Modifications to digital ... SCD777ES

Simon,

I was considering a few sources. Musical Design, Stan Warren, and Dan Wright for the component bypassses. I just talked to Jerry O. at Audio Logic and his price to add his tube output stage went up from $1250 to $1450. I'm concerned about the output stage on the 777. I could bypass all those components and still by stuck with thin sounding op amps (luckily the Aloia inductive ps preamp cured this). I am trying to contact Audience. Stan Warren also offered to replace the op amps with mosfets (on the Pioneer 333, maybe he could do the same on the 777). The other side of the coin, Jerry O of Audio Logic said all of the engineering journals list DVD Audio as the winning format because SACD isn't being readily accepted by the record companies (betamax syndrome). If I'm going to spend $1450 for an add on output stage with power supply then I might as well spend more for a used Dodson DAC. I'll have something of value. Was wondering how your Sony DVD9000 is coming along as modified by Stan? Regards, Mike Girardi

Audience has emailed me. The upgrade detail is given below:

Thank you for your inquiry. The full modification is more of a reengineering. The result is a state of the art player. It will benefit CD and SACD. It solves the biggest problem of digital disc playback, inadequate analog output
stages. There is a lot of big talk out there but not much in actual performance. Our proprietary circuit is not equaled by any other manufacturer. The following is a brief description.

Yes, we do mods on the 777ES. There are two basic levels. The first level includes reworked power supplies with new wiring, added noise filtration, IEC or Neutrik PowerCon power inlet connector with optional powerChord upgrade,
better power supply capacitors, new op amp and auricap output coupling capacitors. This step costs $450.00 to $900.00 depending on options chosen. The second step is more than a mod. In addition to what I mentioned for the
first step we completely replace the stock analog section with our own CableDriver analog section. This is an absolute state of the art analog stage which is direct coupled to the output, eliminating output capacitors. It has no overall feedback and an output impedance of 3 Ohms or less! In this second step we upgrade the digital filters and add more power supply decoupling and internal shielding along with additional cabinet damping. The cost is 1,500.00 to $2,000.00 depending on options.

The result is a truly state of the art disc player which will compare favorably with any player on the market regardless of cost or reputation.

Sincerely,

Richard A. Smith
audience

Hi all. I performed the Musicoat upgrade that audio_optimizer recommended on my SCD-777ES (see "SCD-1 Upgrade" thread). I treaded all integrated circuit chips, disk shaped capacitors (not can style), axle leaded resistors, diodes, and diode heat shinks. This stuff ($105 shipped) really works. The digital hash is gone, I hear the air pulsating through the wind instruments, the decay is enhanced, i also hear the performer take a breath which I couldn't hear previously (enhanced resolution) on my reference disk, and I know the background noise is lower (I can hear more hiss on a super quiet passage I didn't hear before). I can now increase the volume on my Aloia amp/preamp without hearing so much digital grit/sizzle. Will order more to do amp and preamp. I'll also will purchase the TI shielding (RFI/EMI) to treat my unshielded transformers in the 777. Due to lack of funds will have to wait to send 777 out for component replacements (caps, diodes, resistors). System includes Talon Khorus, 777, Aloia, and Audio Tekne cables.Thanks, Mike