Some comments from our satisfied customers :-

 N - indicates latest comments added

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N

...on his EA Clock Installed Rega Planet CDP

Why the hell do I need to mod a Stereophile Class B recommended CDP ? Anyway the stock Rega Planet 2000 sounded pretty decent. Do a search in AA and you will get hundreds of hits on how good a stock Rega Planet 2000 CDP sound. My reason is simply to bring it to probably stereophile Class A. So, what's the verdict after the mod ?

Well, let me give you some background on my quest for this, sometimes silly, hobby. I went into this "wrong path" when my "boom box" broke down and I was left with a pair of speakers without the power to fire it up. Being a thrifty kinda guy, I was introduced to my first hi-fi amp - a used Audiolab 8000S at a very good price (so that was what I was told anyway) to power my boom box speakers. Lo-and-behold.... that was when all hell broke loose... I went from audiolab and upgrade my way to Passlab and Tannoy R2 to Sonus Faber Cremona. Hell.... was I stupid....

I have been there and done that... almost... as for now I have downgraded to a very decent, fantastic, full body, dynamic and detail VTL IT85 integrated amp. I have a fine pair of very balance, accurate, detail, clear, quiet sounding Thiel CS1.6.

My primary source is analogue but I have a Sony XB920B that has been with me faithfully for quite a number of years as a secondary source. Sony XB920B ??!? What's that ?? Brother... this is a fast, lean and mean machine that has never disappoint me for a good number of years. XB920B has some limitation but nevertheless tolerable. It was only recently, thanks to the government's distribution of "economy restructuring share", that left me with an itch to buy a "better" CDP. I had my eye on the REGA Planet 2000. The price in Hong Kong was much cheaper.... but I didn't bite. When I came back to Singapore I bought the silver Planet 2000 at a very good price because this model is on its way out for the Apollo. What the heck... it's Stereophile Class B anyway regardless if it's silver or the more popular black.

So it's XB920B vs Planet 2000.... and the winner is....

Well... I am not 100% sure. You see brother... this XB920B is my little secret. It's fast and dynamic. It's imaging is something I wouldn't complaint and the soundstage is adequate. It's my little nice and enjoyable secret. Is the Planet 2000 any better ? All I can say is the stock Planet 2000 has class which the XB920B lacked. It's warmer, classier and more expensive and most important Stereophile class B. But... damn... it's stereophile class B and couldn't eat the XB920B for breakfast. How could it be ? But I know this Planet 2000 has potential. In certain pieces of music the planet 2000 could shine but the XB920B will sound rather mediocre but still.... enjoyable. I am determined to make it better as afterall Stereophile and thousands of audio nutz from AA couldn't be wrong.

James ??... who's James ? Certainly not as famous as the DIY guru Jon Risch but he's a DIYer anyway (or claim to be one). Is he good ? He better be... else I'll bloody unleash my pitbull or worse ... sent my wife to settle the score.... joke aside... Frankly I have no bloody idea if he's a conman or a novice DIYer or a master craftsman modding CDP as a past time. I saw his web in echoloft, called him and quoted me S$330 for the ultimate clock mod without even blinking... James spoke with lotta conviction and passion and drive a decent japanese car. I like guys that are humble and especially those who drive a japanese car which, in my opinion, the most bang for the buck.

S$330 for a clock including installation ? My XB920B costed me only S$550 when new and at S$330 it's definitely not cheap. Anyway I am all out to move ahead and proof that my gut feel about the Planet 2000 is correct... so ? JUST DO IT... and that is without satisfaction gauranttee or money back kind of assurance !! 

The mod took about a week. James could do it in a day but anyway no hurry as it's my secondary source. How did it sound ?

Well, the first time when I fired up the mod planet 2000, I felt the clock was rather unstable. I don't know why.... but I just felt this way. There was some moment of magic but it quickly slip by. But the bass !!! Certainly more prominent and generous. I am not a bass-guy and quality is more important than quantity. It still sounded warm. I begin to miss my fast, lean and mean machine. I than left the Planet 2000 on repeat mode and run-in the "cock mod"... no I mean clock mod planet 2000... after all what else can I do.... I have already paid my money without money back gauranttee. I am a mechanical engineer by training and please don't ask me anything that "work" but can't move. It's not my forte... but putting it on repeat is the least I could do and hope for a miracle...

