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For crying out loud

If you have the option, and you haven't done so, try turning off the display's on your digital gear. I know that I tried this years ago and, discerning no difference, concluded that this was just one of those anal audio things. Well, my system has evolved since then and I accidentally turned off the display on my Modwright Sony. I am now realizing improved definition and detail, voices are more natural, instruments have a more realistic timbre, images are better defined, and everything emerges from a blacker background. I really feel like a nincompoop. Here I am rolling tubes, shifting footers and stuff, and all along, a significant improvement was a push of the button away.
phaelon
xti16
1,525 posts
 
I found the same result and by accident too with my Meridian G08.
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
Hi Phaelon

I had a Marantz CD-5003 CDP and am currently using a stock Oppo BDP-83. Whether I disabled the display and digital outputs on the Marantz or run the Oppo in Pure Audio mode I have not heard any differences in the music I was playing from my system. I kept switching back and forth and I still heard no difference. I do turn the display off when I'm listening so that the Oppo isn't working so hard and the fan won't kick in. I realize the gear I mention above isn't the most expensive or high-end but I still did not hear a difference with the displays or digital and video sections disabled.

Have other owners of Modwright Sony CDPs experienced the same thing? What did Modwright have to say about your findings? Could the improvement in sound you heard been a cause some other changes you made?
tiggerfc
153 posts
 
Is this something inherent in the circuit topology? Is this something that could be avoided but it was easier to design the PCB with the display in-line with other circuits so they added, yet, another switch that is a sound killer to turn off the sound killing display? I mean come on. Its a display! It hardly uses any juice and if it was isolated like it should be then there would be no impact whatsoever. Sounds like cheap designs and the addition of a gimmick. Bet it cost $5 less per PCB and an additional $50 for the display-off feature. Sad.
sfstereo
215 posts
 
Turning off the display reduces RF.
phaelon OP
1,052 posts
 
"What did Modwright have to say about your findings?"

I didn't discuss this with Modwright, I already feel dumb enough; no reason to reveal this to Dan.

"Could the improvement in sound you heard been a cause some other changes you made?"

Not a chance, and it's not just my imagination. I only realized I pushed the button when I investigated the startling transformation.

I do believe that whether or not one hears a difference depends greatly on the systems resolution. The display thing isn't anything new. I hope that this post will serve as a sort of general heads-up for all of us with evolving systems. If you're like me, your audio history is replete with trial and error. Perhaps as the resolution of our systems improve, it might be advisable to occasionally reopen the books on some of our past efforts that disappointed at the time.
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