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Has anyone tried modifying a CX-7e?

The Ayre CX-7e has been universally reviewed to be at least a "very good" redbook player, and some rate it even better, such as a couple of Stereophile writers who think it sounds better on Redbook than the C-5xe. Charles Hansen recently posted:
"The overall topology of the two players is quite similar -- ultra-low jitter custom designed master clock located within an inch of the DAC chip, Burr-Brown current output DAC chips allow us to use our own zero-feedback current-to-voltage conversion, fully-balanced zero-feedback audio circuitry, zero-feedback discrete regulators for both the audio and critical digital sections, et cetera, et cetera."

"The main difference is that the C-5xe is implemented with higher quality (ie, more expensive) parts. The PCB material is a high-speed material that costs roughly 7x as much as the normal audio grade fiberglass used in the CX-7e, the critical bypass capacitors are polystyrene and tin foil instead of aluminum metallized polypropylene, the audio circuitry is fully discrete instead of using monolithic parts, the resistors are custom developed audio grade parts that cost about 10x the Roedersteins used in the CX-7e, the critical power supplies are doubly regulated (eg, a regulator feeds another regulator), the DAC chip is a newer part with improved performance, et cetera, et cetera."

Based on Charles' comments, it seems there is at least some opportunity to modify or upgrade the CX-7e by at least upgrading the bypass capacitors (and possibly the resistors and regulators), to achieve even a higher quality sound on redbook. Have any of you heard a CX-7e modified with higher quality parts, or know of any reasons why that would be a bad idea (other than the usual "it voids the warranty")?
mitch2
bigtee
803 posts
 
As good as the CX7e is, what are you upgrading to improve upon? The CX7e is a truly balanced cd player and sounds better run balanced to other balanced components. It's level of performnce is very close to the C5xe on CD. You can change caps, resistors, etc. but you've got to ask yourself, since the circuit was designed to work together, are you making it better or just making it different. Big chance IMO. Even Ayre's lower priced component parts are excellent and of higher quality than most use.
With CD being the flawed source it is, why do we spend so much effort trying to reproduce a flawed source to start with?
nrenter's avatar
nrenter
766 posts
 
Steve McCormack is an example of a designer who does endorse modifications. The reason I suggest asking Charles directly is 1) he is a straight shooter and will have (and probably provide) a better perspective than anyone else, and 2) unless Charles himself would recommend a mod to an Ayre component, I personally wouldn't be inclined to do it. What are you looking to change about the CX-7e?
mitch2 OP
4,103 posts
 
Nrenter, a couple of thoughts; I owned the CX-7e and thought it was quite good, but ultimately a little lacking in richness and dimensionality compared to my current Lector CDP 7TL MkIII, which is maybe just a shade behind the CX-7e in resolution. Therefore, since Charles himself posted that one of the reasons he believes the C-5xe sounds better is because of the higher quality capacitors and resistors, and the double regulation (all things the modders commonly change out), I thought that might be an opportunity to take a very good player even further. I do not need SACD or DVD-A and I typically like redbook only players best for redbook, so the CX-7e would work well for me if it could be improved in the two areas mentioned. Otherwise, I am content to stay with my Lector until I find something around $4K or less that clearly betters it (although I am still considering the C-5xe). Your point is well taken about asking Charles directly, but I do not like to bother manufacturers with questions about changing their products, even if they must design to a price point. However, since he did post on the Audio Asylum thread, maybe I will follow up with a quick question about improved capacitors, resistors, and double regulation on the CX-7e. Who knows, maybe he tried those things during product development.
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