It must have been a good 24 hours and I played the same few tracks on the mod planet 2000 and was pleasantly surprised !! This player could sing !! The bloated bass that I initially experience was replaced with tight bottom and everything just sounded better. Is it more detail ? bigger soundstage ? better imaging ? No...it just sounded more natural to me. Perhaps smoother is a better word to describe it and that dynamics is simply awsome. James called it "more musical". But the last time when someone sold me a pair of Sonus Faber that said the same thing costed about S$12000 !! At S$330 this is peanuts !!  My fast, lean and mean machine begin to exhibit some flaws as compared to the mod Planet 2000. The mid of the XB920B sounded thin and edgy. The high was coarse and the bottom end is not authoritative as compared to the mod Planet 2000. This is certainly Class A stuff !! and my music ?? Oh... it's 30% jazz fusion, 40% rock, 20% vocals and 10% experimental. All my music was renewed and refreshed with this mod. This is what this hobby is about... renew...refresh...and enjoy. For a wage earner standard, I have spent "mega bucks" on equipment for that renew and refresh experience. But this "cheap" thing that work is damn bloody good !!

For those with CDP as their primary source, at S$330, it's a no brainer. Now... our "master craftsman" James said there are more bang for the buck mod to a CDP other than the clock mod. But for now I am going to enjoy my S$330 investment and wait till my itch comes which could be a long long time...

Oh.... did I mention my analogue rig ? It's a S$4K investment (phonostage, TT and cartridge) and still maintained as my primary source but now I have 2 primary source... and this has made my life rather complicated.... and re-think... what if I mod the output stage ? Perhaps that could relegate my analogue rig to 2nd division....

Cheers

N

.on his EA Clock Installed Marantz SA14 SA/CDP

It has been almost 2 months since the "mod", and about 25 hours run-in. I listen to mostly vocals and the obvious improvement is on the  mid-treble, and I can hear better details, more sound depth and dynamic,
and SACD sounds cleaner.  Improvement on the low frequency is not as > obvious as mid-high, but the low does sound more refine.   Overall, I enjoy the sound better. Thanks James, good job!

Best regards

N

...oon his fully modded Philips 9000sa

The players arrived yesterday. The sound is good although I have only played them an hour or so. I suppose the sound is going to be better if everything is "burned in". How long do you expect will it take before the sound is stabilized ?

I cannot reach conclusions at this stage because I have to listen longer. But I have a Sony SCD-555 with vacuum state modding and my first impression is that the Philips player is better (more details, more balanced sound).

N

...on his fully modded Squeezebox 2 with EA DC power supply  

Hi James,

      As discussed, off the bat, the sound I believe is better than the DAB tuner you modded. Comparing Jazz music at 128kb, the sound from the squeezebox has a lower noisefloor, better clarity of individual vocals and instruments. Basically,  the music sounds more "live". Of course comparing with the stock squeeze box, its a large improvement...the stock SB sounded muddy and highs rolled off in comparison.

Hopefully with the burn it, it would get even better. The SB3's volume control is really good, the sounstage doesnt shrink as much at lower volumes.

N

...on the on his EA Clock Installed TEAC VDRS 10 SE

HI! James,

First of all, I must thank you for taking your most precious times to help me modifying my TEAC VRDS 10 CD player within such a short time, especially right after your China trip. :)

After collected back from you last nite, I cant wait further and quickly hook up my CD player with my system. I used Cai Qin - Ji Yu (XRCD) to test this newly modded CDP and here is my first impression :
- the vocal sound more forward than b4
- the piano note is more "rounded" than b4
- it is more transparent so as more details I must say
- the sound stage is deeper now also
- the only "side effect" is the overall music sounded brighter now which I was told it is in fact the TEAC's characteristics so I believe this Mod truly reveal my TEAC's original sound than b4 :)

This is the 2nd days after the mod and I am still exploring it with other CDs to find out other improvements. I must say that, being an non-electronic/electrical trained person, I am not so good in understanding those technical terms in the modifications nor to compare those items before and after modification technically and which I depends a lots of my both "ears" to judge. On this note, I must say that my ear can not deceive me and the modification has improved the overall sound playback alot compared to before. :)

Once again, thank you very much for helping me to modify and I am very happy on the improvement so far, and will continue to explore its potential. 

Cheers!

N

...on his Fully Modded Pioneer 989 Multistandard DVD Player

Hello James, 

The mod dv989 is definitely much better overall in sonic terms; the transparency, details and air around the performer have increased. Definition for the instruments are much better and the soundstage is both wider and deeper. Worthwhile upgrade. 

...on the EAM Ultimate clock installed in his Denon DVD1920 Player

Just a quick note to say "Thankyou" for the fast and efficient work you did on modding my Denon 1920 DVD player. You collected the player from me on Monday night and I was very surprised when you called me Tuesday afternoon to say the player was ready for collection! I watch alot of DVDs and certainly the picture quality has definitely improved alot. Listening to my CDs is also alot more enjoyable as the vocals appear crisp and clear.

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