[cyberan]

hi

i am a new member that lurks in from time to time to see if there is anything new.

i decided to make some justice and to share my short experience with the modified sb3.

i bought two fully modified sb units, one with bybee and one without, so first, to those who are curious to know if its worth the extra buck, i would say that it is definitely better but you have to listen for yourself.

the units are working with a dedicated build psu units,
one with a 12V battery followed by BG/ Rubycon caps and a jung regulator output.
and one with a plitron low noise transformer followed by BG/ Rubycon caps and a jung regulator output.


now for the comparison section vs the transporter.
to make the long story short, after waiting for a while for the transporter to break in, i can say that it does not reach the same level as the fully modified sb3 with the bybee, i can say that it actually stands far behind.
if you are asking what was better on the sb, its a simple reply.
the inner details, the presentation, and above all the musicality.
the bass and control were about the same level, though it does make a very big difference what kind of psu you will be using.

for those who are interested i can say that the sb was also compared lots of 5k$-7k$ CD players and the modified sb was simply better.

there were a couple of systems that were used for the comparison.
from various Avalon speakers to audio-technica W5k headphones.
and from  CAT tube amp to bell canto digital amp, and Larroco Headcode for the various headphones.

i hope it helps for those who are standing on the fence trying to choose a source.

this modified sb player simply rocks.


 

[95bcwh]

So you built your own external power supply for the SB? Is your SB modified by Bolder cable company?

[cyberan]

yes, the psu units were build for me, but not by bolder cable.

and the modifications are all from the bolder cable company, otherwise i wouldn't be writing here

[95bcwh]

yes, the psu units were build for me, but not by bolder cable.

and the modifications are all from the bolder cable company, otherwise i wouldn't be writing here

Do you have gold Bybee in your analog path? And who built that PSU for you? Have you compared your PSU with Bolder's Ultimate PS?

[cyberan]

no gold bybee, it is the standard copper bybee on both analog and digital paths, and i regret that now because the gold might have been better.
after hearing the difference that the bybee makes, i bought a few bybee purifiers but hadn't had the time to install them on my amps.

further more both systems have Sonicap Platinum

[cyberan]

i forgot to answer, a technician audio lover, and a friend made the psu for me, and i never heard the psu from bolder though i am quite sure its good.

[95bcwh]

well, I wouldn't be surprised by your finding at all. I mean, Wayne does good work on the squeezebox, no question about it.

You mentioned about letting the transporter burning in for some time, did you actually notice any burn-in effect?

I actually just received a stock transporter today, I took advantage of their 30-day trial offer. Right out of box, after doing A/B with my reference setup, I concluded that I like the "special" DAC in my Tact preamp more than the DAC in the transporter. To be fair to the transporter, I only use "bypass mode" on the Tact. The DAC in the Tact is modified by Aberdeen Component, it's a "special" version  aa, it has the kind of "texture" in vocal that the transporter analog out cannot reproduce. The Tact also sounded more transparent, holographic, lively, and have more soul.

Now that conclusion is just what my ears are telling me. There're people who would disagree. For example, if you've been to slimdevices forum lately, you will find "tomjtx" who compared the stock transporter with Bolder modified SB2+Ultimate PS, and he thought that the two sounded a little different but are in the same league.

So, there seems to be no truth in this hobby..

I'm leaving the TP on for 24/7, just in case, there's indeed some burn-in effect..

[cyberan]

yes there was a burn in effect and the transporter did get better with time.
now as for other people and the absolute truth , we all know that there is no such thing because its all very subjective.
i do not know what other people use at home, but i do know that i own at present more than one high end system and the sb was the source that i wanted to listen to at the end of the day.

[95bcwh]

Tom,
  Remember.. after you done with the modded transporter, you will ship that to me??

Happy Holiday..

barry

[cyberan]

i must add one more thing  , both the sb and the transporter set a new standard in audio, not only for the amazing sound per price value, but also for the outstanding comfort of browzing your complete literary in seconds.
i really believe that these two devices are worth every cent of their cost, and which one is the better purchase is probably a matter of system synergy and personal taste, and my own personal taste was the modified sb.

