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To mod or not to mod, dac is the question

I have recently purchased an Oppo BDP-83. I am very pleased with everything about it. But as all of us know audiophiles are CRAZY....sooooo...I am trying to figure out what upgrade would be the best bang for the buck to make it sound even BETTER. Understand that only one option is affordable and/or passes the WAF.

Do I Mod the BDP-83 or do I buy a good DAC?. Which option would improve the playback sound quality the MOST?.

I have been reading about some of the mods offered and it seems to be unanimous that mods do bring it up to a much higher level, but I also read about the platform and transport reliabilty issues and investing a fair amount of money in such. The thought having a DAC (never had one) if it significantly improves the sonics seems to be an attractive option as well. Well Audiogon ... weigh in!!
kyneo
Ag insider logo xs@2x
uru975
684 posts
 
weather tis nobler in the bits to suffer
the suffer the slings and error of outrageous digital
Or to take analog against a sea of bits
and by opposing them to sing, to sleep
NO more. and by sleep we say an end to upgrading
the heart-ache and the thousands spent
that sound is heir to, tis a consumation
Devoutly to be wished, to end upgrading
to listen perchance to soar, ay there the rub
with apologies to the original questioner and
William Shakespeare
piet
31 posts
 
There is a lot to do about the upgrade company (Mr David Schulte), I am seriously thinking of having my Mark Levinson setup (37-360S-380s-33H) upgraded. Still more affordable thing than replacing gear.
ptmconsulting
1,000 posts
 
If you're going to mod, then do it yourself. Otherwise you will spend a lot of money that will never be recoverable on resale. Plus you'll learn somethin gin the process and have that pride of accomplishment thing going on as well.

Here's a link to something I wrote some time ago. Different player but the concepts are still the same, and should be generally transferable.

http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/consumer-electronics/gadgets/tweaks-for-geeks
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Mod's are never cost effective given the small if any improvement in sound they produce. Couple that with the fact they void the warranty, makes a no mod approach best. Used equipment is another story.
shinytoys
41 posts
 
Uru...very well put my audiogon friend...

I'd like to comment on what Piet said...

If you have a very expensive piece and you KNOW you are going to keep it for some time to come, then yes, I do believe in some modding.

By expensive, I mean the big guns...Krell, Pass, Mac, and all of their unnamed and equally expensive bretheren.

Otherwise, have a DAC attack.

I have (not being a wanker and bragging), Perpetual Audio's rig with Monarchy supply and Revelation Cables, Music Hall 25.2 (thanks Roy, you're an unusual breed but you make killer electronics), Cambridge Dac Magic (you folks could have done it better and lost the wall wart, sounds damn good). There are 2 Theater systems in this house and 4 2 channel rigs.
I have owned some big gun Cd players and DAC, but this is much more fun...:)
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