strange how different sites have differing schools of thought, over at diyaudio people swear by the output bypass mod. as well as a host of other mods.
Budgie, go on ebay, search for PS1 console and e-mail all the decent sellers asking for the scph model number, chances are that there are at least 2-3 going cheaply.
i am currently stockpiling PS1's for components, spares, experiments and players for friends. soon i will start with my re-case ideas that i have been working on for a while.
While the PS1 sounds 'nice' and less harsh than the majority of cheap Chinese upsampling DACs getting around, I hardly think it's worth reboxing... unless the site of the PS1 really makes you want to vomit IMO, it's just a good backup source.
500+ Member: Never looks a gift amp in the jackhole.
I am not an E-bay sort of guy. Don't know why, maybe paranoia or old age. About a year or so ago, I remember tripping over the darn things in piles at local 2nd hand stores. Can't find them suddenly. Weird. Scrapped or bought up by greedy audio junkies I bet!
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"Beneath my goody-two-shoes lies some very dark socks". - Lisa Simpson
strange how different sites have differing schools of thought, over at diyaudio people swear by the output bypass mod. as well as a host of other mods.
No mystery there. It's a DIY forum. If mods don't make things better, there's no point in modding, and modding is what they do. I guarantee you it sounds different. Not very far from there to better.
Tim
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Apple laptop>Trends UD-10>vintage HK>HD580
iPod Nano>Etymotic ER6
No mystery there. It's a DIY forum. If mods don't make things better, there's no point in modding, and modding is what they do. I guarantee you it sounds different. Not very far from there to better.
Tim
i think there is a lot of truth to that. as a tinkerer myself, i didn't spend a lot of time with the ps1 stock before i warmed up my soldering iron.
that said, having recently listened to a stock ps1 (not warmed up for 3 days of anything) i found it to be rolled off in the bass, the mids a little smeared, and slightly hard treble. content that my modified unit sounded better i have left it at that for now.
however, over the summer i do plan on doing a serious comparison at some point. regarding the re-box, its not entirely just to improve sq, again its the diy soul driving me to take on a new project (of which there seems to be an endless pile)
one thing cannot be argued, the ps1 is without a doubt the best cdp under £20.
and having only had an assortment of cdp's ranging from ok to downright rubbish, having something sound good is something of a revelation.
i think there is a lot of truth to that. as a tinkerer myself, i didn't spend a lot of time with the ps1 stock before i warmed up my soldering iron.
that said, having recently listened to a stock ps1 (not warmed up for 3 days of anything) i found it to be rolled off in the bass, the mids a little smeared, and slightly hard treble. content that my modified unit sounded better i have left it at that for now.
And I didn't mean to imply that it doesn't sound better...only that better is in the ear of the beholder. You description above, however, is not what I would expect of a cheap audiophile discovery. If anything, I would expect slightly boosted bass and rolled-off treble. Hold the smeared mids. Add it up to equal "Warm and smooth."
But it could work the other way as well, depending on the taste and ears of the beholder. God knows the music companies, juicing the trebles when remastering classic vinyl have simulated clarity and detail enough to catch the ears of millions of cd buyers. Even some very sophisticated listeners can be drawn into the gleam at first, though over time these masters get harder to listen to.
I suspect that since 16-bit technology got good and cheap in the late 90s, the differences between DACs have been small, when audible, and that almost everything we hear that differentiates them from each other is in the tone of the output stage.
Tim
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Apple laptop>Trends UD-10>vintage HK>HD580
iPod Nano>Etymotic ER6
500+ Member: Never looks a gift amp in the jackhole.
Found one on craigslist. 12 bucks. Not to far from home. I will go get it this weekend. The owner says it has the line out jacks, but wasn't at home so could not tell me the model.
Why am I getting it? Mainly cause I need a project. (edit- cheap project!) SInce becoming unemployed, I have alot of time and little money. My plan is to mod and rebox it. Probally seperate the power supply to it's own box. More for fun than anything. If it sounds good, thats even better.
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"Beneath my goody-two-shoes lies some very dark socks". - Lisa Simpson
Just modded a scph-5502. This one is not bad either! it should do really as it has the same dac as the 100X.
its not quite to the same level though, maybe its a case of burn in.
The 550X has a couple of advantages over the 100X.
-The power supply runs cooler and is the overheating issue has been resolved.
-The laser assemble is further away from the PSU, making for less interference.
-There is more space inside the chassis to install additional components, mine has a remote control hard wired to the controller board.
this will be my backup unit, probably eventually in a second system.
I love these things! they're geeky, modifiable, cheap and have curiosity value.
IMO, it's just a good backup source.
Linear Mode