[jermmd]

It seems to me that the consensus is that a fully modded Bolder SB with a modded power supply sounds better than the Transporter. My Transporter sounds better to me than my previous digital-only modded SB2 with a lesser power supply into the Aberdeen modded Tact 2.2. I look forward to hearing Zybar's SB2 soon so I can compare for myself.

My system is very simple right now. The Transporter into the McCormack DNA-500 to Salk HT3's. I can listen to music on my system all day and I continue to be impressed. I agree that Slimdevices (or something like it) is the best way to play music. The CD player is a thing of the past for me.

[95bcwh]

"Consensus again?!!"   ????!?

Where can I read such consensus? I know a lot of people who're very happy with the Transporter. How many people have compare fully modded Bolder SB with Ultimate PS against the Transporter? The only person I know of is "Tomjtx", and he certainly didn't feel that the Transporter is inferior!

It seems to me that the consensus is that a fully modded Bolder SB with a modded power supply sounds better than the Transporter. My Transporter sounds better to me than my previous digital-only modded SB2 with a lesser power supply into the Aberdeen modded Tact 2.2. I look forward to hearing Zybar's SB2 soon so I can compare for myself.

My system is very simple right now. The Transporter into the McCormack DNA-500 to Salk HT3's. I can listen to music on my system all day and I continue to be impressed. I agree that Slimdevices (or something like it) is the best way to play music. The CD player is a thing of the past for me.

[Wayne1]

"Consensus again?!!"   ????!?

Where can I read such consensus? I know a lot of people who're very happy with the Transporter. How many people have compare fully modded Bolder SB with Ultimate PS against the Transporter? The only person I know of is "Tomjtx", and he certainly didn't feel that the Transporter is inferior!

It seems to me that the consensus is that a fully modded Bolder SB with a modded power supply sounds better than the Transporter. My Transporter sounds better to me than my previous digital-only modded SB2 with a lesser power supply into the Aberdeen modded Tact 2.2. I look forward to hearing Zybar's SB2 soon so I can compare for myself.

My system is very simple right now. The Transporter into the McCormack DNA-500 to Salk HT3's. I can listen to music on my system all day and I continue to be impressed. I agree that Slimdevices (or something like it) is the best way to play music. The CD player is a thing of the past for me.

Hey Barry,

I compared the two here http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=31935.0 

mgalusha had a Transporter in has system for a bit right before RMAF. He stated: "So far I think my heavily modded SB2 has the edge in terms of musicality, soul if you will, but the Transporter is a very nice piece of equipment." http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=32240.0

You and quite a few others heard the comparison at RMAF. I believe you even posted about it.

"The verdict is out! Well, at least to my own ears Cool
Wayne's SB2 analog mod with the Ultimate Power supply clearly beats the stock Transporter analog out. I A/B them at the show, the transporter analog out sounded a little "blurry" at the edge, Wayne's SB2 analog out sounded sharper, more transparent.
A guy who sat down with me at the same time also told me that he heard the same thing."

[95bcwh]

Wayen,
  Of course, I remember what I heard at the RMAF, I didn't want to include you & me into "the group of people who'd done the comparison", because I didn't want people to accuse us for being biased..

  I should have wrote this instead:
  The only person I know of (aside Wayne and me)  is "Tomjtx",...

 
  Rgds
  barry

[zybar]

It seems to me that the consensus is that a fully modded Bolder SB with a modded power supply sounds better than the Transporter. My Transporter sounds better to me than my previous digital-only modded SB2 with a lesser power supply into the Aberdeen modded Tact 2.2. I look forward to hearing Zybar's SB2 soon so I can compare for myself.

My system is very simple right now. The Transporter into the McCormack DNA-500 to Salk HT3's. I can listen to music on my system all day and I continue to be impressed. I agree that Slimdevices (or something like it) is the best way to play music. The CD player is a thing of the past for me.

Come on up for a visit and bring your Transporter.  Might even have the Vandy 5A's setup...   aa

George

[Wayne1]

I currently have three Transporters here in various stages of mods. I do still have one completely stock that is broken in.

I just received my modded SB2 and prototype PS back from Tom.

