Rega Apollo or Sony c555es or Sony ns9100es... - Page 2

Thanks for the pics. But I sure can't do the mods, I'd hate to ruin a $1000 piece of equipment as my first project.

But I could have someone do it locally. Shouldn't be too difficult. I know of no one to do a complex job but this doesn't look too hard.

How many opamps need replaced? And how much do they cost and where could I get them?

Purk, thanks for the info on the 999es. But I'd have to put off the modwright stuff for a number of months and hate the idea of using a poor source (relatively speaking) in the interim.

No one else has an opinion on the Apollo?

Thanks again. Good progress so far. And hopefully lurkers are learning as well!

Thank you.

Guess I have to listen to the Apollo next week, then make a decision...

Sorry, forgot to ask.

What is the difference in sound from Purks suggestion of OPA-627BPs and your recommendation. Or are they in different circuits.

Sorry for my ignorance.

Gah, it shows how tired I am at the moment. Of course the 999es and 777es use different opamps.

OK, anybody else have any experience here?

OK, I'm leaning towards the Sony XA777es, which I can get for about $1,000. Then I guess I can have someone do the opamp exchange for me.

Any headfiers in the Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh triangle out there, that could do this for me??? I'd pay appropriately of course.

My only concern is that there have been reports of laser degradation in the Sony es models. Also one reviewer reported 27 seconds from insertion of a cd to start of music play. Ouch. Is this true. DVD players I can understand, lots of memory to read, but a CD player?

The Apollo is my second choice. Cheaper, used for around $700, new $800. But there's reports of software issues. Supposedly fixed in the newer production machines. The Rega distributor says its not a firmware upgrade either. A board needed replaced. Huh!? But that's the British for you, I guess.

But then the Rega doesn't currently have a simple upgrade path. Boy, I'd love to get a Saturn and be done with it, but I don't want to do the credit card thing. Ah well...

Not much input here about Rega. Anybody.

BTW, Purk, am I correct in guessing the xa777es needs 2 OPA627BP's? How much time for the swap? Who would you recommend as a supplier? Just trying to be able to ask a local tech guy whether they'd be interested in doing the swap if nobody shows up on the board that lives locally.

Thanks again.

Ok, everybody, thanks for all your help!

I pulled the trigger in a new Sony DVP-NS9100ES.

I spoke with Matt Anker at SACDmods.com and had a very informative conversation with him. I've spoken with him before and I think he's very straightforward and honest.

His opinion is that the DVP-NS9100ES actually sounds better than the scd 555es after mods. He had a number of technical reasons and I pretty much understood where he was coming from. If you look at his system (pics at his site) that he uses to test his finished product, you'd have to trust his ears, for sure.

He also feels that the 9100 sounds better than the 555 w/o mods. A good thing as I was going to drop ship the player to him at school, but he's finishing up now and will be home in Cambridge after June 1st or so. I'll get a chance to break it in and give a listen to it pre mods. Hopefully, I won't get the urge to buy some other piece of gear in the meantime. Curse you headfi.

Here is the odd part of the conversation. He equated the XE777ES sound with that of the 555! Wow! That took me by surprise, but I didn't really have time to press him on it, but he felt the sound is very similar to the 555 similar parts in key areas etc. Also a modded 777 might be better than the 9100, but I can't do it and after a bit of conversation with local techs, no one wanted to try, at least no one I felt I could trust.

The Rega I eliminated as it seems to have had a fair amount of software issues (all fixed now according to the distributor). There's also quite a few of them on audiogon at the moment. Not a good sign IMO. Besides we have a local dealer here and while his price is fair by the time I add local tax, I don't feel that I'd be getting my money's worth compared to a modded DVP-NS9100ES.

After all I'm trying to stay away from the upgrade bug and I don't think the Apollo would do it.

The Stello. This was tough. I'm considering going balanced with my Senn 650's. SACDmods can add true balanced outs for only $75. To do balanced with the Stello I'd have to go DA220. Then I'd have to get a more expensive transport to compete with the SACDmods 9100.

I also considered the Denon 3910 but it's focus appears to be video. The audio side is a bit of a stepchild. The lack of a dedicated audio power supply made me cross this one off.

Thanks again everyone.

Now the waiting begins...