Empirical Audio Turbomodded S7700

byteme · « **on:** 23 Jul 2004, 03:18 pm »

After much (6+ months worth) debate with myself about spending $800 to modify a $250 (used) dvd player I finally decided to do it. Full turbo mod with Jesen cap upgrade. I sent it off to Steve at the end of June and got it back last night. He's kept me updated (as advertised in other reveiws) the whole way and was quick to answer questions. He's also apparently very busy.

I've had the 7700 for about 1.5 years now so I'm very familiar with the sound. It replaced a McCormack SST-1 transport. I liked it because it seemed to really dig deep and pull info that I hadn't heard any other transport do. I lined the inside of the case with Dynamat Extreme, ERS paper and also replaced the power cord, all which improved things a bit.

One of the reasons I was hesitant to part with the $800 is that I just didn't believe a transport could make that much difference. Well, I was really really wrong. In the 7700s absence I've been using my PAINFULLY slow Panasonic RP82 dvd player. It's not even fair to compare that to the original 7700 much less the turbomodded one.

When I opened the box the first thing I did was take the top off the 7700 to peek around. I looked at the "parts taken out bag" - the only thing I could find that was replaced was the giant Jensen cap! Otherwise, nothing looked too much different. Back on goes the top and I plug everything in. After listening to Prince's Musicology while my wife and I ate I sat down for some serious listening.

My first impression was, I can't believe that a transport can make this much difference in the sound coming out of my system. I listened to both of my demo/audition discs almost all the way through. Smooth, listenable, very very real sounding, emotion conveying, bass with authority, detail, DYNAMICS!! Much much different than before. Whenever I read about the 7700 being harsh on the high end I really didn't understand how the writers could have been listening to the same piece as I owned. Now I know how they said that, because compared to the Turbomodded 7700 the "regular" one is definately sibilent up there, however, now any harshness is simply gone. If I could use one word to describe everything it would be smooth. On some tracks where previously there was background noise or hiss - now, it's not there anymore. Background is "blacker". Jesse Cook's Bahgdad is the best I've ever heard it from my system. His guitar appears out of nowhere, the image is spot on, instruments are now more easily identified and not all lumped into the middle of the soundstage. Speaking of which, the soundstage is wider, deeper, much more precise. A Patrick O'Hearn cut just seems to float there in front of you - the Stones' Sympathy for the Devil is a huge party! On Dave Matthews' Say Goodbye the strikes to the drum heads and cymbals are much more dynamic, less shimmer around the cymbals and like everything is right there in front of you. Ray Brown's bass has so much more detail to it, the piano and his bass now aren't piled on top of one another but placed so that they are easily picked out on the soundstage. And RIGHT THERE in the room with me. The detial on Hotel California - wow - I can much more easily hear the difference between the nylon string guitar and the steel string one. Before it was there but now it's just so obvious you can't not hear it.

Obviously, I'm quite happy I finally decided to do this. Steve does great work and even when above and beyond by securing the power cord and providing some strain relief for it. I'm using Steve's bitmeister digital cable - I've yet to compare it to my Aural thrills gold active digital cable.

The best part of all this is, between the Nixon "upgrade" and the turbomod it's only going to get better as the blackgates and other goodies burn in!!

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 04:15 pm »

Way to go BYTEME...I'm glad you bit the bullet.

The mod to the Sony that Empirical does is simply terrrific...better than one could hope a transport to positively affect the sound.

Steve being busy and all, he probably had little time to burn in the Jensen and 'Gates...stick around a week and listen to what you'll hear.

Right now, your dynamics are constrained in comparo. Jitter's pretty much banished, as is teeth-clenching, but it just gets smoother and more enjoyable over the next week.

Way to go, bro

byteme · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 04:40 pm »

Well, chair guy, you're one of the recent adopters and reviewers that finally prompted me to do this so THANKS!

If it gets more smooth and dynamic, well, then DAMN!

It'll make me do this ===>

Hats off to Steve!

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 07:55 pm »

byteme,

byteme · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 08:13 pm »

I did not consider the superclock. The addl. $400+ was over the top for me.

It was hard enough to justify the $800, which turned out to be very much worth it. I have other needs thought, like a new couch and TV so - priorities!

PhilNYC · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 09:35 pm »

I'm getting my S7700 with the basic mod package (not including Turbomod) plus Jensen caps next week (hopefully). Zybar brought his over (with the exact same mod), and after hearing the differences vs. the stock model, I immediately shipped mine off to Empirical!

Would be curious to know what you are using for a SPDIF cable....when Zybar brought his unit over, we tried a couple of different ones, and they also made a big impact...

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 09:39 pm »

Well Phil, you're next in line to know that digititis ain't always a part of CD playback.

Steve once shared with me what he really does to those S7700's....poofie dust. But, a very special audiophile grade of it

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 09:50 pm »

Quote from: TheChairGuy

Steve once shared with me what he really does to those S7700's....poofie dust. But, a very special audiophile grade of it

Only available in Oregon...I bet !!

PhilNYC · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 11:35 pm »

Quote from: TheChairGuy

Steve once shared with me what he really does to those S7700's....poofie dust. But, a very special audiophile grade of it

Do you get munchies when you listen to it??

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Jul 2004, 11:44 pm »

Quote from: PhilNYC

Do you get munchies when you listen to it??

No, I think Steve's grade of poofie dust is THC-free. Tho, as he is in 'earthy' Oregon, THAT grade is widely available

audioengr · « **Reply #10 on:** 24 Jul 2004, 02:35 am »

Phil - yours is next up after a Carver that I am modding.

Chris - you wont regret the Superclock2 in the 7700. This is what I use as my reference.

spectralman · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 Jul 2004, 02:56 am »

Byteme,

Now I'm really mad. I have to wait until the finances are in order before I can have mine modded!!! Oh well.

byteme · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 Jul 2004, 03:45 am »

Spectralman - it'll be worth the wait! At least you know you want to do it. I was on the fence convinced I didn't until everyone raved and raved.

I'm using an Empirical Audio Bitmeister cable I found used right now. After a couple weeks I'll compare that to my prior favorite the Aural Thrills Gold Active cable.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #13 on:** 24 Jul 2004, 05:05 am »

Quote from: audioengr

Chris - you wont regret the Superclock2 in the 7700. This is what I use as my reference.

Damn you Steve - dangling that carrot again

We're all sick, and you're aiding and abetting us.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Jul 2004, 11:36 am »

Steve,

Any thoughts on how much impact the Superclock2 addition to the S7700 would make with a DAC that re-clocks the signal from a FIFO buffer?

byteme · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 Jul 2004, 03:25 pm »

I just gotta say, again, as I sit here and listen to Sympathy for the devil again - MAN the dynamics, and accuracy of the soundstage now that the turbomodded 7700 is back - it's just amazing. On Tull's Skating Away - same thing - there is so much going on in both of these songs and now it's all there presented for you rather than being, well, not a jumbled mess, but certainly much less clear and precise as it is now.

Stunning.

Thanks Steve!

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 Jul 2004, 03:50 pm »

byteme, Nice musical selections (Stones-Tull) !!! Got Sgt. Pepper's/Beatles handy....how's that sound ??

zybar · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 Jul 2004, 03:52 pm »

Try some remastered Rush or Yes.

You will be

George

PhilNYC · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 Jul 2004, 04:28 pm »

Quote from: zybar

Try some remastered Rush or Yes.

You will be

George

Ummm...ever actually tried dancing to Rush or Yes...?

zybar · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 Jul 2004, 04:29 pm »

Depends on how you define dancing...