Cost effective mods for a Sony SCD-777ES

Having owned modified statement digital sources from Modwright, Exemplar Audio and APL, I can readily identify a "house sound" with these players, and they all use high grade parts. In the case of Exemplar Audio and APL, I have owned two models from each...Exemplar Denon 2900 and Denon 3910, APL Philips SACD1000 and Denon 3910. In both cases, the Exemplar modded Denons and the APL modded Philips and Denon each had recognizable sounds distinct to Exemplar Audio and APL.

I find this very interesting. It cannot be attributed to cheap and inferior parts, but rather to the specific design of each modification and the superior parts selected by both designers.

I spoke to a reputable modifier - xxxx last night. Their opinion was, the SCD-777ES is already good (I agree)and the risk that something happens if one ships a heavy player like this back and forth or breaks by age is too large. Obviously, it is not worth to have to buy a second player to keep a stock of spare parts. In summary keep the player "as is".

Tvad,

The refined players you have experienced have probably been cleansed of many compromises & arrived at a purer flavor defined by choice of DAC chipset, filter, tube vs. ss output. Now you're talking caviars rather than fast food hamburgers. But why so restless with so many CDPs through your system? Is there no possibility of converging their best qualities at an endpoint? With mine-- containing mostly RAM/Audio Consulting ideas but also help from Allen Wright & Zanden, and some SMD component replacements that are just too time-consuming to be commercially viable-- I'm inclined to believe that well-executed battery power takes DSPs over the top in a way that just can't be experienced on the AC grid. For APL it seems to be parallel DAC arrays. From the tweakers perspective, I conclude that with digital it's very hard to approach The Absolute Sound in a commercially viable package. And unlike analog-- where the idea of flavors is well accepted at all levels of transcription equipment-- with digital one cannot escape that restless itch for "perfect sound forever." Perhaps the restlessness is prompted by imperfections inherent in the digital medium. But I wander off topic of "inexpensive mods to the 777ES."

12-29-06: Dgarretson
Tvad,...why so restless with so many CDPs through your system?

Several factors, not least of which is audiophilia
nervosa. Mostly, I was searching for a sound that pleased me.

The most satisfying player I owned was the APL Denon 3910, which I
sold for financial reasons. The second most satisfying is the one I
presently own, which is the Modwright Sony 999ES Signature Platinum
version with tube 9.0 power supply. I don't believe I am giving up much
in the Modwright versus the APL. The Modwright costs 1/3 of the APL
(used prices), but it's at least 90% of the performance and enjoyment.

I have no need to change digital sources at this point.

...but, I've said that before. :)

One last point. The only stock audiophile digital source I owned and
then modified was the EMC 1-UP SE. I regretted modding that player.
The resolution improved as well as all the ancillary qualities that come
with better resolution, but the player lost its soul in the process.

Values can be had fairly often on Audiogon on used, modded digital
sources, and in my opinon, this is the most cost effective method to
experiment with the advantages of modding.

I'm glad to read Dcaudio has decided to leave his Sony as is.

I regretted modding that player. The resolution improved as well as all the ancillary qualities that come with better resolution, but the player lost its soul in the process.

Good for all of us to keep that in mind. Upgrading a bunch of parts is not an automatic win.