Is the RAM Modified Esound E5 the REAL THING?

Hi Arbuckle,

Thanks for the interest in our products.

The reason why the Superclock 4/PSU are different prices for those machines is the extra time (labor) and extra mounting and wiring that is needed for the different machines. What is not clearly defined in the description is that Audio Consulting Silver wire and Cotton tubing is used for the connections (some have more wiring than others), and we have to develop custom mounting apparatus per the different machine, this takes time and parts cost. The Esound is the easiest of them all, very simple (hence the lowest price of this group), the SA8001 requires special mounting (has to be mounted in a certain location to sound the best) and much more wiring and the SA-11 uses a special Superclock frequency that is special order per project, and there is also some special mounting and prepping done there too.

I hope this answers your questions, and please feel free to contact me privately for more info on this or for some on getting feedback from our Esound customers (with their consent first) on your original question of this thread. Most (if not all) of our Esound customers do not really post here on Audiogon, but they are out there.

Best Regards,
Douglas Jesse
Reference Audio Mods

Thank you for the honest answer! I'll keep looking around.....

It's as if everybody is modding CDP's, even those who are not very knowledgeable in the field of digital processing/electronics (many DIY's among us). It's as if you buy a stock unit with already a modification in mind. Why is this modification madness, this form of compulsory neurosis? It is a fact that some people are a bit disappointed after they got their CDP's modified, so it seems to me that a mod doesn't necessary mean an improvement in sound. So why taking this risk of screwing things up rather then getting some real improvements?

Chris

It's impossible to generalize about the effect of replacing clocks across disparate players.

I will lend my 2 cents here for what it's worth. I sent my Esoteric P70 to RAM last week for an extensive mod,to include Ultraclock and Ultraclock PSU, etc. The unit is due back today. I will post feedback once the parts have had a 300 hour break in.

What confuses is me is how can anyone state that changing out the stock clock unit to an upgraded clock unit will not make a drastic difference, if this is the case then why does Esoteric sell seperate "Master Clock Units costing several thousands of dollars.

I realize I am in no way considered an "audiophile", however I do consider myself a lover of the music. So I will be able to tell if there is a drastic difference once I receive the unit back from RAM, and I will honestly post what I hear.

I will also mention, I had my D70 modded back in June07 and it was an eye/ear opening experience. I will wait until the P70 is mated to the D70 and as stated given at least 300 hours before I post my opinion. I will give the most honest feedback I possibly can. I am in no way tied to RAM, so I feel my feedback will help those boardering on making a decision of having a mod done.

More to come later