I've been enjoying my Turbo Modded Sony DVP-S7700 for about a month now and wanted to share my thoughts on this unit...
When I first decided to do this, I purchased a used 7700 unit and tried it out. I must say that the stock unit was about as bad of a CD player that I've ever heard- boomy and flabby bass, ear peircing highs, and muddy mids. I couldn't listen to for more than 5 minutes it was so bad. I was really regretting this purchase because I wasn't too optimistic that even with all the great reviews that I found regarding the mods, it would ever be a great sounding transport. I even told Steve that I was very skeptical that he could turn this into a decent transport. Thanks goodness I was wrong.
I had the full blown Turbo mod done with the Jensen caps. The first thing that I noticed was that this unit had dyamics and pop to it. Snare drums were dynamic and realistic- like they are supposed to sound. Too often it sounds like a wet noodle hitting the snare rather than a drumstick- not with this unit. Transients were natural, even with my amp that sometimes doesn't do such a great job in this department.
Bass was incredible as well. A bass sounded, well, like a bass! I never realized the full potential of my Vandersteen 2WQ subs unit I put this unit on it. There's something really special when you can hear every last detail from the pluck of the string to the very deepest note- it brings a different level of emotion to a good jazz recording.
Even with all the dynamics and detail, this unit wasn't fatiguing in any way. The top end was smooth and detailed, but not bright. Imaging and soundstaging was natural and realistic. Vocals and mids were natural and so clean and clear. That's the first time that I've used those words to describe mids, but that's about the only way I can describe it.
I'm using this unit now with an Electrocompaniet DAC and to me, it's a great combination- Steve says he can make it an even better combo by fixing up the DAC, but for now, I'm going to leave well enough alone! I've had quite a bit of gear come and go, but for the first time, my wife even said that she was impressed with the sound of this unit- almost brought tears to my eyes to have my wife notice anything having to do with my stereo gear! She said it was like having the singer and studio in our family room!
Just for reference, I'm using Merlin TSM monitors, Electrocompaniet preamp, Electrocompaniet DAC, Cardas Neutral reference speaker and interconnect cables, Acoustic Zen and Cardas digital cable, Monarchy DIP, Vandersteen 2WQ subs, Vandersteen active Xover, PS Audio HCA2 amp, and PS Audio power cables.