Modding the Toshiba SD4960 DVD/DVD-A/CD/SACD player

gprro · « **Reply #260 on:** 19 Nov 2005, 11:39 pm »

Regarding speaker size selection: Does the reciever speaker size selection matter when using speaker size selector in the 841 (is it doubling the crossover)? It seems like my reciever has (marantz 8400) has separate 7.1 speaker volume settings, but no separate settings for large or small speakers so I don't know if the internal reciever crossover is active.

What about speaker distance settings? I guess the 841 doesn't have distance settings. Does all this mean that the analog signal going in to the reciever in going through A/D and D/A conversion again? So many questions with this new SACD stuff. Thanks for any help!

rhale64 · « **Reply #261 on:** 20 Nov 2005, 03:03 am »

OK if you use the analogue 7.1 ext. ins. It doesnt matter what you have your reciever set on. It takes and passes the signal through to the amp section without going through that chain. Only if you hooked it up digitally would it matter. And that is not the way you want to hook it up. You want to use the analogue outs only. Unless you are watching a movie. Then you would use the digital. Hope this helps

gprro · « **Reply #262 on:** 20 Nov 2005, 08:06 am »

I'm definatly running it analog 7.1 in, but I thought the 841 would have speaker distance settings, so I was wondering if the reciever was still working that function somehow. Does SACD have or need proper speaker distance settings. I would think it does. How is everyone working this.

ON a good note, so far I'm impressed with performance as a transport. It's noticeably better than my really old Sony DVP-S500d ( anyone remember that?) and I'm sure it can be better. Sacd is interesting also. A little fuller and smoother. Going to try and use it with the Marantz for SACD and a Jolida integrated for 2 channel after mods.

rhale64 · « **Reply #263 on:** 20 Nov 2005, 11:39 pm »

No the reciever is not still trying to do the distance settings. But you are right the dvd player should have distance settings for sacd and dvd audio. But unfortinately it doesnt. It still works good though.

gprro · « **Reply #264 on:** 21 Nov 2005, 12:50 am »

That clears everything up, thanks. Looking forward to playing around with this thing some more. Going to try the HDCP hack, as video looked pretty bad on my Hitachi projector through S video. Upconversion through the component outs hopefully will look better.

tonloc · « **Reply #265 on:** 23 Nov 2005, 10:28 pm »

Just got my 841 from amazon.com. Thanks for a great thread. Excited to start doing some of the things ya'll recommend. Anyone else bothered by the gaudy blue circle pilot light? The unit matches the look of my ka-9100 until the vegas light turns on. IF anyone knows how to get rid of it without messing anything else up I'd appreciate.

truegrit · « **Reply #266 on:** 25 Nov 2005, 05:31 pm »

Bob,

Initially you used auricaps in the power section and sonicaps for the Swenson mod. Can you use sonicaps for both areas? is there a difference?

Also, where do you get auricaps in the correct size?

Thanks.

STeveL · « **Reply #267 on:** 26 Nov 2005, 04:41 pm »

Quote

Anyone else bothered by the gaudy blue circle pilot light? The unit matches the look of my ka-9100 until the vegas light turns on. IF anyone knows how to get rid of it without messing anything else up I'd appreciate.

I like the blue light, but my equipment rack isn't front and centre. I'm sure you can tone it down if you like. The power switch and blue LED are on a seperate small board at the front of the case, remove it and have a look. I think there is a plastic ring that projects the blue light. You could tone it down with some tape, paint, felt marker, etc to reduce the light output. Or you could do it electrically by adding a resistor in series with the LED to reduce the voltage going to the LED, try a 1K resistor as a start.

