[fox_m_a]

I've been kind of itching to get into SACD (especially with the Stones catalog releases) and hearing very positive reviews of the Philips 963. Since the vast majority of my digital collection is and will be CD, Redbook performance is extremely important.

Has anyone compared the Bolder Cable-modified ART DI/O (smART DI/O) to the Philips unit? I'm pretty satisfied with the smART (driven by Modwright Pioneer 434), so a new player must be at least its equal for cd replay.

Thanks for any replies.

Mike

 

[Gopher]

hey, I've got a 414 & 434 and am about to buy a 963... how was the modwright path? Maybe I ought to explore other possibilities

 

[fox_m_a]

Gopher,

I bought the 434 already modified for use as a transport by Modwright on Audiogon, so I can't comment on the difference between it and the stock unit, but it blows away the Audio Alchemy DDS III used as a transport that it replaced. Deeper, more tuneful bass, clearer highs, better defined soundstage. This is in combination with the smART DI/O.

You can get more info on the Modwright website:
www.modwright.com/

Mike