postjack Posted August 8, 2007 Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 So I'm tinkering with the notion of dumping the 999es in favor of a player which also handles DVD-A and HDCD. HDCD capability is important since all of the new Grateful Dead Rhino releases are HDCD encoded, and I love the Grateful Dead. The most immediately obvious choice is a modded Denon 3910, since it is widely positively reviewed, and modded models can be had cheap on the gon. As we speak there is an sacdmods for 1300 and a modwright for 2300. I tend toward the Modwright since I'm already a fan of the Modwright house sound, and since it has that big ass overbuilt power supply (which, if I bought used, I would send in to get the tube rectification upgrade). I'm looking for recommendations beyond just modded units, they can be stock as well. $1000-3000 territory, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkam Posted August 8, 2007 Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 The APL Denon's go for way more than that, typically around $4k used. I think you'd be happy with either the sacdmods 3910 or the modwright 3910. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
postjack Posted August 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 The APL Denon's go for way more than that, typically around $4k used. I think you'd be happy with either the sacdmods 3910 or the modwright 3910. yeah, APL being "the" name in mods makes his the most expensive. of course by all accounts they are superb units worthy of their asking price. The sacdmods is attractive because I possibly could at some point in the future go multichannel with it if the fancy ever struck me, plus its a grand cheaper. The Modwright is stereo only, but again I know I like Dan's work. Both companies stand behind their products by all accounts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
postjack Posted August 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 SACDMods definitely does very good work. ack, also the sacdmods 3910 has balanced outputs, if I ever decide to go that route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigiPete Posted August 8, 2007 Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 SACDmods.... do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salt Peanuts Posted August 8, 2007 Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 Exemplar 3910 is also nice and can be had in your price range as well (A'Gon). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
postjack Posted August 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 lotta love for the 3910, seems to be a good bang for the buck player. but now that I have all this money back after selling a bunch of gear, I find myself reluctant to spend it! the paypal balance looks so nice. And then hungrych does an IC on his L3000s. Grrrrr... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBLoudG20 Posted August 8, 2007 Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 See FOTM. See FOTM go. Go FOTM go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted August 8, 2007 Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 The most immediately obvious choice is a modded Denon 3910, since it is widely positively reviewed, and modded models can be had cheap on the gon.Yup.See FOTM. See FOTM go. Go FOTM go.LOL. Yeah, screw universal player -- you can always get one of those later -- get the L3000. Especially since it's recabled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
postjack Posted August 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 Yup.LOL. Yeah, screw universal player -- you can always get one of those later -- get the L3000. Especially since it's recabled. This is some good sense right here. Modded players are aplenty, and its not like I have a ton of DVD-As I need to listen to right at this moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulveling Posted August 8, 2007 Report Share Posted August 8, 2007 Yup.LOL. Yeah, screw universal player -- you can always get one of those later -- get the L3000. Especially since it's recabled. Definitely agree on the L3000. Modded players also don't retain their value nearly as well as the L3000 should, especially when Denon comes out with new models every year Not sure on the recable though, recently I've been becoming more of the opinion that headphone cables change flavor of the sound rather than the overall quality - have not heard a recabled L3000 though. See if you can get the stock cable with it, otherwise you might be stuck be wondering what they'd sound like stock. Plus, the stock cable looks damn nice. Still, if it comes down to it - make a run now on a recabled L3000 over a modded player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBLoudG20 Posted August 9, 2007 Report Share Posted August 9, 2007 FWIW, the stock cable is still available form bluetin. I think its about $160. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hungrych Posted August 9, 2007 Report Share Posted August 9, 2007 You definitely want my L3000 more than anything else in the world. I have the original cable, and I have been stuck wondering what it would sound like stock... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philodox Posted August 9, 2007 Report Share Posted August 9, 2007 I haven't even heard the L3000 and that is the way I'd go if I had the cash at the moment... damn FOTM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigiPete Posted August 15, 2007 Report Share Posted August 15, 2007 Note the big linear psu at the lower right corner.. the board above is for the dual dacs for the dedicated stereo outs. From Matt Anker of SACDmods: I got the dual DAC stereo output section working. I had a bad ZapFilter board with a shorted power supply rail. -Matt Anker Woot!! My SACDmods Denon hotrod is about to be born Note the big linear psu at the lower right corner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigiPete Posted August 16, 2007 Report Share Posted August 16, 2007 More news about my SACDmods Denon 3930ci: Pete, I got the prototype machine finished up and listened to it for 3 hours tonight. This is an incredible sounding machine. Lots of dynamics, warm sound, and most important of all, the sound has significant body to it. It really is the closest thing I've heard to vinyl out of a CD. I think you will be pleased with the sound I'm getting out of this thing. I'm seriously either considering stacking another DAC in my 555ES, or buying one of these 3930's when they start to show up on the used market (inevitable seeing how fast video changes). As far as the tone of the player, I can't say that it is bright at all. My modded 555ES is equivalent to a 3910 in terms of brightness, and this is much more rich and smooth on the highs that I don't think purposely attempting to roll off the highs is necessary. Send the DAC outputs straight to the ZapFilter and you've got it. --Matt Anker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigiPete Posted August 16, 2007 Report Share Posted August 16, 2007 crap.... now I won't be able to think about anything else for the next week till I get it back from Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigiPete Posted August 16, 2007 Report Share Posted August 16, 2007 I guess that's a good problem to have Too bad I won't have it for the LA and OC Audio society meet on Sunday... :'( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron_Dreamer Posted August 16, 2007 Report Share Posted August 16, 2007 It sure beats getting whacked in the noggin with a baseball bat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigiPete Posted August 16, 2007 Report Share Posted August 16, 2007 darth boobies...? Do you have pictures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigiPete Posted August 16, 2007 Report Share Posted August 16, 2007 LOL Nice size... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
postjack Posted August 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2007 http://www.sacdmods.com/DVD3930.htm I may have to get one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted August 17, 2007 Report Share Posted August 17, 2007 Awesome -- that's probably DigiPete's. He's the first. I may have to get one eventually, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigiPete Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 I'm not the first, actually the second, but I did knudge Matt to do the mod months ago, by feeding him all sorts of technical info on the new player. This may turn out to be the best sounding player he's ever done, by his initial accounts, see earlier post in this thread. Here is a pic of the prototype unit, note the offboard Zapfilter psu box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigiPete Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 Matt Anker's full assessment of the 3930 is now posted http://www.sacdmods.com/DVD3930.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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