TEAC mods...

lowrider · « **on:** 17 Nov 2005, 08:00 pm »

I intend to buy a TEAC DR-L700 and possibly mod it a bit:

Red Wine replaces the 35V, 1,000uF power supply decoupling cap with a 50V, 1,500uF Panasonic FC capacitor, someone else with a 50v, 1,000uF Black Gate...

What is the difference ? Wich one will work better with Omega A8 or similar efficient full-range speakers ? Will they sound different with 4ohm and 8ohm loads ?

Also, if I use the Transcendent Balanced Power Supply, or something similar, will replacing the original power chord still improve the sound ?

Thanks,

beatdownvictim · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Nov 2005, 08:19 pm »

Dude, that's cool, i never seen anybody talk about the receiver in the series. Hell, i dont even know if it integrates the use of tripath amplification.

From what i know, RWA reworks the whole unit to make it battery powered. But from audiocircle member Lcrim, i remember him stating that using a teac with the transcendent balanced power supply was the only way to go (granted he was using the al700p). As for the powercord if you want to retain it, Lcrim had his stock one pulled out in favor of a hardwired volex. I purchased his teac from him and i'm having a hell of a time with it and i'm enjoying the heck out of it.

Anyway, there's two guys on this board who modify the al700-p. Wayne and Vinnie, without hesitation and guilt in any way or matter, i can whole heartedly recommend you to both of them. They're both great guys who go out of their way to help out AC members and valuable resources to the audio community in general. Happy listening

BDV

lowrider · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Nov 2005, 08:41 pm »

Thanks,

The receiver has just one stereo module, equal to those in the 3 channel power...

No room inside for bateries, it has a DVD player + surround processor + tuner + 2 channel power, and the box is the same size...

I am too far away to be worth using those guys help to mod my kit, so I will probably just change the capacitor, maybe the power chord too, and use a filter, hoping the result will be good enough...

I am moving to Latvia for a while and want a reasonably priced AV system with sound quality that wont disappoint me, my actual system is a tough act to follow...

lowrider · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 Nov 2005, 09:36 pm »

Anyone compared this TEAC with the JVC EX-A1 ?

I didnt know about this JVC, looks even nicer than the TEAC...

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Nov 2005, 10:20 pm »

Quote from: lowrider

I intend to buy a TEAC DR-L700 and possibly mod it a bit:

Red Wine replaces the 35V, 1,000uF power supply decoupling cap with a 50V, 1,500uF Panasonic FC capacitor, someone else with a 50v, 1,000uF Black Gate...

What is the difference ? Wich one will work better with Omega A8 or similar efficient full-range speakers ? Will they sound different with 4ohm and 8ohm loads ?

Also, if I use the Transcendent Balanced Power Supply, or something similar, will replacing the original power chord still improve the sound ?

Thanks,

Hi lowrider,

I use the Panasonic FC, and also offer the Black Gates as an upgrade option.

The Black Gates are a little more resolving with the high frequencies and are a little bit tighter in the bass frequencies, but the FC is a great cap and will do the trick

The choice of this cap do not depend on if you use 4-ohm or 8-ohn loads...this is a power supply decoupling cap, not a cap in the signal path.

Regards,

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Nov 2005, 10:22 pm »

Doh! I should have read your post more carefully. You were not talking about the AL700P that I mod, you were talking about the receiver

lowrider · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Nov 2005, 10:31 pm »

Thanks Vinnie,

The boards are identical, but the receiver has only one for the front channels...

I asked about the impedance because I read in this forum, the long thread, that it is not that good with 4ohm loads, will it make any difference with 6ohms ?

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Nov 2005, 10:42 pm »

Quote from: lowrider

Thanks Vinnie,

The boards are identical, but the receiver has only one for the front channels...

I asked about the impedance because I read in this forum, the long thread, that it is not that good with 4ohm loads, will it make any difference with 6ohms ?

Identical boards...nice!

In my experience, the stock Teac works fine with 4-ohm loads. I found that after the SLA battery conversion, it was able to handle the peaks in the bass better (w/o distortion) vs. the stock SMPS, which can't deliver as much current when needed. Still, the stock Teac will work with 4-ohm loads just fine as long as you don't goose the amp past its comfort zone

It is also fine with 6 and 8-ohm loads....

mcgsxr · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 Nov 2005, 12:11 am »

I can verify that in my system, the board in the AL700P did great with a 4 ohm load.

In the end, based on some other system reasons, I ended up with the exact JVC you are talking about.

I recommend that JVC, for use with the A8s - I own the drivers from those speakers, and it will stun you, that combo...

Have fun!

Oh, and try some balanced power on that too - I am using a DIY version, to be found in the Lab circle here - the Felicia.

suits_me · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Nov 2005, 03:37 am »

Uh oh, I think Needle Doctor's gonna boost the price of the TEAC DR-L700 by about a hundred smackers thanks to this thread....

I wonder, not having seen this receiver, if all the extra electronics and emissions from the DVD and the tuner will make this more problematic...even apart from internal space issues vis a vis modding.

beatdownvictim · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Nov 2005, 06:23 am »

Quote from: suits_me

Uh oh, I think Needle Doctor's gonna boost the price of the TEAC DR-L700 by about a hundred smackers thanks to this thread....

