client is responsible for packaging and initial shipping charges to us. We supply fed-ex tracking numbers upon return. We can have the amplifier back to the client in about 1-2 weeks upon full initial payment.
Please email us if you want faster shipping back and we'll adjust the price.
We take certified cashiers checks/money order/Paypal (add 3%) and take the payment upfront in whole in order to purchase the parts from our suppliers. By the time your amplifier arrives here, we already have the parts and are ready to go!

-Options for Even Better Sound!!-

LeClanche Paper-In-Oil Capacitor-
We add a LeClanche Paper-in-Oil Capacitor to the main power supply to further reduce the unnecessary distortion and harmonics in the AC Signal. Talk about major! Brings more emotion and "liveliness" to the music since it takes out the impurities that cause the masking of the emotion and resolution in your valuable music.

Add $60 (installed) to the order

-Rewire Internal Speaker Output Wiring with Audio Consulting 99.99% silver wire & Natural Unbleached Cotton Tubing-

We Rewire the output speaker cabling with Audio Consulting Silver Wire. Talk about improvement and additonal sound and resolution!!!!!! The stock crappy wiring needs to go (Monster Cable, yuk!) as well as the screws and ring terminals that get oxidized very easily and degrade the sound and provide the worst signal transfer characteristics. We solder using WBT silver solders and we solder this silver wiring directly to the PCB, elmininating alot of the imperfections of the original design! This makes a great improvement and it requires over 17 feet of wire and cotton. This takes some time to do but the results are fabulous!

Add $160 (installed) to the order

Please check out our website and View our Philips DVD-963SA Mod Package. The Philips 963SA/PS Audio HCA-2 is a Super HOT Combo!!!! We were STUNNED with the two modded components.

www.asi-audio.com
I was stunned by the length of the post!LOL

Actually I stand by what I have posted at other BB's and that is that there shall be some truely great deals in audio now because of the material cost of these new digital amps. While prices will increase with the quality of parts used I would bet that we will see price to perfoemance ratio's to be better in the past for those searching for near sota products for affordable prices.

The Panasonic XR25\45 and Carver ZR1000 unit's have already been stated to be great for under 1 clam. We will be seeing more of this from here on out. LC Audio is another manf. that I am heraring about.

I am fooling around with a Panny XR45 at present.
Anyone try to build one of these LC Audio ZAPpulse Digital amps yet? The cost really looks enticing!

ZAPpulse is a series of PWM Amplifiers, with output power of 200 Watts in 8 Ohms. These modules can also be bridged for powers up to 800 Watts in 8 Ohms. The sound is remarkably soft and easyflowing, with a tight bass control, the resolution of micro details is almost on level with a Class A amplifier. The cost per Watt is very low, especially when you consider that these amplifiers are so energy efficient (better than 95%) that no heat sinks are required, even for the highest output power. The sound quality is comparable to what You would expect from an industry power amplifier in the price range of 2.000 - 3.000 $ or Euro. This new technology is very environment friendly, as it requires less materials to build and amplifier, than usual, and also has very low power consumption.

http://www.lcaudio.dk/com/forst.htm
Solar Hi-Fi is building their digital Fusion amps using the LC Audio chipset. Check them out at Audiocircle.
Fiddler, I think you will find out even sooner. There will be an avalanche of digital module chip bearing amps out in the near future. Someone you know will have one.