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Is Exemplar the answer?

I'm looking for the best red book source I can find at around $5000 or under. I came very close to buying an Esoteric DV50, but reconsidered after hearing about John Tucker's Exemplar Audio mod of the Denon 2900. Have you heard this player, and how would you compare it to the best red book sources you have heard. It's fine to have a player that will play every format known to man, and having a universal player is a nice bonus, but my cd collection is almost all red book, and I want to get the most from the titles I currently have.

Thanks
84audio
bwhite
807 posts
 
RE: 3910 - I've have communicated with John regarding the potential modification of the new Denon 3910. He informed me that he would be receiving a unit on 9-20-04 to inspect and to begin working on a mod.

The link below is a picture of the 3910 interior.

Denon 3910 Inside
711smilin
513 posts
 
Alex Paychev, and Dan Wright are already modding the 3910, so I really do not believe John will have any problem whatsoever in using his mods. Alex says his modded denons best his SACD 1000 which is a GREAT player. Dan says, IHO the 5900 is his best. I best John will have a field day with this new player. I just hope the HDCD/SACD/DVD-A sounds as good as his Redbook enhancements(hopefully better, much better)
streetdaddy
349 posts
 
I geuss John is really backed up. He told me initially he could get it done in 2-3 weeks. Now it's been a month and a half and still no Denon. How long did you guys have to wait for yours? I waited 6 months for a supratek, and i don't think i can wait that long again.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
40% of my hi-end audio purchases have been on time, and 60% have
been four or more weeks longer than promised. It just seems to be the
way things are done.

It's difficult to know when to pull the plug and move on. The Exemplar
is probably worth the wait, and it's unlikely you'd be able to take delivery
of a comparably modded machine any sooner. But, on the other hand,
several folks are working on Denon 3910 mods that have the potential
of being better than 2900 mods. So, the wait continues, or the choices
expand. Either way, it's a little painful.
711smilin
513 posts
 
Tvad, I have talked to Alex, Dan, and John about the 3910, Alex is the only guy who actually has modded both the 2900 and the 3910/he said sonicly on his machines, which he says is like a custom paychev special/no longer denon, they sound the same. The real difference is the HDCD capability and higher grade video/but with alex'x mod they are ONLY 2 channel.
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