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EVS modded Oppo 95

Recently, while looking for mods for my new Oppo 95 player, I ran across tweakaudio.com. After reading a bit and viewing some basic photos, I followed up with Ric Schultz at EVS to discuss his mods for the 95. After several calls and discussion about what Ric had achieved with the basic 95, I decided to send him my unit; just a couple of weeks prior to Christmas. For reference, I had about 125 to 150 hours of play time on my machine so I had a good reference point for my system. Burn-in for the stock unit, from my experience, was about 50 hours of playing time. Two weeks later I had my 95 back from EVS, and immediately out of the box the sound was better. I left the unit on 24/7 for break-in and listened every couple of days to the same source disks for sonic change. After a couple of weeks, I called Ric and told him I was blown away... pure and simple. I've had numerous modded, tubed players and this was by far the most dramatic result I have encountered. Fast forward to six weeks later and the sound just keeps getting larger, cleaner and more dynamic. The musical range continues to expand and the sound stage is even more lifelike. All I can say is that I haven't heard anything, at any price, that compares with this unit. For $1000 the Oppo 95 is a great machine, for another $1200 bucks, Ric has transformed this beast into an incredible machine. I will also note the video portion of the 95 improved modestly as well. I have made numerous tweaks to my system as well as source material and listen to a variety of music genres.

My system:
EVS modded Oppo 95 digital player
Jud Barber, Joule Electra LA-150 Signature Edition (SE) Line Stage Pre-Amplifier
Spectron Musican III Mk2 fully modded Bybee MONOBLOCKS
Martin Logan / Spire Speakers, modded
Remote Sense RS Mk2 Signature Loudspeaker cable
Harmonic Technology MAGIC Link Two, interconnects
Dedicated circuits, power conditioner, premium receptacles and power cords.

D.C.
Kennesaw, GA
dclevr
jfz
570 posts
 
Rjbwb - I don't doubt what you are hearing with your modded Oppo 95. I am puzzled with why you say Ric does a lot more than other modders, though. Are you aware of what Dan Wright or John Tucker are doing?
rjbwb
3 posts
 
yes I am. The thing with Ric is he's always trying new really different things. He never just stops n says good enough! So that to me is what made me go with Ric.

Bob
jfz
570 posts
 
Thanks Bob. That's actually what impresses me about the two guys I mentioned, but I'm not discounting what Ric does.
michaelo
5 posts
 
Hi.

Look on Rick's website for his explaination of the differences between his mods and other modders:

http://www.tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/Oppo_95_mod_comparisons.html

Michael
andyz
39 posts
 
I am another very satisfied EVS customer.
I had my Oppo BDP 105D for over a year, and, although it sounded very good out of the box when fully broken in, I was looking for improvements, as we in this hobby just do. The stock unit can be a little brash during complicated transitions and generally a little too forward, but still one great unit for $1300! I researched the various companies modding the Oppo 105 and what mods each modder was specifically performing, and costs for best bang for the buck.
I went with Ric Schultz at EVS. His basic mod, a $775.00 upgrade to the stereo output board and transport is what I felt would do the trick, at least for now.
Turn around time was quick. My Oppo was back at home in its position in less than 2 weeks.
Upon playing my go-to music, it was immediately apparent that the bass was much fuller, defined and extended. Not louder, just more present. All other frequencies are more defined, cleaner and just plain easier to listen
to than the stock unit was. One thing to note with this mod, your output voltage will go from 2.2 volts to 1 volt, so you will have less output and need to turn it up a little bit more (15%-20%) than before. But when you get there, it will sound so much better than before the mod.
Ric offers other mods, specifically a linear power supply upgrade, which I will likely have him do when the time comes.
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