[JLM]

Ric has been around the block as a DIYer, tweaker, and modder:

http://www.tweakaudio.com/

I have an Oppo 970 and was thinking about going the mod route.

For $200 he does the "level 1" digital/power supply work (also reportedly improves video performance).

For $350 he does the full "level 1" (digital/power supply/analog work).  For the $150 difference I'd just do both, even though I'm also considering adding a DAC later.

For another $350 he adds a Superclock 4 mod ("level 2"), but no longer recommends it (compared to his mods of Denon 2930CI).

On principle alone I don't like spending tons (or voiding the warrantee) on mods.  (If the CDP is crap to start with, why buy it?)  So his prices look pretty good.

TIA

[texendo]

I had one of his fully modded Samsung units a couple years back with the Superclock 3; unfortunately I had to sell it to a lucky chap to pay for grad school.  Ric has taken his craft to an art form; he doesn't just swap out boutique parts like so many modders.  My unit was the best sounding front end digital I had ever heard, and the fact that for under a grand you could have it was just sick.  If he doesn't even recommend the clock upgrade anymore and will give you the works for $350, you're wasting precious listening time not sending him your Oppo immediately.

[randytsuch]

I have an Ric modded toshiba DVD player I used for a while.  Also a Marantz SACD player I used until it died (my fault, not his).

Ric spends a lot of time listening to, and perfecting his mods.  I think his mods are very cost effective, for what you get.  Prices are better than a lot of other modders, and Ric's stuff sounds very good.

The only reason I am not using the toshiba anymore is that I switched to a squeezebox, and once you get used to not having to mess with CD's, it's hard to go back to a conventional player.

BTW, when I get my HD setup going, I may see if Ric can mod a 981 for video, if I go that route.

Randy

[JLM]

Thank you very much for the encouraging replies.