[Bingenito]

I am determined to make the SqueezeBox be my only source but in stock form it is not as refined as I would like it to be. The new modded SB3 will be feeding a Blue Circle BC501 ob DAC. Based on the feedback of everyone in this forum and a phone conversation with Zybar I just ordered digital mods with gold bybee and the Ultimate MKII PS along with a 6ft Summit DC cable.

Since Wayne will be modding a brand new SB3 I will still have my original stock SB3 to compare. I look forward to posting my findings within a few weeks!

Thank you to everyone that posts here for providing useful feedback.

Bryan

[Freejazz]

As a past member ...

Welcome to the club Bryan!

I have a feeling that you will find the modded-Squeezebox, Ultimate MKII PS and Summit  DC cable to be a VERY SPECIAL combination. 

ENJOY!

Scott

[Double Ugly]

Pulled the trigger on my first modded piece of gear

Wow.  You sure picked a big way to move into the world of modded components.

I've owned only SB2s, and I believe Wayne's mods differ a bit on the SB3.  Even so, I predict you will very quickly determine that comparing the two (stock vs. Bolder) is a complete waste of time.

I know I did. 

Congrats, Bryan.  You did good! 

[Bingenito]

Wow.  You sure picked a big way to move into the world of modded components.

Sure did  Unlike some of the other gear that is modded I see real potential in the Squeeze Box. I have owned a stock SB3 for about a year and find it hard to go back to spinning CDs. I predict that the CD transport will be a thing of the past in a few years. A quick look on Agon will confirm that high end transports are becoming rare.

In the case of the SB, I think that I will always own one. They are just too easy too use and sound great.

[zybar]

Pulled the trigger on my first modded piece of gear

Wow.  You sure picked a big way to move into the world of modded components.

I've owned only SB2s, and I believe Wayne's mods differ a bit on the SB3.  Even so, I predict you will very quickly determine that comparing the two (stock vs. Bolder) is a complete waste of time.

I know I did. 

Congrats, Bryan.  You did good! 

Bryan,

As Jim said above, there will really be no comparison...

Keep us posted on your thoughts.

George

[Daygloworange]

Bingenito,

I'm a recent convert to the world of Bolder modded SB transports. I ordered an SB 3 from Slim Devices, they shipped it to Wayne, where I had the full analog mod (minus the Bybees) done. Also sent him an Elpac from Allied Electronics and had him mod that too. All this was done without ever seeing one let alone hearing one.

I decided based on the comments, reviews, descriptions, comparisons of fellow AC members like Zybar, 95bcwh, mgalusha, mcgsxr and all the others. No regrets. I am totally in love with this Squeezebox business. 

I also said that I feel standard CDP's will become dinosaurs in no time. Paper weights that you can't give away. (Ok, maybe that's a little harsh..)

Based on my experience now after my leap of faith regarding the SB 3, I will be sending mine back for the whole kitchen sink treatment. Gold Bybees in the SB's analog section, Ultimate PS Mk 2 with all the business. No reservations. I think it's a really good investment, and a no brainer.

Welcome to the club! 

Cheers

[ipy]

Just received from Wayne the Ultimate MKII PS (with Bybees) along with a 6ft Summit DC cable to replace my Basic Rev.1 PS.  From the word go, the Ultimate MKII is sounding very sweet indeed even without any break-in. Musical images are being projected life size with heaps of details, depth, width & no hint of any glare!  I could imagine with a few hundred hours playing, it will only get better  aa.  Who could imagine a simple PS change has such a profound impact.....I 'm a convert.
Oh yes, I got Wayne's digital mod (with Silver Slipstream Bybee) SB3 6 months ago & during that time, it sounded exquisite as well after running it in for about 2 weeks vs stock SB3 (Spare)!

[denjo]

Ipy
I wonder if you can share your views about the likely benefits of a digital only mod versus stock digital out. If one has a reasonably good DAC like the Altmann Attraction DAC, and decides to use the SB3 via digital out only, is there much to be gained by the digital only mods and Ultimate PS? You have heard the SB3 digital stock and now with the full monty, would you care to assess on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 for best)what the sound was like in stock versus full mod guise? I can well understand that the analog mods will show a much greater difference (thus, substantial improvement) after the SB3 has been modded than would the incremental improvements of a digital only mod? Am I right in thinking this way?

My imperfect reasoning is based on a Philips 963SA which was substantially modded (analog and digital). When I ran the Philips through a good DAC versus an el cheapo universal player through the same DAC, I found that the differences had narrowed, making it quite impossible to say the modded player was better. This led me to the conclusion that the digital mods would make little difference when played through a competent DAC.
Thanks in advance!

