Exemplar Denon 2900. WOW Need owner advice.

I am still waiting, uugghhh I believe it is being shipped today, getting a bit impatient now.

Well, do you have the Exemplar 3910 yet?

John is ordering some, hopefully at a discount, and I have asked him to order some for me too. John is also working on putting the remote control and siltech on the Exception II for me....lots of suff to wait for...

Sorry about that, 711smilin. But really were, Tvad, to try the AudioTop and say it was far superior would I really be right. I can wait.

Tvad, Great to know the tweak works with the inexpensive stuff too. See, Tbg was right again, I hate that.

Tbg, I have all formats to play, plus I am planning on using Johns for HT. The 3910 blows away the 2900 on video, it has HDCD, also has much better dac's. I researched a lot on the web, so I ordered numero uno for myself. I betcha it will be GREAT. At the same time I also have Alex building me a 3910, cause since I sold the 2900, and lent Ric my exception II, I have been just using the sacd 1000 with the custom crystal Dacs and volume control. This puppy rocks too. I am just a nut and want it all. BTW HDCD when played right is a wonderful medium. These 3910's, I believe will take the units to another level yet.

Danlib1, as I said earlier, I do miss the HDCD performance of the Lindemann.

Audio999, I have the full-blown unit with the Siltech wire. I guess it is the top-of-the-line. I also use the Amperex 7062 pinch waist tubes with Hal-os on each.

Tbg, Thanks for the info. There are many variety which one is yours?

Tbg-

I bought Steve's 2900, so whatever made him do it, it's my gain :)

I'm sure he'll love the modded 3910 as much or more- he's a Deadhead, and wants HDCD to make the Dead's stuff sound it's best.

Audio999, the webpage is aaudioimports.com and you can learn of dealers by email at aaudioimports@cox.net

711smilin, I will be very interested in what you hear. What caused you to go to the 3910 before you had to?

Any website or Link where i can buy and find any more info regarding AudioTops contact treatments ?

Thanks

Tbg, I am ordering that high dollar stuff, hope you are right. I also have the 3910 coming, so, MY EXEMPLAR sounds better than yours. Heh heh heh.

FWIW I'm in agreement with Tbg with regard to video and digital out sonic improvements, i.e. with them off. Turning the display off makes only a minor difference in my situation.

Well, Tvad, I cannot fathom what might explain why such a clearly audible improvement is not heard in your system, but I have always sincerely said that systems can greatly affect what we hear from different components. YMMV still applies.

I do believe that were AudioTops contact treatments a fourth as costly, there would be no other products selling within a year. I, of course, cannot say why it is so expensive, but I will say that you would find it the cheapest great improvement you ever had in your system.

Tvad....Just a guess, but maybe tube electronics, which circuits run at much higher impedance that transistors, might be sensitive to digital noise pickup.

Tvad, you are wasting your time with the CAIG De-
Oxit and Pro Gold. As I have mentioned elsewhere, the new AudioTop makes the other contact enhansers I have used sound half-hearted. I do not know how some such treatment could so far surpass others, but it does.

I must say that I am perplexed to hear that you fail to hear any improvements. I know four others who have heard clearly superior sound with the video and digital off. The display being off make less difference.

Danlib1, I entirely agree that the Exemplar responses to power cords and interconnects, as well as to isolation. I use it on the Neuance shelf on a level 5 Mana stand. Presently I use the Omega Mikro power cord and the Acapella interconnects, although the Indra gives a wider and encompasing soundstage.

Thanks to all of you for your help. I disabled the video out and digital out signals, and I'm now running in Pure Direct mode.

I am also now turning the unit off via the remote- putting it into "Standby". The tubes remain lit, but heat generated above the output tubes is minimal.

I'm thoroughly enjoying this unit, and I'm finding it very sensitive to power cords and interconnects. Any feedback on what you guys have found to work best would also be appreciated!

Thanks again guys!

Dan

Hook the Exemplar to a tv by video cable; depress the P D MEMORY button on the remote. Select one of the two available mode choices. I then turn off everything-video, digital out, and display on mode 1 and everything but video display on mode 2. You can use Dimmer on remote to turn the display off as you want when you choose mode 2. There is a very obvious improvement with everything off.

The on/off button on the remote differs from that on the front panel. I use neither as the tubes take about five hours to get back. I know it shortens tube life but I have a lot of Amperex 7062s. Heat does build up and I wonder why John put the plastic plugs in the holes for the tube heat to escape. You could remove them. My unit sits on top and really does not cause me any heat problem.

Treating the tube sockets, tubes, IEC, and RCA jacks with AudioTop raises the performance of the unit as much as does the Siltech wire option.

When not in use, John recommends leaving the player in stand by mode. He says it keeps the digital circuit warm and preserves tube life.

Tvad: Not to sidetrack the thread, but the logical deduction about your experience with the Denon and the Sistrum was that there was too much "coulomb friction" for the drive to work properly. Glad you were able to solve the issue with something as simple as replacing the support structure. Sean
>

I'm glad that someone else can't hear any improvement with the digital/video off. Same here, before and after Underwood mod.

Why do you need to use the remote to turn off the video and digital output? Use the front panel switch. Did the Exemplar mod remove this switch?