Mods for a PS Audio HCA-2?

I agree with Fiddler. The Marantz is probably on the noticeably warm and soft side i.e. thick and dull sounding. Working with interconnects and power cables may correct some of this, but short of modifying the Marantz, you may be stuck with that sound. Correcting one set of problems may lead to a more revealing system, which in turn could have you looking for other problems once they are made more apparent. Sean
>

Thanks Warren!

L milton:
Currently using the SA-14 (NBS cord) to a Meitner Melior pre via a Totem Sinew I/C, with a cryoed Meitner I/C from the pre to the HCA-2 ($1000 Tekline cord). I'm running Camelot Black bi-wire to Sig 805s on good stands.

The SACD in question is one of the original SONY single-layer discs that may in fact have been recorded in opposite phase, so I'll try switching L and R tonight. Once I upgrade to the PCA-2 pre it'll be nice to do that with the press of a button!

I believe the disc itself is flawed, since other piano tracks I tried the next day sounded very fine. The HCA-2 really is a remarkable amp: massed violins have a beautiful sheen to them - may not be entirely accurate, but extremely musical. Piano is not quite perfect, so I'm anxious to try the Blackgates and silver output wiring...

That silver won't be too BRIGHT I hope??

I have to disagree about the mods offered by asi audio being too much and 75.00 worth of blackgates and cheaper wiring is not even close to what asi is doing.

The three ps caps alone that they change to Jensen [read...better than blackgates] would cost a diy'er well over 500.00 for caps alone if blackgates were used.

The jensen caps are around 50.00 each and are also a 4 pole design and no rookie diy'er should attempt to install these.
There are also custom made parts in this mod.

I am not saying Fiddlers mods are not a good thing, but rather that there is no comparison to what asi audio is offering.

Check out the wiring on the four pole Jensens in the pics at www.asi-audio.com and you will see what I am talking about.
I am guessing at least 300.00 in parts and wire for the basic mod and more than two hours time.

Ears:
Have you heard an asi-modded HCA-2? Just curious how Jensens compare to B-Gates and what the rest of the mod contributes... TIA

I have heard neither of the mentioned amp mods yet but it is not a matter of Blackgates vs Jensen as the Jensen 4 poles are used in the power supply and the other diy mod has just a couple of Bg caps in the signal path.

The jensen caps are well known to sound better than even Blackgates when used in the power supply but they are not diy drop ins and require a lot more time and effort to install than any two pole cap.

I have had Blackgates and Jensens in the power supply of two different sacd/cd players but have not done a direct comparison on the same player but I will be in a couple of weeks.
Most pro modders will tell you that the Jensen is the best for power supply applications and the Blackgates still remain # 1 for signal paths.

If your in no hurry, I plan on buying an hca 2 soon and will do the signal path Blackgates myself and will send the amp to Doug at Asi for the Jensen ps caps and the other ps upgrades.

But my point was , you can't compare putting 75.00 worth of caps and wire to custom power supply mods, signal path upgrades and custom made parts that total over 300.00 , not to mention a lot more time being involved as opposed to the diy work.

I have used the Audio Consulting wire for ic's that replaced my Acoustic Zen ic's that cost 5 times as much but Audio consulting wire is not cheap at 3.50 ft for a single 24 ga strand and you have to figure multiple strands for an amp plus that cotton sheathing is not cheap either.