[earlmarc]

Has anyone had any experience with Audience modifications? I was told that they have been in business for thirty years modifying digital front-end equipment. Since cables are their primary concern, they don't market their modification services.

[Levi]

Hello Earl,

I have heard the Audience Modified Sony 999ES DVD player $4K.  Please contact PhilNYC here at Audiocircle for more inquiries.  He is a member of NYAudioRave.

Levi

Has anyone had any experience with Audience modifications? I was told that they have been in business for thirty years modifying digital front-end equipment. Since cables are their primary concern, they don't market their modification services.

[PhilNYC]

Earl,

We had the Audience-modded Sony DVP-NS999ES at HE2004.  The mod is $4200...it's basically an entire rebuild using the Sony chassis, transport and DAC chip.  Here's a link of what the mod includes, as well as some reviews of their modded players:

http://www.audience-av.com/777es.htm

They used to do lighter mods (less expensive/extensive), but they have moved away from those because it's not really what they want to be doing...their cable business is really booming, so as far as mods go, they are really only offering the big mod described above.

Sound-wise, Audience strives for speed, accuracy and transparency with their mods and their cables/caps/wire....

[DCTampa]

Earl,

I have the Audience modified Sony 999ES and my experience is that it is an awesome player.  It takes regular cds and makes them breathtaking.  SACD is awesome as well.  I previously had the 9000ES modified by Audience and that too was terrific until the transport failed and I had to move up to the 999ES.  I also heard the display at HE2004 using the modified 999ES and Focus speakers and it sounded great.  A stereophile reviewer who happened to be sitting next to me agreed that the sound was very musical.  Let me know if I can provide any more info.

Doug

[mr_bill]

Doug,
How much was the modification to your 999es if you don't mind saying.
Thanks,
Bill

[DCTampa]

Bill,

My situation is unusual in that I had a broken modded 9000ES.  Audience took the salvagable parts of that modification and employed it in the 999ES.  Between the two mods, I ended up paying just about the same $4,200 that they charge for new modfications.  I don't know if they discount off of $4,2000.  The mod does include an Audience PowerChord though so maybe they'll delete that and lower the price but that's merely a guess.

Doug