dgarretson
Responses from dgarretson
| SCD-777ES or SCD-1 Put another way, at $800-900 for a used 777ES vs. $1800 or more for SCD-1, 777ES is a good deal for anyone interested in performance/value or mod potential. Moreover, a 777ES can easily be converted to true balanced operation through one of severa... | |
| SCD-777ES or SCD-1 Both units are identical inside, except that SCD-1 has transformer shields and an additional PCB at XLR to derive balanced output from single-ended analog stage. The additional processing for XLR may even degrade signal relative to RCA output. In ... | |
| BAT VK-60, VK-55 or ???? Classical1,Perhaps I was unclear. In addition to 6H30, the -SE versions have an extra PCB with a separate transformer and three separately regulated circuits for tube filaments. | |
| BAT VK-60, VK-55 or ???? Having seen inside VK75SE, VK75, and VK60, all three are pretty much the same, except for addition of a regulated filament power supply PCB and subsitution of 6H30 tube at input in -SE version. | |
| Help with BAT VK75SE You should be fine with external switching without generating any boom. I've been inside that unit and the switch is nothing fancy-- just an AC line switch with a soft-start thermistor which will continue to function in conjunction with external s... | |
| Help with BAT VK75SE Of course if you have a switched AC wall outlet or a switch on your power conditioner, you can just leave the BAT chassis on and switch externally. | |
| BAT VK-60, VK-55 or ???? Anyone with the ability to desolder/solder can perform these mods, accessing through the bottom cover of the chassis without removing PCBs. Probably about 1 hour of work. You need 4 x .22uf/600V V-Cap @ $89 and $60 in triple-braided silver IC from... | |
| BAT VK-60, VK-55 or ???? Until recently I had a VK5i in combination with my VK75SE tube amp. It was a good combination, but errs towards loose bass and bloomy presence region. You can bring out lots more detail, neutrality, and bass control in the VK60 by switching from s... | |
| break-in for Marantz SA-7S1 I emailed you. | |
| break-in for Marantz SA-7S1 In the mod process I've always aimed for increased resolution and transparency(clarity) for RBCD. I've found that what is described as "ruthless" or "analytic" clarity is invariably some deficiency in the engineering of the CDP that when resolved,... | |
| Digital Remastering: Last 5 years..... I've listened to the same LP copy of Wake of Flood for many years through a succession of TTs and phono stages. For reasons that elude me, my opinion of the sonics of this LP have varied widely through the various analog front ends. But as my equi... | |
| Does the Transport make a significant difference? Ladavid, Assuming the Modwright is a Sony SCD-1/777ES, I know from developing that unit that the stock transport is only fair. However extraordinary performance can be coaxed from that unit as a standalone transport through mods to Main PCB and DC... | |
| recapping crossovers....do or don't? Wavetrader, before going for expensive Duelund or V-Cap TFT bypass I would first try some cheap russian FT-1 or FT-3 teflon in .01uf & .1uf and decide whether bypass is a net improvement at either of these values. If true, then sub in Duelund ... | |
| recapping crossovers....do or don't? IME MIT/Multicap PPFXS tin foil sound much better than the PPMFX metalized prop caps that rate poorly in Shadorne's URL. PPMFX were widely used by ARC and others circa mid '90s, but have a hard unsupple sound in the presence region and above that ... | |
| recapping crossovers....do or don't? Which MIT caps are they? PPFXS sound better than PPMFX. As an interim step, consider experimenting with small bypass using .1uf or .22uf Russian FT-3 telfon available cheap on ebay. Also, it's worth trying Duelund graphite resistors in key positio... |