Who's got the best mods for the Sony SCD C333 ES?

You should also talk with Stan Warren of Supermods. Search the threads for his phone number in Oregon.

Richard Kern is also in Oregon. Check his website at www.audiomod.com. BTW, why are they all in Oregon? A coincidence? :)

I wonder if there's a good mod wizard to talk to in Chicago area...

From my perspective as an Electrical Engineer who has been in high end audio for over 20 years, I'll put Stan Warren's proprietary output stages up against anything that currently exists! I'm talking Krell, Levinson, Theta, anybody (including the other modifiers). Over the years I have owned various players modified by Warren and they have ALWAYS embarrased the "big ticket" digital competitors in comparisons at local audio salons. Stan has always worked to get the most out of a player by fixing the player's obvious shortcomings, not just doing theoretical mods (cap and reisitor swaps) that some of the other modifiers also offer. Since Stan does not implement the plethoria of minor electrical mods that some of the other modifiers offer, I can only say that I think his output stage is the "best". Unfortunately I know of nobody who has gathered all of the different modifier's units together and done an A/B test, so you'll probably have to base your decision on other people's experiences with individual modifiers.