[eccman]

I'm currently in the market for a new CDP....

I have the Onix XCD88 which was an improvement over my SN P965 DAC's only when playing HDCD discs, but regular CD's didn't sound quite as good to me compared to using the digital remastering on the P965 using a cheap Samsung player via optical output...


Researching a little, I came across the Minimax CDP....The Onix CD-2, The Onix CD-1 but not to many others @ my budget limit which is around 1k.....

I am a big fan of the the HDCD's and definitely want this in my CDP...mostly because of the GD Dicks Picks which I am very fond of...all being released in the HDCD format....

Any suggestions?

[rosconey]

give bill at response audio a ring about his new kavent line-i have the shengya version with hdcd and its the cats ass-he has a updated version called kavent that also has a headphone jack/amp built in-

here is a add from agon with a different vendor(bill is a ac member so buy from him-lol)


http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dddgtlplay&1126806152&demo&3&4&

[richlo]

Here is a pix of my Shengya (actually I have several other pix but you should be able to make it out)..cant remember how much it cost..400ish or more but its nice tube cdp with HDCD




http://photobucket.com/albums/a102/Richlo/

[rosconey]

hey richlo what tube you use-i have a telefunkin e88 i use in my shengya s10  i love it-great bass with a smooth topend and vocals are perfect

[FredT300B]

One thing you might want to try before buying another player is to upgrade the Op Amps on the Onix. Upgrading from the stock ones to OPA627's will provide an audible improvement in the imaging. These chips are easily accessible on the circuit board and are plugged into sockets, not soldered in, so the change is easy. To do this you need to order five OPA627 Op Amps from UAS Caps on Ebay for $24.99, and two single-to-dual adapter boards (pn 021001) from Cimmaron Technology for $3 each. Below are links to the USA Caps Ebay store, Cimmaron Tech, and a 6moons review of the Music Hall CD-25 (same player as the Onix) with photos indicating the location of the op amps and other upgradable parts.

When you receive the OPA627's and the adapter boards you will have to solder the Op amps to the adapter boards. There are markings on the boards and the op amps indicating the correct placement, as well as markings on the sockets on the XCD-88 main circuit board. The adapter boards are larger than the stock op amps so you will have to bend a couple of capacitors downward toward the board. Theres' also a larger electrolytic cap just above the left op amp that will make it a tight fit, but the adapter board will plug in without having to move this cap.

http://stores.ebay.com/USA-Caps-Inc

http://cimarrontechnology.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=5

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/musichall/cd25.2.html

[eccman]

Thanks FredT......


Very good stuff..........

Have not soldered any boards before, but I do solder my own cables.....I would say I am of intermediate soldering skills......Would this suffice for those mods?  

I'm looking for an audible upgrade from my SN P965 DACs......This mod of the XCD88 looks to be the cheapest route....plus I may learn a few things..


Thanks again for everyones help

[FredT300B]

Thanks FredT......

Have not soldered any boards before, but I do solder my own cables.....I would say I am of intermediate soldering skills......Would this suffice for those mods?  

You should be ok. The adapter boards do require soldering onto some small pads, so you should use small guage solder and a small soldering iron tip, and not leave the heat applied longer than necessary. You should also have something to hold the adapter board in place - it's very light and will migrage away from the soldering iron if it's not secured. Also, be sure to observe the polarity indications on the op amps, the adapter board, and the player's main circuit board.

[FredT300B]

I have no idea what a SN P965 Dac is.  

[eccman]

I meant to say the DACs in my Sherwood Newcastle P965 Pre/pro...

It does have a decent Remastering/Upconversion option on it which I use.......

Just looking for an upgrade.

[richlo]

hey richlo what tube you use-i have a telefunkin e88 i use in my shengya s10  i love it-great bass with a smooth topend and vocals are perfect

Thanks for the advice on that tube..Ive yet to tube roll, Ive had it up only for 2 months right now..ive had it for over 6 months sitting in a box waiting to be setup at the house that I bought, so the original tubes are still sitting in there...

[John Casler]

Since you already have Sherwood NewCastle, you might also look into the new SD860 or SD871 (coming).

[JLM]

Since you have a computer, why not add a squeeze box plus large hard drive for say $500?  Hard drives sound better than any $1000 player.  You'd gain remote controlled internet streaming audio too.  For another $500 Vinnie at Red Wine Audio (see circle below) could mod the squeeze box into a couple of performance notches up.  Very killer.

[eccman]

JLM....thanks....I'm not familiar w/ a squeezbox......I'll do a search......

[Vtech2000]

Highly recommending the Sony NS999ES, a $1,200.00 CD/SACD/DVD player originally, available brand new for between $519.99 - $568.88 from one of these four dealers:

http://ecoustics.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=641085

Here's the best part - you could then later have ModWright install their Plantinum Signature Truth mods, transforming it into this world-class player:

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue14/modwright999ES.htm

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue20/modwrightupdate.htm

The ModWright Sony NS999ES is what we use in our reference system...ABSOLUTELY PHENOMINAL!!!

[Parnelli777]

The Jolida JD100A. Not a tube buffer stage like others, but a real tube output section. No op amp ICs. It's a steal at used prices, and a heck of a good deal new at $900.00.

[Eduardo AAVM]

I would use XCD 88 as transport with some tweking (spikes, granite block, herbies audio lab stabilizers and some clenaers) and then I would better look for a dedicated DAC.