Has Anyone Tried RAM'S Rega Saturn Mod?

Tom doesn't say why he'd avoid the RAM mods, but there are good reasons to think hard about doing it. I've had two RAM modded products, first and second generation modded PS Audio HCA-2 amps. Kyle is decent, ethical guy who has a real talent for extracting the best from a circuit if his work on my amps is indicative of his work as a whole. His mods to the amp take it so far beyond stock performance I'm still amazed after many months of owning it. That said, there's no doubt I'm going to take a major financial drubbing if I ever sell it. I've pretty much resigned myself to never selling it and just keeping it for a backup if and when I move up the audio foodchain. You'll never recoup anything but a small portion of your cost reselling an extensively modified component. Also, if and when a modded product develops a problem, the question of where responsibility lies is a hassle. The manufacturer washes their hands of any obligations once a product is modified.

GTLO, believe me, I don't have a grim view of modifiers products. I do have realistic one IMO. The comments about low resale value of modded equipment come from looking a Audiogon ads every day for years. If you buy a product used and have it modded, you are in a better place for resale. My views echo other owners of modified stuff who have posted on this subject here and at Audioasylum.

You are right, Kyle will work with you on repairs. Repairs are the reason I ended up with an amp modified twice. My first version (Doug Jesse did this one, not Kyle) mod started making weird noises and I had to send back to Kyle. After talking to him, I decided to go with the second upgrade because I really like the HCA-2 and there wasn't anything another additional $800 was going to buy me that offered as much of a potential upgrade. After getting the amp back, one channel went kaput within a week. Another cross country trip to California and three weeks later a cold solder joint Kyle said was a PS Audio defect was repaired. So you can see where my cautions about repair hassles are coming from.

All this said, if you are an owner who doesn't change equipment often and you've got a piece you really like and want to take to the next level, modifying it can be a great option.

Ozzy, you might be thinking of the "issues" that occurred when RAM east (Doug Jesse) and RAM west (Kyle Takenaga) parted ways. There are numerous threads over at Audioasylum about this and the fallout. I don't want to fan the flames about something I know nothing about, so I'd leave it those who care to read what others said on that forum. It's no secret that Kyle no longer works with Mr. Jesse and has severed all business relationships with him. Kyle is personally making good on all warranty work related to RAM east problems.