big money cd player vs modded machines

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tvad4

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big money cd player vs modded machines
« Reply #40 on: 25 May 2006, 12:45 am »
You will receive better recommendations and/or feedback if you provide a little more info about what type of sound you prefer, the room you will use, and the rest of your system.

2bigears

big money cd player vs modded machines
« Reply #41 on: 26 May 2006, 12:52 am »
Objective:to buy a new cdp that will equal or surpass main system and leave nothing on the table...... Cost: 1500----4k max.....Purchase:new or used,smart money on used.....System:Dodd battery preamp,Vac 30/30 amp,Zu definitions.....Room:13 by 18 dedicated,10 foot listening distance.The Dilemma:----the sony and denons modded are 1500 to 2k used and 3500 new+-, by all accounts are very good buys.ramp up to used modded wadia or opus21's,do these machines sound justify the bigger budget,money well spent.if anyone can shed light on this simple quest for sound,i would be greatful,and will buy ya a bottle of fine wine.thks :D

tvad4

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big money cd player vs modded machines
« Reply #42 on: 26 May 2006, 03:22 am »
All the players you list have a different sound. Some are more analytical. Some are warmer and less analytical. Some are more neutral than others.

Until you mention what type of sound you prefer, you might as well pick one by throwing a dart with your eyes closed. They're all good players.

I'll use an analogy. If you ask someone to recommend a dessert, but you don't mention you like chocolate, then people will suggest lemon meringue pie, chocolate souffle, angel food cake, and mango ice cream. If you had mentioned you like chocolate to begin with, then the logical choice would have been chocolate souffle.

What type of sound do you prefer?

I sort of get the impression that you've purchased all your gear by online recommendations, and you don't have any idea how they will sound when assembled into a system...but I could be wrong.

lonewolfny42

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big money cd player vs modded machines
« Reply #43 on: 26 May 2006, 08:35 am »
tvad4 :
    Quote
    I sort of get the impression that you've purchased all your gear by online recommendations, and you don't have any idea how they will sound when assembled into a system...but I could be wrong.
    [/list:u]
      No....your not wrong. 2bigears has been searching, and asking questions, to put together a kick-ass system. He can't listen to any equipement because of his location....so...who knows how it will sound until it all arrives. :? [/list:u]
        Search his past posts....there's been many...amps, speakers, and now players.[/list:u]
          I hope it works out.... :) [/list:u]

    woodsyi

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    big money cd player vs modded machines
    « Reply #44 on: 26 May 2006, 01:43 pm »
    Two Big Ears,

    Your system is crying out loud for a good vinyl set up. :wink:  Isn't Teres coming out with a new TT?

    Marbles

    big money cd player vs modded machines
    « Reply #45 on: 26 May 2006, 01:49 pm »
    Actually, I have a very nice Teres setup and I prefer my digital front end: PC>Empirical Modded Turbo USB I2s Off Ramp> * Empirical modded P3a DAC to it.

    * recently sold and have purchased an Empirical modded Benchmark DAC-1, but I won't get it for 3 weeks.

    My PC has a Zalman fan/heatsink on the processors, and I have a rheostat on the Power supply and case fans that I can turn down until they are barely audible right next to the PC and inaudible at my seating location.

    The fact that my analog setup is very good should give some indication of how good the Empirical modded digital stuff is.

    woodsyi

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    « Reply #46 on: 26 May 2006, 02:05 pm »
    Quote from: Marbles
    Actually, I have a very nice Teres setup and I prefer my digital front end: PC>Empirical Modded Turbo USB Off Ramp> * Empirical modded P3a DAC to it.

    * recently sold and have purchased an Empirical modded Benchmark DAC-1, but I won't get it for 3 weeks.


    Well,  I don't know.  I haven't had a chance yet to get my PC>EA I2S Off Ramp>EA modded Northstar DAC set up.  I will be working on it all weekend.  :wink:  :wink:

    2bigears

    big money cd player vs modded machines
    « Reply #47 on: 26 May 2006, 03:08 pm »
    thks people,vinyl is a term when people talk about the opus 21{modded 4k}.talking with APL on the modded denon. 3k will bring it home.option # 5.0 ???? :D

    tvad4

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    « Reply #48 on: 26 May 2006, 04:19 pm »
    Confession time, 2bigears. I keep posting replies to your quest because I sense you want help, and yet your quest lacks direction. You avoid answering questions that would enable people to better help you.

    You are confounding.

    What's the problem?

    TomS

    big money cd player vs modded machines
    « Reply #49 on: 26 May 2006, 04:52 pm »
    I've briefly heard Marbles' earlier EA Offramp P3a i2s setup and it is (in a good way) not like what you're used to hearing from digital at all.  I wouldn't say it's really analog like either (again in a good way).  It just doesn't seem to be making all the usual compromises we associate with either one and brings a sweet wholeness that's entirely different.

    I simultaneously owned a full blown Modwright/Sony 999ES Platinum Signature Truth at the same time as a stock standard Wadia 861.  I have since upgraded the Wadia to the SE transport status and had Steve Huntley at GNSC do his magic with the Statement Mod, so it is at the max of what can be done other than power cord and an isolation platform.

    For the money, the high end Modwright (there are other Sony's and Denons), with the right power cords and tubes, is one of the easiest and enjoyable to listen to one box digital pieces I've heard.  It is very smooth and sweet sounding, though lacking maybe the very last essence of detail and refinement in terms of imaging.  For some, this doesn't really contribute a lot to the music itself, though it's a matter of preference.  It has terrific well defined and fast low bass, which kind of confounded me given there isn't any mechanical dampening work done to it at all.  The GNSC mod on the other has all manner of coatings and damping materials applied inside.  Choosing between the Modwright and stock Wadia, I'd probably prefer the Modwright in the long run.  It is definitely a matter of personal preference since some might like the more detailed and analytical view of the Wadia.  The Wadia does this in a way that unlike some high end cdp's, shows you all that, while still being very true to the music in terms of prat and fundamentals.

