[vagourmet]

Hello All,

I'm a new member who has recently rediscovered vintage audio equipment.  I'm not an industry guy but just a wannabe audiophile on a budget.

I'm interested in two things right now:

1) Does anyone have experience modding an Oppo BDP 105 and if so do you have any recommendations?  I've read about the Modright Truth but there seem to be some guys in Virginia and a couple up in Michigan who appear to do some serious work as well.  How can you tell who's really good?

2) I've developed an fixation on finding a Audio Refinement Complete integrated amp - appreciate any insight.

Many thanks and appreciate any info,
vagourmet

[ArthurDent]

Greetings & Welcome to AC vagourmet     Sorry I can't help with your questions, but there's probably someone who can, & will.

[Phil A]

Welcome to AC!  Many moons ago, I had a Modwright Absolute Truth Mod to my Sony XA-777ES.  I've heard the mod to the 105 and the 95 too.  Excellent.  Bill Thalmann of Music Technology (an excellent repair tech - about the best - I moved from Northern VA a few years back) also does mods - http://musictechnology.com/products.html

I still have a Modwright solid state modded BDP-83 in a spare system.  Don't spin discs any more (unless someone comes over and that isn't often).

[Phil A]

Here's another - http://tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/Oppo_105_Mods.html

[jarcher]

I've done an extended demo of Bill Thalman's Oppo 105 mod : in a word, fantastic.  Sounded every bit like what you would expect digital done by an ex-Conrad Johnson guy (he was employee #2).  Superb musicality. Utterly transformed the sometimes bright & brittle Oppo 105.  Version I tried he ejected the multichannel audio board, improved the clocking, and put in a discrete analog output stage.  Best 105 mod I've heard.  And he's always making improvements, but you can work with him to "voice" it to your pleasure I'm sure.  I could swear it even made the blu ray audio / video performance better. 

I liked the version I heard, but he discussed making it even more dynamic.  I said leave it alone - but you may like it different, so discuss with him. 

Don't know what he's charging now, but it would be worth it.  You may have to wait a bit for him : he has up to a two month waiting list for repairs.  But you may also get lucky as DC area people go into a political freeze around election times.

[jarcher]

On Audio Refinement : great budget Chinese made YBA.  BUT, with original french YBA made even better and now so cheap on the second hand market, just buy a YBA! I know someone selling separates (pre / amp).  If you're interested, PM me.

[vagourmet]

Wow, thanks to all of you!

Phil A and jarcher - I live in Northern Virginia right up from Music Technology - they're working on an old Teac R2R I found.  I actually met Bill this past weekend when I picked up an old Proton Integrated I was having serviced.  That's where I got the idea of modding my BDP because they have a sign up.

The one's I've currently seen so far are:
Modwright Truth  Review at http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/modwright-oppo-bdp-105-with-truth-modifications/
MTI Review at stereotimes.com/post/music-technologys-oppo-bdp105-modification/
Oppo Mod www.oppomod.com
The Upgrade Company https://www.upgradecompany.com/brands/oppo
ASI Tek www.asi-tek.com/oppo9.htm
and
Tweak Audio (thank you Phil) http://tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/Oppo_105_Mods.html

Only Modwright and MTI have reviews in periodicals but that doesn't mean the others aren't good or maybe better.  Any idea how to know or is it just a crap shoot?

Best,
Scott

[Phil A]

Wow, thanks to all of you!

Phil A and jarcher - I live in Northern Virginia right up from Music Technology - they're working on an old Teac R2R I found.  I actually met Bill this past weekend when I picked up an old Proton Integrated I was having serviced.  That's where I got the idea of modding my BDP because they have a sign up.

The one's I've currently seen so far are:
Modwright Truth  Review at http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/modwright-oppo-bdp-105-with-truth-modifications/
MTI Review at stereotimes.com/post/music-technologys-oppo-bdp105-modification/
Oppo Mod www.oppomod.com
The Upgrade Company https://www.upgradecompany.com/brands/oppo
ASI Tek www.asi-tek.com/oppo9.htm
and
Tweak Audio (thank you Phil) http://tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/Oppo_105_Mods.html

Only Modwright and MTI have reviews in periodicals but that doesn't mean the others aren't good or maybe better.  Any idea how to know or is it just a crap shoot?

Best,
Scott

I'm sure on this site if you do a search there are reviews of some of them to get an idea.  Bill Thalmann just modded a Conrad Johnson PV-9 preamp with a fellow Space Coast Audio Society member.  If you find posts, you may be able to find people in your area with the players so you can hear them.  Bill Thalmann if he has or gets one can certainly give you a demo.

[RPM123]

Here's another - http://tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/Oppo_105_Mods.html

I can second the EVS mod, as I have a modded 105 and it sounds much better than a Ayre Cx-5eMP I once had! Very "analogue' like sounding. Of course now he is offering a new modded DAC to be used with the 105D, that he thinks makes it sound even better.    The "madness" (mods) never stop.

[Phil A]

One can always send an email to the vendor to see of they can find customers within your area who would allow an audition.  It's probably not reasonable to expect that you will find a place to compare them all at the same time.  It's not unlike other audio components where different dealers carry different brands.

[Folsom]

I would only mod an Oppo for the digital output. I think the totally modded up version by MW is very under whelming.