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Thinking of modding my 834p, or should I move on?

I have an 834p deluxe and it needs a small repair. The cost of the repair isn't that much off of having some additional modifications performed, and once the board is desoldered, I was thinking...I may as well go whole hog! However, I am wondering if investing nearly 1k in modifications is really cost effective. I use a Koetsu Black and am thinking of moving up the Koetsu line and/or buying a Grado Statement Statement. I've read quite a few times that the 834p transformers are not that great. The Deluxe sells for around 900-1000 used, so for 2k I could perhaps buy the EAR 324 used or look at something else, unless at even 2k, the moddified 834p would be a solid investment. I like the sound, but I admit I don't have much experience with phono stages at all, and this is the only tubed one I have experience with.

Any input would be welcomed.
zanth
gregm
3,021 posts
 
Skushino did
a quick scan of (used) phono stages currently for sale
Holy Shmoly (or is it schmoly). Come on, Zanth, solder those rca's and buy one of the used phonos there. Really. The few I know are really good (Klimo, Ayre, Xono) and,
I myself probably would not invest $2k in the EAR
. Agreed, good as this unit is.
Sorry to be insistent -- but you're an audiophile brother after all!
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
Agree with Greg. Modifying the EAR will improve the performance but at the end of the day it's still an EAR 834P.
pauly
456 posts
 
Disagree with Greg and Audiopheil.

There is nothing wrong with the Ear except that it has parts that one would expect with Best Buy gear.

Agree with Greg and Audiopheil.

Grab the soldering iron and do it yourself. A set of v-caps (the very best caps out there period - IMHO) will cost you $250-$300 maybe. Another $50 for bypass caps and some good resistors and you have a serious high end kit. No shipping cost or weeks of waiting ...

Regards
Paul
piedpiper
753 posts
 
BTW, the Vishays are bulk metal foil, not metal film; less noise and edginess. They are also available nude which is better sounding but physically delicate.

IMHO the Hovlands would be in the direction of smoothing over detail, perhaps not in the "right" direction for the EAR unit. I would favor the DynamiCaps and try pealing off at least some of the excess outer tape.

"You may want to crack open the ear and have a look and see if you can replace them yourself."

I'm into the mod thing but isn't it going a bit far to replace your ears?
;-)
artmaltman
769 posts
 
I owned a stock 834p and a heavily modified one and compared them in detail. The heavily modified one was an order of magnitude better, and comparable in overall pleasure to my $2000 phono preamp. However my modded 834p was more euphonic than other preamps - pleasing to my ear and a nice complement to the slightly lean fast Van Den Hull Frog. ALSO, swapping in Mullard CV4004's was a revelation.

When I've compared this modded unit to solid state pieces under $1000 (e.g. phenonona (spelling?), it simply embarassed them.

I guess if you can do it yourself that would be fun, if you have the time and patience.

Art
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