STeve

tonloc · « **Reply #268 on:** 27 Nov 2005, 05:59 pm »

Thanks for the tips. It's the first blue pilot like I ever didn't like. I've been hooked ever since the '73 fender champ I found in a dump had one. cheers

rhale64 · « **Reply #269 on:** 28 Nov 2005, 12:27 am »

Mike did you ever get a chance to take a look at the clock in these things?

tonloc · « **Reply #270 on:** 28 Nov 2005, 06:02 am »

so... get a soldering iron, have no fear, and pull the blue led right out. done.

sjmikeb · « **Reply #271 on:** 28 Nov 2005, 05:22 pm »

Sorry Ron,

I have been busy since getting back from vacation, and with Thanksgiving (relatives coming into town and such).

BTW, I am using the player as a transport (hooked to a DIY tubed output stage DAC). The soundstage is more 3D, more layered with the DAC in. The Samsung is doing a better job as a transport than my old Denon though.

Regards,
Mike

omedon · « **Reply #272 on:** 29 Nov 2005, 09:04 pm »

I highly recommend all you modders out there consider installing and IEC on the player.

I just replaced my generic PC with a PS Audio minilab on my EVS modded HD-841 and the difference is astounding.

rhale64 · « **Reply #273 on:** 30 Nov 2005, 12:30 am »

What kind of iec did you get installed?

MichaelO · « **Reply #274 on:** 30 Nov 2005, 06:27 pm »

Hi.
I own a Samsung 841 universal player. On certain cds I notice that the drive mechanism vibrates quite a bit, way more than is normal. The cd plays fine, but I worry what it might do to the mechanism over time. The cds that cause this problem look to be OK. I am puzzled why this happens. Is the hole just a little off center or what?
Has anyone else noticed this occuring on their machine? If so have you found a solution? I was thinking of those Herbie matts (?)to put over the cds.
Thank you for your help.

Michael

BobM · « **Reply #275 on:** 30 Nov 2005, 07:33 pm »

Open it up and make sure the mounting screws are tight. There's only 3 or 4 of them (I forget), so if one is loose there could be a wobble.

Then get some Moretite caulking rope from Home Dopey and apply it to the transport. This will help alleviate other vibrational influences. Take a look at the earlier photo's in this thread to see what I mean.

Enjoy,
Bob

omedon · « **Reply #276 on:** 2 Dec 2005, 12:29 am »

Quote from: rhale64

What kind of iec did you get installed?

I am not sure. Ric Schultz of Electronic Visionary Systems modified mine. Has all sorts of cool stuff like a custom muting circuit to nullify DC surges on power on and power off.

He stopped doing the mods now and he is almost impossible to get a hold of by email but if you gave him a call I am sure he would tell you. He is very pleasant and talkative on the phone.

I would say it looks very similar to this.

Doesn't look exotic at all. There is 3" of cable coming out the back and then the connector. If I get a superclock III put in I may replace the Vampire Jacks with WBT NextGen copper and the IEC with FIM or something.

Anyways, just wanted to say that using an aftermarket PC made a HUGE difference. In many ways I think that it is the best part of the mod. The AC cable I use is a PS Audio Minilab I picked up for $85.

I should also let everybody know that I have 2 HD-841's. One modded one unmodded (with broken DVD-A) and have played 2 different originals of DJ Shadows - Entroducing and both players and discs lock up at the 7 minute mark of the last song; 40 seconds short.

I have played over 300 discs on the player and have only had such a problem with this one. The CD works fine in all other players I have tried.

mcspack · « **Reply #277 on:** 3 Dec 2005, 10:58 pm »

Bob, you had an excellent link from your online article for newbies and safety, do you still have that article available for those of us who don't want to electrocute ourselves? thanks! Also your online article was a concise stop for those of us who want to pursue this mod, can you make it available somehow?

MC

BobM · « **Reply #278 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 02:10 pm »

Sorry - I don't have a homepage to post it on, nor do I have the time to make all the links work and such. I would suggest writing an e-mail to the IEEE Spectrum people and ask them for a copy. It really is too bad that they don't keep archives available on-line linke most other magazines do. Or at least searchable.

Bob

mcspack · « **Reply #279 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 06:39 pm »

I really just wanted to know what the rule of thumb is to blead caps using resistors? trying to avoid being shocked.