Clock upgrades.. and other upgrades or, just buy a new DAC

Carlman · « **on:** 22 Feb 2003, 10:18 pm »

Does anyone have experience replacing their clock with a Trichord or LC Audio? ... also, are the other filters, power supplies, opamps, improved digital output boards and whatnot worth the effort? Would it make a difference since I'm using an external DAC?

My primary interest is the clock. From what I've read this seems to be worth trying. However, I don't see the differences between the Trichord or the LC audio. Is one better than the other?

I have an Arcam Alpha 8 and Museatex Melior DAC. The combo sounds very good but, I'd like to take it a little higher... I'd like a more natural and convincing sound. I could either replace the DAC or start tweaking. The only DAC I've heard that I loved was a Bel Canto.. at $1,000 I cannot go this route. I'm trying to keep the mods under $250.

Thanks for any and all input,
Carl

Ferdi · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Feb 2003, 11:21 pm »

HI Carlman,

I have replaced the clock of my Sony CDP X-77 ES with a Tent-Clock. These are made by Guido Tent in the NL and distributed by mail.

The benefit of after-market clocks is in reducing jitter so I am not really sure there is much to chose between the different clocks on performance. The Tent-Clock has one interesting feature: It also has a function to improve performance on the SPDIF connection. That should make the link to your outboard DAC better.

I have no experience with changing any other components in a CDP but this is well worth the effort and money for me. This may not be true for you if you intend to replace the player in the near future anyway.

Good luck

Rocket · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Feb 2003, 12:52 am »

hello carlman,

i hope you don't think i'm stalking you, i've just been down some of the paths your interested in.

i have a pioneer pds507 (quite a stock cdp) anyway i've had the clock replaced with a g&d clock from Transforms@aol.com

i could easily pick the improvement with the new clock. you might also find that it might sound better than your external dac.

i think it sells for about $100us (including shipping) and he is located in the us. tony also sells a digital ouput board for pioneer cdps which i'm thinking about buying. i'm using my pioneer as a transport going thru a perpetual technologies p3a dac which can be had for about $450 us at the moment.

regards

rod

blizzard · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Feb 2003, 01:21 am »

Hi Rod,
Does Tony have a website I can check out?
Thanks,
Steve

starlet · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Feb 2003, 05:21 am »

Replacing the op amp and diode which can handle higher curent will yield very positive result too.

tmd · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Feb 2003, 07:46 am »

Carlman,
There is a guy in Calgary who used to do mods on your dac. I think he used to build them originally. If you contact Moray James who posts here, he will be able to tell you if the guy is still doing it. He may be able to offer advice either.
Neil.

bubba966 · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Feb 2003, 09:34 am »

Quote from: Ferdi

HI Carlman,

I have replaced the clock of my Sony CDP X-77 ES with a Tent-Clock. These are made by Guido Tent in the NL and distributed by mail.

The benefit of after-market clocks is in reducing jitter so I am not really sure there is much to chose between the different clocks on performance. The Tent-Clock has one interesting feature: It also has a function to improve performance on the SPDIF connection. That should make the link to your outboard DAC better.

I have no experience with changing any other components in a CDP but this is well worth the effort and money for me. This may not be true for you if you intend to replace the player in the near future anyway.

Good luck

Ferdi,

Do you have any more info on the Tent-Clocks? I just picked up a Pioneer DV-38A (DV-939A in Europe) last week and would like to start looking at mods as I figure I'll be using it for some time to come.

Did you install it in your Sony yourself? If so was it pretty easy, or was it a pain?

And what's it cost?

Ferdi · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Feb 2003, 10:23 am »

HI,

I would have to check what information I still have. I think I paid something like Euro55 at the time.

Installation was quite hard as my CDP is hard to take apart and put back together again. Other than that, it was quite easy. First time I ever soldered inside a component.

The other tricky thing is that you need to find where the original clock sits and where to place the new clock connections. This works the same for all aftermarket clocks and you can find instructions in various places around the net.

I may have some more info. I'll try and find that later. (busy week)

Rocket · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Feb 2003, 10:52 am »

hello steve,

no he doesn't have a website. i actually had this clock installed at my local hifi shop here in perth and i tracked tony down thru harmonic discord.

the clock installed was $450 au installed so i could have saved a few dollars installing it myself. just email him for details.

regards

rod

blizzard · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Feb 2003, 11:41 am »

Thanks Rod,
Cheers,
Steve

Carlman · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Feb 2003, 05:21 pm »

Thanks for all the replies. I'm glad to hear there are a lot of options. I have a lot of reading and emailing to do now. Thanks for the lead on the DAC tweaker. I hope that works out.

Rocket, I know you're not stalking me... I'm glad we both are taking the same steps for good sound.

I really appreciate your advice.... You've done it and have results to share.... you can't beat that!

As soon as I figure out which clock and other upgrades to do, I'll post results.

Thanks again,
Carl