Haven't decided on a DAC yet, but I was wondering if any had USB inputs.
Any recommendations (with or without USB in) for under $1000? |
From what I've read the Waveterminal is hard to come by now, if not completely discontinued. So what are some other high quality USB to SPDIF converters for Mac/iTunes? I don't need anything fancy, just a USB in and a coax out. |
I emailed Paul and asked him what they do compared to other modders. He would tell me nothing! Just that he's seen all of the other stuff and has no idea how they can justify their prices. Also, that he would absolutely guarantee my satisfaction. And that of all of the moderately priced players, this will by far sound the best. He said he'd mod my Marantz 8260, but it wouldn't come close to this Sony.
I can't wait to hear it! |
My Sony got delivered to Paul at TRL today. He said 2-5 days for the mods and then back to me. Hopefully by this time next week it will be well on it's way to me. |
Clio-
I'll let you know what I think once it gets back to me and burned in. If it's half as good as Paul says, I'll be very happy. |
I've been going back and forth about the TRL mod. I've read all of the glowing reviews, but haven't actually heard one. I guess I could have it modded and if I don't like it I could sell it.
But I need to decide which way I'm going to go first. Either the TRL modded Sony or the hard drive system. That's the reason I'm gathering the info on the hard drive stuff.
It sure would be nice to have 300-400 cd's at my fingertips. But if the TRL mod sounds that good, for that price, it's hard to pass up. |
You guys are giving me plenty to think about. I guess I'll give the TRL mod a try and go from there.
Kenn39
I still want to eventually go with the "server" setup. So maybe I'll take your advice and build the server as I go.
Thanks for all the info. |
Well, it's off to TRL for the Sony DVP-NS900V. I bought that player specifically on Paul's recommendation, because of how good he said it can be. If all of positive reviews and comments are correct, I should be very please with this upgrade. I can't wait to hear it. |
I just talked with him last night. He said he had never thought about it, but they would check it out and if they could put one in, they would. I may not know until I get it back. |
As soon as I finished my previous post the phone rang, it was Paul at TRL. I had asked if he could install a digital input on the player. He said it had never occured to him to put one in his mods, but they would look at it and if it was possible, they'd install one! I would love to be able to use this as a DAC too.
He said it would be on it's way back to me possibly Fri, Mon at the latest. |
Just got off the phone with Brian at TRL. He wanted to know if it was okay to disconnect the headphone jack. He said it adds "considerable degredation". Rip it out, I say.
I asked again about adding a digital in. He knew nothing about it. Said he'd ask Paul. It's not looking good : (
Told me it should ship out Monday. |
Just spoke to Paul at TRL, they had to wait for some parts, but the Sony will be on it's way back to me today. So I probably won't have it until Monday. I'll let it run for a week or so before I do any critical listening. I'm off of work the following week so I'll be able to play with it for 10 straight days. By the time I have to come back to work, it should have 350-400 hours on it.
I'll post my impressions after the first 100 hours or so and then again after the first of the year. It should be close to burned in by then.
As for the digital input, not going to happen. He said it's very hard to get a player to interface with the outside world, unless it was designed that way from the start. |
TRL modded Sony was delivered this morning. I know it needs to burn in for a few hundred hours, but it already sounds a LOT better than it did. |
Okay, I've got a little over 200 hours on the TRL modded Sony. Supposedly it's not fully burned in until about 500 hours. So keep in mind, it's still got a ways to go. Also keep in mind, this is all in my room, with my equipment, in my opinion.
In it's stock form, the Sony sucked. It was harsh and lacked dynamics and detail, at either end of the frequency spectrum.
My last two cd players were the highly praised Rotel 1072 and the Marantz 8260. I was fairly happy with both. I thought the Marantz offered more detail and was more musical.
For close to the same price, the TRL modded Sony absolutely blows those two players away. This thing is AWSOME! I can honestly say, I have NEVER heard digital sound this good. And it keeps getting better. I don't just mean more detail, which it has, or lower lows and higher highs, which it has, or better dynamics, which it has, but it just sounds more like live music.
I've been listening to cd's as opposed to LP's for about the last 20 years. So I know that some of the recordings are crap. I know they can sometimes be harsh and digital. But I didn't know that a lot of this was coming from the player. I've listened to players up to about $3000 and every one had this "digital" sound. The TRL mod does not sound like any digital player I have ever heard. It's smooth, dynamic, lush, liquid, etc, etc, etc.
I know some people will never try this because it's a Sony and it only costs about $800. I almost didn't try it for the same reasons. I asked Paul at TRL twice, "I know you can mod my Marantz, are you sure the Sony will sound better?". His response was "I think the Sony, in some ways, sounds better than a modded SA-14". I haven't heard a modded SA-14, so I can't say. But I can say, I will be keeping this player for a LONG time. I would imagine I'd have to spend close to $5000 to better this thing in any significant way. Plus it plays dvd's and sacd's. What more could I ask for? Maybe a digital input.
Feel free to email me with questions.
E- |
A couple of things I forgot to mention.
It's very quiet. Dead silent background.
Tons of detail. At first I didn't think so, because there is NO harshness. Obviously something I've come to associate with detail.
Because it's not harsh, I can listen louder without ringing my ears. I can listen to this thing for hours and hours.
Very wide, deep soundstage. Not only outside of my speakers, but outside of my walls. |
One quick last word on the TRL mod. Over the last few days the bass has really solidified. I don't know if it's actually deeper, but it's tighter & quicker. I'm done! I won't buy another cd player until this thing dies. Then, whatever I buy, will go to TRL for a mod. Honestly, I've never heard digital sound this good. If you're on the fence about trying this, just do it. You won't be sorry.
Kenn39-Haven't used it for DVD yet. I usually listen with the video portion turned off, but I have tried it with the video portion turned on and I don't hear a difference. Still I leave it off, because maybe it's degrading the sound and I just don't know it. ; ) Kidding of course.
E- |
Baranyi-
I have not listened to sacd's on it. Redbook sounds so good I have no interest in looking at the other formats. |