Best regards
Dennis

[ipy]

Dennis,
IME, one thing that stood out between Bolder's SB3 digital only mod versus stock SB3 digital out is details are presented without glare & because of this, more of it can be heard as well.  As I start to break in the Bolder's SB3 unit, the perceived soundstage began to widen, has greater depth & the LF tightens considerably.
FYI, I was using a modded Rotel 1070 CDP (Superclock II, DBE digital output, Rubycon's caps, deadening damping sheets & diodes upgrades) before it got replaced by the SB3s feeding digits to a DPA DAC.  Based on a scaling of 1 to 10 (10 for best), I would rate the stock SB3 to be 4, my modded Rotel CDP/transport 5 & Bolder's SB3 digit only mod to be 7.  The SB3s are being powered by Bolder's Basic Rev.1 PS for this comparison.
The Ulitmate MKII PS are more of "macro" improvements ie: providing more life to the finer/"micro" improvements of the SB3 unit digtial mods.
Hope this helps & make sense......

[Bingenito]

Thank you for all of the responses. I am confident that the digital modded SB3 will deliver. Based on everything that I have read it seems that the only limiting factor after these mods would be the DAC. I believe I have that part covered

[playntheblues]

Congrats Bingenito,  I have had my modded SB 2 now for about 5 months and really enjoy it.  I have not YET ordered the big power supply but hope to soon.
Guy

[denjo]

Ipy
Thanks very much for your reply!

Best Regards
Dennis

[AphileEarlyAdopter]

Dennis,
I have a digital mod SB3 with a modded ELpac from Wayne. What the digital mods to is to reduce the jitter (well ..you knew that). In my use of the SB3 with a Panasonic XR55 bi-amping my Silverline Sonatina speakers, this reduction of jitter has - increased the bass - very tight and agile and soundstage/ambience is much more defined and the whole sound is more and more clear. More like, focussing in a camera, the picture is good, but you turn a little bit and the picture is even more sharper. Wayne thinks my Panasonic is still the bottleneck, but he is not ready to mod this, as he is busy with the Squeezebox mods.

[denjo]

Hi AphileEarlyAdopter
Thanks very much for your inputs. Yes, jitter is the bane of CDPs and the SBs! Since I already own the Altmann Attraction DAC (which comes with a jitter reduction function called JISCO), I was just wondering how much of the digital mods would be necessary. i must say that playback of my el cheapo LG DVD (no mods, just plain jane) player via the Altmann DAC sounds really good. It is just unimaginable how much better it can sound than it already does! Looks like I will never know until I really try!
I will be taking delivery of the SB3 in the next few days . I think I will enjoy the SB3 for a bit until "upgraditis" hits me. Your views have definitely confirmed the unanimous views of many others who have enjoyed the SB with mods! I have yet to hear from someone who says that the digital mods don't make much of a difference!

Best Regards
Dennis

[Double Ugly]

Based on everything that I have read it seems that the only limiting factor after these mods would be the DAC.

It'll be interesting to see if you believe using a separate DAC sounds better than connecting the analog outs directly to the amp(s). 

I was bound and determined to use the SB w/ my favorite DAC at first, but quickly surmised the best sound was attained via a direct connection...at least in my system  I believe George found the same to be true in his as well.

-Jim

[Bingenito]

I will not be using the SB3 analog to my amp. My amp is balanced and the SB3 creates a ground loop when connected using adapters. In any case I would be shocked and amazed if the SB3's preamp and DAC was better than my current components. Not being an audio snob just being honest based on my own taste in music and gear.

For this reason I ordered digital mods only.

[Double Ugly]

You wouldn't be the first to be "shocked and amazed."  Others had components universally accepted as better - in some cases, a LOT better - than anything that could be housed in a SB, including me. 

But the ground loop issue makes it a no-go anyway, so good luck w/ the set-up.

[Bingenito]

I have no problem with being shocked and amazed 

I am really just at a point where I am very pleased with my system and do not want to change a thing except to make an SB3 sound as good as a high end transport. The convenience of the SB3 is outstanding but as everyone here knows in stock form it can use some help on refinement.

[AphileEarlyAdopter]

Hi AphileEarlyAdopter
Thanks very much for your inputs. Yes, jitter is the bane of CDPs and the SBs! Since I already own the Altmann Attraction DAC (which comes with a jitter reduction function called JISCO), I was just wondering how much of the digital mods would be necessary. ..

I can understand why you are hesitating when you already have a jitter-reduction device. I tried to read up on JISCO (not just today, even earlier) but never got it (even though I am a CS/EE grad). Maybe it might still make a difference. Maybe not. It is only $200  bucks and also Wayne tries to filter out the noise from the display polluting the digital output.