    The 861SE GNSC on the other hand is a different breed of cat.  The portrayal of image height and depth gets much larger.  You wouldn't even miss it if you didn't know it was there, but once you get a taste for it, it's hard to go back.  It now has the listenability and smoothness of the Modwright while also revealing a lot of information buried in the RB CD I couldn't believe was there.  Again, you may or may not see this is contributing to the music.  In that comparo, assuming money were no object, it's no contest.   The SE GNSC is significantly better, but at a huge price.  The good news is you can get there in steps.  I sold the Modwright to another happy camper who is thrilled with it (he owns >10,000 lp's).  He is "new" to cd's, er, he finally caved after many years of lp bliss because he couldn't get the music he wanted.

    With all that said, I am quite convinced that for the same or less money you can get a more satifying result from the PC>Offramp I2S>pick your DAC approach.  I'm trying to figure out how I can get there myself without spending a boatload more money.  If I had it to do over (you do), I'd look real hard at that direction before coughing up several grand for a new or heavy mod cdp.

    Best of luck in the journey!

    Jon L

    big money cd player vs modded machines
    « Reply #50 on: 26 May 2006, 05:43 pm »
    Quote from: woodsyi
    Quote from: Marbles
    Actually, I have a very nice Teres setup and I prefer my digital front end: PC>Empirical Modded Turbo USB Off Ramp> * Empirical modded P3a DAC to it.

    * recently sold and have purchased an Empirical modded Benchmark DAC-1, but I won't get it for 3 weeks.


    Well,  I don't know.  I haven't had a chance yet to get my PC>EA I2S Off Ramp>EA modded Northstar DAC set up.  I will be working on it all weekend.  :wink:  :wink:


    You guys are making me jealous.  Did you guys go for the battery PS for Offramp I2S?; you should..

    I am considering Steve's new circuit that allows DAC's to just have USB input, which is internally I2S'd to the DAC chips, but unfortunately, this route isn't going to be any cheaper  :o

    2bigears

    big money cd player vs modded machines
    « Reply #51 on: 26 May 2006, 06:22 pm »
    if something does not work,it can be changed.thks Tom,that was a heplful response indeed.all i was asking all along,is if the modded sonys and denons are 90,85,80% as good as the big money players.it's all about diminished returns after a certain point.'good' is not an audiophile term,but you know what i mean.... sounds like the sony and denon's modded are very good for the money.i had a hard time with that one. :D

    Marbles

    big money cd player vs modded machines
    « Reply #52 on: 26 May 2006, 06:34 pm »
    Jon L, I run mine off a PS Audio PP600 AC>DC regenerator

    tvad4

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    « Reply #53 on: 26 May 2006, 06:52 pm »
    2bigears, what kind of sound do you like?

    If something doesn't work it can be changed? Certainly. However, if some of us have made any impression on you whatsoever, I hope at least you have digested the fact that you will not recoup your investment upon re-sale of most modified digital players. For someone who is counting beans so carefully, the "replace it if it doesn't work" approach doesn't seem to very logical. It's tough to enjoy music on a percentage basis.

    Good luck. I'll keep an eye out for the yard sale.

    woodsyi

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    big money cd player vs modded machines
    « Reply #54 on: 26 May 2006, 06:52 pm »
    And I am using a HP 6289A http://auctions.planettest.com/java/jsp/product_partno6289A_invid10666_condR.htm
    set at 12 volts connected to an Audiophile APS Purepower 1050.  I may try a  DIY SLA BPS later....

    toobluvr

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    « Reply #55 on: 26 May 2006, 07:08 pm »
    Quote from: tvad4
    Confession time, 2bigears. I keep posting replies to your quest because I sense you want help, and yet your quest lacks direction. You avoid answering questions that would enable people to better help you.

    You are confounding.

    What's the problem?


    Very hard to pin him down, Tvad4!
    I have tried in earnest to help him in the past with other pieces of gear.
    But it is just too confusing, annoying and frustrating...so I just gave up.

    He talks in circles, jumps all over the place, doesn't give insights into his needs/desires/preferences, and doesn't seem to know his own mind.  My impression is that he is a newbie, and/or doesn't have a complete command of the language.   :dunno:  :scratch:

    Sorry, 2bigears.....no offense intended!    :)

    tvad4

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    « Reply #56 on: 26 May 2006, 07:18 pm »
    Quote from: toobluvr
    Very hard to pin him down, Tvad4!
    I have tried in earnest to help him in the past with other pieces of gear.
    But it is just too confusing, annoying and frustrating...so I just gave up.

    He talks in circles, jumps all over the place, doesn't give insights into his needs/desires/preferences, and doesn't seem to know his own mind.  My impression is that he is a newbie, and/or doesn't have a complete command of the language.   :dunno:  :scratch:


    Sigh...

    2bigears

    big money cd player vs modded machines
    « Reply #57 on: 26 May 2006, 07:27 pm »
    no sweat John.green as grass!!!! i have been flip-floppin' round like a fish goin' upstream.i do not have the luxury of the techno talk you guys can so easily do.just trying to do the best with what i got.all i can do is thank-you for the help you have given to date.all i need is the player now and it's off to easy listening.... :D