Onkyo DV-SP1000 Universal Player

Right now I am using an older Pioneer DV-47A.
I am ordering a Toshiba SD-4960 universal player modified by Reference Audio Mods, with all the mods, and should have it in a few weeks.

Lanny, I looked at RAM's website. They seem to have it all covered, but one thing I did not see (and didn't expect to) was any mention of DAC replacement. I'm of the feeling that along with all these great analog and PS mods, the digital section has its own issues that may need to be addressed. If the DACs are not of the very highest quality then is it worth doing all this other stuff? I don't know what the 4960 uses, but at about $120 retail it's probably not using the high end line of BBs, Wolfsons, or AKMs. I'd be curious to hear RAM's view on whether their full blown out mods on different machines have significantly different results relative to the DACs that are used.

Tonyptony,
Interesting point.
E-mail Douglas Jesse at referenceaudiomods.com and ask him these questions.
Let me know what he tells you.
I would like to know this myself.
Thanks.

I shot him a note.

I don't mean to suggest a RAM'ed 4960 will not sound good (or even great). Additional searching shows me they have quite a fine reputation for this kind of work, as do many of the modders often mentioned here on AgoN. But I go back to my own experience of years ago, when I had my EAD DSP-7000 upgraded to a Mk.II. That mod replaced the original DACs with BB PCM63 'K' series DACs (among the best at the time). The original DACs were good, but the replacement made a huge improvement in the quality of reproduction. It leads me to suspect that making extensive mods on a player or DA converter will ultimately be limited by the quality of the digital section.

I still have my sp 1000 and still think its a bargain even at list price for all format playback as well as build quality.
IMO...the sp 1000 is exactly neutral and the Denon and Pioneer players are the ones that are on the brighter side of neutral.
You won't find a more musical and balanced sounding universal for anywhere near the sp 1000's price.
Besides a 3910 and 5900, I also compared the sp 1000 to a RAM modded Philips 963sa and a Modwright signature 9000.
The RAM modded 963sa was no competition for the 1000, and the Sig 9000 had maybe 10% better redbook playback whith the sa-cd playback being closer yet.
Of course on picture quality, none of the above are equal to the sp 1000.

Greg