[Wayne1]

The information about the SB3 analog only and full mods is now up on the BOLDER Cable website.

SB3 analog only

SB3 Full Mod

There have been a few changes in regards to the parts used and the degree of work involved in the mods. The cost has gone up a bit from the SB2 mods.

I have just completed two of the full mods for a couple of AC members. Hopefully THEY will comment on the workmanship and the sonics in the coming weeks.



I am currently backed up 8 weeks or so on mod and power supply orders. If you are interested in getting a mod done, the best thing to do is place an order through the website to reserve you spot in line. Use M/C or Visa to pay for the order. You will not be charged until the order ships back to you.

I will contact you by e-mail when your place in line is getting close to the top of the list so you can ship your unit to me for the mod.

[mr_bill]

Wayne,

Great to see the analog mods out for the SB3!

Would you care to venture an educated guess how an analog modded SB3 would compare to an SB3 digital out to a Benchmark Dac1?

I'm running my SB3 into the Dac1.

Thanks,
Bill

[Wayne1]

Bill,

I have yet to hear a Benchmark DAC so I cannot say for certain how they would compare.

Tyson has listened to one in his system, however. I believe he thought the Benchmark sounded nearly as good as his highly modded Mensa DI/O,  but not quite.

I have compared an early modded SB2 to my even more modded Mensa DI/O and felt the SB2 was far more musical and involving.

I am not too sure how the analog mods on the SB3 will finally sound, in comparison to the SB2 mods. There will be many changes in the sound due to the break-in of the BlackGate capacitors. The two I have modded are on their way to their owners.

I do believe there will be comments posted during the break-in period and when it is finally done.

One of the SB3s is going to Scott Faller in St. Louis and the other is going to  MCGSXR (Mark) in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Perhaps if there are any owners of Benchmark DACs in those areas, they may be willing to bring the DACs over to compare.

Maybe Scott will make part three of his ongoing saga of the Squeezebox story about comparisons of the modded SB3 to different outboard DACs.

[mcgsxr]

I will certainly be posting my comments, as I have in the past with all my gear since joining here, regarding initial and breakin sound, as my modded SB3 arrives, and breaks in.

For the record, the configurations I will be using are as follows, starting with dedicated lines off a pony panel in my basement (former owner had a woodworking shop, and installed a 30a box, dedicated, with 6 lines out out that...)

Bolder Nitro PC feeding Basic PS
Bolder Basic PS for the SB3
Bolder fully modded SB3 as transport/DAC (analog outs to the JVC)
Bolder Nitro analog IC
Felicia feeding the JVC (for you sticklers, I could try the Felicia on the PS)
JVC EX A1 as integrated
Bolder M-80 speaker cables
DIY Visaton b200 open baffle speakers

I will also try the following:

Bolder Nitro PC feeding Basic PS
Bolder Basic PS for the SB3
Bolder fully modded SB3 as transport/DAC/preamp
Bolder Nitro analog IC
Felicia feeding the Gainclone (have to use the Felicia on the GC, as my power makes the GC buzz otherwise - darn 8 foot flourescent lights in my unfinished basement!)
Gainclone 2x75wpc amp
Bolder M-80 speaker cables
DIY Visaton b200 open baffle speakers

And, when I get the chance, I will even try THIS one for any interested...!

Felicia feeding the PC
Bolder Nitro PC feeding Basic PS
Bolder Basic PS for the SB3
Bolder fully modded SB3 as transport
Panny XR25 as amp
Bolder M-80 speaker cables
DIY Visaton b200 open baffle speakers

This way, I should get a handle on how the SB3 acts both as simply a digital transport (when used with the Panny), and as a transport/DAC (when used with the JVC integrated), and as used as the transport/DAC/pre, when used with my gainclone.  If people object to my DIY speakers, I could be convinced to sub in a set of KIT41 monitors, as I have those built in the family room...

IF my brother is willing to get involved with the madness, we could install his stock SB3, and do a little side by side A/Bing, but since we both have 2 kids...

[chadh]

Wayne,

Sorry if I'm being dim witted, but does this mean that you perform a significantly different set of mods on the SB2 and on the SB3?  I knew there was an issue of finding an appropriate capacitor to fit inside the SB3, and that this would necessitate some differences.  But has this also generated further differences?  Or is this just part of the natural evolution of a general set of SB mods that apply to both the SB2 and SB3?

I ask this because I am now in possession of an SB2 and, as soon as I have budgetary approval, wanted to send it along for the analog mods.  So I'm wondering if they have evolved, or whether the modded SB2 and SB3 are really different animals now.

Thanks,

Chad

[Wayne1]

Chad,

It is a combination of the two.

The mod is basically the same concept on both the SB2 and SB3. Remove and replace the capacitors in the power supply with higher quality, low ESR, higher value types. Remove and replace the DAC chip with the higher spec'ed version. Run the analog output direct from the DAC chip to new RCA connectors through some high quality coupling capacitors.

The SB3 case design requires the the main DC input cap be physically smaller than in the SB2. The same thing goes for the analog output coupling caps. There is just no room for the very large Sonicap film caps.

As I have been modding and listening to different power supply caps, I have noticed that the Panasonic caps sound a little "dry" or "sterile" compared to the very LARGE and EXPENSIVE Jensen four pole caps. I have tried to come a bit closer to the warm analog sound of the Jensens by using a small BlackGate cap in bypass to the Panasonics internally in the SB3 mods.

I have tried out the BlackGates in my own SB2. They have been breaking in for about 2 weeks now. In another week they should be done and I will try to get together with mgalusha and Turk to compare the "new" mods to their units. If it turns out to make a significant difference, I will then offer the BlackGate caps standard with the SB2 mods at a higher price.

At this point, I feel the sound of a fully modded (Sonicap main cap with Sonicap Platinum and Sonicap Gen 2 bypasses with Silver Slipstream Bybees) to be quite a bit better then any digital source I have heard. I do feel that the SB2 will still remain better sounding than the SB3 for analog outputs.

[chadh]

Many thanks, Wayne.

Chad

[DeadFish]

I do feel that the SB2 will still remain better sounding than the SB3 for analog outputs.

Hey Wayne, does this statement make one think that the two units would be neck-and-neck for the digital mods?

I just got my SB3 last weekend and have been tickled with the stock sound in my system and haven't even tried it with my Theta DAC yet. (but looking forward to it!)
The problem with sending mine to you to be modded is how long my wife will have to give it up for....
 
Gonna have to happen one of these days though...
We'll give you a little time to get caught up first though..
I know what I heard at Scott's in variance to 'stock'.  

Regards,
DeadFish

[Wayne1]

Hey Wayne, does this statement make one think that the two units would be neck-and-neck for the digital mods?

That is a little hard to say at this point. I believe the the SB2 with "full mods" would sound better than the SB3 with digital only mods. The SB3 with full mods would come very close. The SB3 would have a smaller main PS cap and the leads to the digital connector are longer than the leads in the SB2. This extra length may act as an antenna for all that RF being broadcast by the wireless board and internal switching PS.

I have not had a chance to compare a fully broken in, modded SB3 to a SB2 with the same mods. Perhaps you guys in St Louis can do this sort of experiment and let the rest of us know

[DeadFish]

Thanks for the thoughts, Wayne!

I don't know who has what hardware in our neck of the woods, us being relatively 'slow bloomers' on the SB scene.  
Will have to encourage a 'listen-in' and see what can be heard.

Regards,
DF