[sjd]

http://www.aplhifi.com/Philips1000.html

Alex is kind of local to me, and this mod package offers warranty on the whole unit (not a bad deal considering the "reliability" issue with the transport).  I just don't know near enough about who is offering what, and if this package is a good price.  

I suspect Stan Warren is running about half the cost.  The main difference here is that Alex is a drive for me, so we are talking about $100 saved in shipping (yeah, driving and time, but I feel much safer not trusting my unit to UPS or USPS).  

Thanks for any feedback!  

[Marbles]

Just check to see that if the transport goes, that they ARE able to get that part in to repair it.

You still have to pay for that part, but if they can't get it it doesn't matter, you would have a very expensive paperwieght.

With all the reported transport problems with the SACD 1000, I wouldn't touch it.

[randytsuch]

Hi SJD,
How long in the warranty?
At first I thought the price is kind of high, probably more than twice as much as Stan, but if Alex can really fix these guys, the warranty aspect of his mod makes it more appealing.

It seems to compare more to Modwright mods than to Stan's mods, and it is much cheaper than modwright's tube stage.

If Alex is local to you, I would arrange to hear his modded 1000, and see what you think.  There was a review of his 1000 by somebody today in the digital section of AA, and he really liked it.  The guy lives in N Cal somewhere, and arranged to hear the modded 1000.

One small warning, from the posts I saw at AA, Alex thinks he can fix these based on what he knows about the 1000, it does not sound like he has actually seen a broken one yet, and fixed it.  Hey, maybe if my 1000 gives up the ghost, I’ll send it to Alex and see if he can fix it.

BTW, I saw a post on AA today from someone saying Philips does have transports, and can fix 1000's, if the technician is not too lazy to do the job.

Having said all that, I think I agree with Marbles, knowing what I know now, I would have a hard time investing over $1000 more into a 1000.  On the other hand, my 1000 has had a ton of stuff done to it, blackgates all over the place and some other stuff, and it sounds REALLY good now.  I am going to be sad when it finally dies.  That's maybe what bothers me the most, I really like it, but know it's only a matter of time before it goes out on me again.  It already acted up on me last week, again.

Randy

[cjr888]

The idea of Tamura-based transformer coupled tube output stage certainly sounds nice...especially if he's willing to warranty as much as stated...

[Jon L]

The idea of Tamura-based transformer coupled tube output stage certainly sounds nice...especially if he's willing to warranty as much as stated...

The transformer/tube output stage is certainly what would make ME choose this one over say Modwright "absolute Truth" which doesn't have tranformer coupling.  I know that Jerry Ozmont recently has taken tubes out of his DAC's (AudioLogic) and put in transformers instead.  I wonder why he got rid of tubes altogether and not have tubes with transformer like the CDP here.  Hmmm

[sjd]

Thanks for the feedback guys.  

Randy, I am not sure how much warranty left...more than a year.  I bought at the Tweeter sale.  I think that was early '03.

I have been running my unit as my main digital source since, just to break it if I can.  So far fine, but with Alex saying he WILL figure this baby out, well I went back to my Sony DVP-7000/smART combo and I am giving him time to play.  I was hoping it was kind of an all or none thing, being you have a lemon (many of them) or not.  BUt then others report no problems for months, then...Crash!  So I just don't know.

I did email Alex, and may go by for an audition.  I am even considering letting him have a shot at regreasing the rails on my unit (doubt that voids warranty?).  

Worst case, this thing has been a great player to get me into the format and hold me over until something else comes along.

[rkapadia@ROOP]

I do have the Absolute Truth modWright SACD-1000 (plus an upgraded clock, clock PS, and parallelling of the DAC's), and have thousands invested in the player.  Unfortunately, it's back at Dan's shop right now (no fault of Dan), but the problem is resolvable. A side by side when  I had the SACD-1000 versus a Wadia 861 (non-SE) gives me absolutely no regrets as to going with the modded SACD-1000, even with the reliability issue.  The Wadia was my previously favorite digital front-end component.

Kind Regards

Rup