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Modded CD Player or Stock CD Player?

I am starting this thread in the hope of starting an active and productive discussion on recent experiences folks have had with regard to trying modded digital front ends versus stock front ends. I suggest the criteria for comparison include such things as:

1. Price Performance – “bang for the buck”
2. Reliability,
3. Other factors people use to assess each option,

[So you have a reference point on my system it now consists of all solid state electronics and very revealing speakers as follows...

1. Modded Denon 3910 (Hot Rod Audio Mods) and Stock Cambridge 840C front ends,
2. Soundstring interconnects,
3. Classe CP-60
4. Classe CAM 200 monoblocks
5. Soundstring speaker cables
6. Dynaudio C1 speakers on Dynaudio stands]

My own digital front end experience is likely similar to many others as I first encountered CD players in 1984 (a college friend had a NAD player and we were all a bit envious and in awe of him and his pop and hiss free format playing a rather expensive Police Synchronicity CD). After graduating I bought a near first generation Rotel player in 1986, followed by a used Sonographe that I kept until it died in 2001. I had a Rotel 971 for a while that was replaced by a better sounding (the technology keeps improving) Cambridge 840C that is now sonically upstaged by a modded Denon 3910. The move to a modded player was brought on by an interest in DVD-Audio and SACDs. I have a revealing enough system that the stock Denon was hard to listen to on Hi Rez recordings. The Denon used to sound awful on redbook also, but the modded Denon has a sound that is more detailed than the Cambridge AND a lot smoother like a very good analogue.

I am holding off completing my assessment on reliability as it has only been a few months, but so far so good. The performance has been outstanding and the price comparable (I got my stock Denon player at a discount) to the stock Cambridge CD player. The Cambridge is no slouch – I am keeping it as a back up and also would likely have it modded at a later date.

What are other people’s experiences with modded units versus stock?
ryanvt
strateahed
305 posts
 
I have two modded players ... a TRL modded Sony 2000ES CDP, and an ASI Tek modded Oppo 980H universal (nearly identical to the RAM mod for less $). The TRL Sony is substantially better than stock. The Weitzels take this player to a higher level altogether. My renewed vinyl/turntable interest revealed just how close the TRL comes to analog. It's that good.

The Oppo is a little different story. That's because the stock version is quite good. The 980 is a fairly substantial improvement over the 970 ... especially in terms of audio quality, smoothness, lack of digital glare, etc. With the mod, while positive, there wasn't as much of a leap forward in the sound. However, since the new superclock and other changes affect the video capabilities as well, it's a definite keeper for HT duties.

I agree with Tvad's value assessment regarding new versus used gear; but I plan on keeping my players for the long haul. At the same time, both mods were under $1K and their sound has been compared to the Ayres, Esoterics, and Wadias of the world. So given the choice between paying $5K+ for higher end stock or modding for less cost, I go with the latter.
dawgcatching
139 posts
 
I purchased a use Sony SACD 9000es with Vacuum State Level 4 upgrades, and had them bring it up to Level 6 for a minimal charge. All told, including the used purchase price ($400) and the price paid for the mods ($1800), probably around $2200 has been spent on this player, and it is probably worth around $1200 on the used market.

I haven't found a stock player at even $2000 used that can touch this unit. I am going to bring home an ARC CD7 to compare it to one of these days, just to see how it stacks up. The stock SCD-1 wasn't even close to the Level 6 9000es. I expect the CD7 to beat it, but how much better it is will be interesting.

If you figure the mod is well-thought out (most of the modders listed in this thread have done hundreds or thousands of CDP upgrades and all have been well reviewed), and perhaps you paid $1500 for that mod; you would be quickly looking at a $4500 upgrade if sold at retail. In addition to the cost of the player, you can get into some rarefied air pretty quickly without spending a bunch of money.

I have a feeling that when I upgrade, I will be purchasing another "already upgraded" unit, probably Modwright Platinum truth, Wadia with GNSC mods, or an SCD-1 with VSE upgrades. Those units in the $3K range used probably are as good as most anything on the market.

Any idea why modded players aren't more popular? They seem to offer, by far, the most bang for the buck.
nmuntean
9 posts
 
I don't want to derail this thread, but I'm interested in how Dawgatching would characterize the improvements in moving from a VSE level 4 mod to a VSE level 6. I currently have a VSE modded level 4 DVP9000ES, and have been debating about whether it would be worthwhile for me to allocate my funds there, or if I should invest in power conditioning or separates (but that's a whole other story...). Basically, and arbitrarily, if moving from a stock DVP9000ES to a level 4 unit represents a 50-point performance increase, how would you characterize the performance increase from the level 4 to level 6?
leatherneck1812
116 posts
 
Modded = best sound for your buck and worst return on your investment. If you buy used modded, you can try several diferent units if you feel the need and have minimal risk on resale.
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