If there is anyone in the Denver area that is willing to host a listening session in the next few weeks, I would be very willing to bring the hardware over.

I regret that I cannot host anything for some time. My VMPS 626Rs speaker were sent back to SF to be upgraded to CDWG and a few other things. I have not yet gotten them back.

The ONLY requirement I have is that all who attend the listening session will post their impressions of the session here.

[95bcwh]

After 4 days of burn-in, the transporter still sound rather dry and unrevolving..hmm...that makes me wonder, did Tomjtx got a "defective" Bolder modded SB2??? This is not to knock Wayne or Tom.. maybe it's my ears again I still find that my digitally modded SB3 (by non-other-than Wayne) sounded more 'juicy' than the transporter's analog out and digital out....I don't think I got a defective transporter because what I heard now pretty much consistent with what I heard during the RMAF..perhaps the transporter desperately needs some Bybee to save the day....
 
 

[Wayne1]

Barry,

Tom received the exact same modded SB2, power supply and cables that you heard at RMAF.

Some people may just prefer the sound of the Transporter over the modded SB. As I recall, Tom called the modded SB "laid back".

I feel the the Transporter is "tipped up" We may be hearing the same thing but interpret it differently

[95bcwh]

Tom,
  What're your associated gears again? Which Jeff Roland amp are you using?

cheers
barry

[Wayne1]

Here is a very interesting review of the modded SB3 with Ultimate PS MKII vs the stock Transporter vs a stock Olive

The poster is a female classical musician. She also achieved an EE many years ago.

What is so gratifying to me is that what she heard is EXACTLY what I hear in regards to the sound of the Transporter and modded SB with Ultimate PS MK II

This is copied from the Slim Devices forum with the poster's permission:

The poster is laurie and the title of her post is: Recommend full Bolder mods with power supply

After 12 months of trial and error I am finally very happy with my setup for my large great room after many false starts. My setup is SB3 with full Bolder Cable analog mods (including the Platinum Sonicap and Ultimate Power Supply II) running over wired 100 MB Ethernet > Musical Fidelity Amp > Sonus Farber speakers. We tried all of the solutions listed below, but could not get a rich realistic sound until we tried SB3 with the mods. My ears bleed easily with harsh, digital, or flat (no harmonic vertones) sound because I am a classical musician. It is interesting that the SB3 plus mods cost less than Transporter but sound much much better. I am not a techy audiophile so I hope my descriptions are clear enough to be useful).

1/2006- Olive Musica - Sound is very thin tried with two different amp & speaker setups (rating 3 out of 10). Returned it.

9/2006 - Transporter - Loved Slimserver and functionality of Transporter, but the sound out of the analog outputs was dissapointing (rating 4 out of 10). Sound was particularly flat in the low and mid treble regions. Desirable harmonics (overtones) unique to each instrument were simply not present. String quartets music, for instance, sounded particularly thin and quack-quack-quacky. Additionally, the sound overall was not as full as I had expected. I talked with SlimDevices staff about it several times and had them test it to make sure that there was nothing defective about the particular unit I received. I returned it.

10/2006 - SB3 (kept the SB3 that came with Transporter) - Sounded thin and noisy out of the analog outputs (rating 2), but sounded much better than Transporter out the digital output into a California Audio Labs Alpha DAC (>Musical Fidelity amp > Sonus Farber speakers)(rating 6). After listening to this for a few weeks, I realized that the sound was a little less clear and less full than I wanted. Sent SB3 to Bolder Cable for mods described above.

12/2006 - Received the modded SB3 back. Tremendous improvement with modded analog outputs and Ultimate Power supply right out of the box even though the caps require many hours of break-in to achieve best sound (rating 8 ). Now, with about 200 hours of break-in it sounds even better (rating 9). This should continue to improve with more hours of break-in. Just for fun, I tried SB3 with the power supply provided instead of the Ultimate Power Supply. (rating 5 or 6). I then tried SB3 unmodded digital output into my DAC with the Ultimate Power Supply. (rating 8 ). The fully modded Analog output with Ultimate Power Supply sounds best now that it is partially broken in.

I'm going to purchase a second modded SB3 for our bedroom when I can afford it.