I wonder, not having seen this receiver, if all the extra electronics and emissions from the DVD and the tuner will make this more problematic...even apart from internal space issues vis a vis modding.

Man, nobody would buy a freaking teac at 300, hell i wouldn't even buy one for $100, ha ha, what fools. it's a ripoff at $100, how stupid do they think people are?

needledoctor, if you're reading this pm me if you wanna sell em for $100

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Nov 2005, 11:13 am »

Quote from: beatdownvictim

needledoctor, if you're reading this pm me if you wanna sell em for $100

Glad to see someone is having fun here on AC

I wonder if needledoctor really even visits AC?

Jampot · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Nov 2005, 12:11 pm »

Up early as usual Vinnie!

There seem to be 2 threads running about the Teacs - the receiver question by lowrider, and the 'needle doctor rip off by the chair guy and Beat down victim has certainly found the humour in them. Even this Brit has enjoyed the entertainment!

Being serious for a moment - does any one think there is a prospect of doing something with the 'receiver' like lowrider asks? Vinnie may remember that I have $99 worth of needle doctor a-l700p in Keller (TX) pending mods, but I also bought the receiver / surround amp combo here in the UK. Sound City have the receiver for $423.50 and although it may not have the bang per buck of the Sharp (all in one) it does have that identical (to the a-l700p) tripath amp board.....

Perhaps we could put the batteries outboard?

lowrider · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Nov 2005, 04:30 pm »

I read someone saying that with balanced power one gets 75% of the benefits of the batery PS, maybe yes, maybe not, but for me it is the solution for the DVD receiver, either TEAC or JVC, and they sure are very convenient one box solutions...

The TEAC packs more punch, particularly regarding video, progressive scan, component, etc...

Vinnie,

I have a BelCanto eVo GenII, they changed the output filter CAPs with noticeable improvement, wouldnt the same work with TEAC ?

mcgsxr · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 Nov 2005, 09:16 pm »

I have never seen that Teac in person, but have heard several modded AL700P - I own the JVC, and can verify that it has progressive scan, and component outputs too...

Stock, there is no comparison, the JVC is a superior being, with my speakers, taste, and room etc.

The Bolder modded Teac AL700P does best it for ultimate resolution and performance, but requires a more complex system - pre, power, source etc.

For me, using the Visaton b200 drivers (same as in your proposed A8 speakers) the JVC is the easier choice for me. It could be that I could tweak the Teac based system to deliver better sound, but it means MANY components, IC, etc.

Simple for me - balanced power, plus EX A1, plus DIY open baffle Visatons.

I am parked, until I see where this whole SB3 thing is going... since that could be used as a pre, and could feed the Bolder Teac directly...

Then again, Vinnie did offer to mod my JVC too, so if I open up the possibilities, they get complex in a hurry!

For my $$, I recommend the JVC - toss the stock speakers, get those A8's going, and sit back.

I suspect you will be very happy, for very limited $$.

lowrider · « **Reply #15 on:** 18 Nov 2005, 10:37 pm »

The European version of the JVC has SCART and RGB instead of component and progressive scan, it probably looses a bit, but image, although important, is secondary to sound...

TEAC is more powerful, 30 watts into 6ohms and 0.05% thd, 30 watts into 4ohms and 10% thd for the JVC, maybe not relevant with sensitive speakers...

TEAC has a proper surround processor and outputs for the center and surround channels, not very important, I don't intend to do surround with this system...

JVC looks a bit nicer and it is more modern, it also has a 192 Mz audio DAC against 96 Mz for the TEAC...

Teac is Tripath like my BelCanto, I like the sound, I never heard any JVC or Panasonic...

JVC has detachable power chord...

Same price, but I get a pair of nice looking speakers with JVC, good for surround or to connect to another small system...

Did I forget anything...

mcgsxr · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 Nov 2005, 12:47 am »

No, I think you nailed it, with the differences between the units.

I forget that some folks have not heard the JVC technology - I have heard the Panny digital receiver, one of the JVC receivers, and two of the JVC mini units like the EX A1 - and of course the Teac.

The EX A1 is reputed to be JVC's statement piece for their "digital hybrid amplifier technology" so it is a great example of their take on digital amps - tubey sound, reliable, efficient and simple to use!

The power, with the A8's, does not matter at all - both will get plenty loud for most folks.

The video portion, well I guess you will have to sort out how much of your time will involve that - I have spun a DVD-A in the JVC, but have not bothered to check out the video portion of the equation.

Nor have I heard the stock speakers - they just sit there, since the Visaton sound is so good to me...

Good luck with the decision - both are good units, but for me, the JVC is better stock.

lowrider · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 Nov 2005, 09:31 pm »

If I buy the JVC EX-A1, I wont mod, just use the Transcendent balanced power supply, replace the power chord, put ERS inside the lid and use Ceraball or other supports, will this be enough to get great sound...

Do you sujest an easy, very effective mod ?

lowrider · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 Nov 2005, 09:53 am »

Interesting somparison of fullrange drivers:

http://www.acuhorn.pl/driver.htm

lowrider · « **Reply #19 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 07:53 pm »

I ordered the TEAC to use with Schallwand SanGreal speakers, made in Europe is an advantage in case of problems, so no Omega A8 this time...

They modify PSone + Clari-T to sell with their speakers, so I asked them to modify my DVD receiver...

Looking forward for the result...

http://www.schallwand.com/4903.html