I will put my review in this thread for convenience sake. Feel free to move it to its own thread.
Equipment Used
MPX3-6CG7 (Tung-Sol input tube + 2x RCA Cleartops), Audiogeek Nitrogen IC, Sennheiser HD650 with Zu Mobius cable
Previous Source
Pioneer DV-563A transport > optical Toslink cable > AOS Piccolo DAC with linear regulated PS and AD8620 op-amp (superb dynamics and transients, noticeable improvement over the LM6172)
Music Used
Michael Buble - "Fever"
The Pianist soundtrack (Janusz Olejniczak plays Chopin)
McGill Swing band -
Late Late Show (some of the finest jazz standards performed by an award-winning music program, excellent recording but impossible to find unless you buy direct from McGill)
Blue Rodeo -
Just Like a Vacation (live in concert, Canada's version of the Eagles)
Amy Sky -
Cool Rain (you guys don't know what you're missing in the US, impossible to find without Amazon's new/used sellers)
James Taylor - "Fire and Rain"
Lou Reed - "Walk on the Wild Side"
Paul Simon - "50 Ways to Leave your Lover" (Steve Gadd's drum track can really test the dynamics and transient attack of your system)
The Doors -
The Best of the Doors (Elektra WTVD 62568 import, superb sounding remaster of 37 of The Doors' greatest hits)
Mo Better Blues soundtrack (excellent music, excellent recording)
Josh Groban -
Josh Groban in Concert (this kid can sing, good recording if a little overproduced)
The Sound
So far it's pushing 100, maybe 110 hours. I don't think it's going to open up much more. It has stabilized for the most part.
A little less bass slam and power than I was expecting. Not as punchy or hard-hitting with transients as I would have liked. With Paul Simon's "50 Ways", Steve Gadd's drum track can really show off an equipment's dynamics, transient attack, and bass slam/weight. You should be able to visualize the kick drum getting kicked and the skin jumping forwards, the sticks hitting the skins, and sense just a trace of visceral impact that only speakers can truly deliver but good headphone systems can
suggest. And the bass slam/weight needs to be at a certain level. Too heavy is not good. Too boomy is not good. Too thin is not good. It needs to be
just right.
If there is one area in which this player falls short, this is it. Needs a little more authority and weight with the bass, and a little more punch and pop with the transients.
I think it was sacd lover who noted the same as well. Keep in mind that I didn't read his review until yesterday -- I had already formulated my opinion; sacd lover just confirmed it.
Otherwise, it's excellent. Fabulous transparency, texture, and detail. You can hear the true timbre of the cymbal coming through more natual than before (not just some crispy, splashy noise, but "is that a Sabian unlathed ride?"). The impact of stick hitting the cymbals is clearer, and so is the decay. Cymbals are hard to do well. This is easy to tell with a cheap source.
The cool thing about strings and vocals is that you can really hear the
texture. It's texture that gives them that character that electronic instruments will never have no matter how good the synthesizer and the sample is. Not only is there more detail, but it feels more effortless. More open and less veiled than before. "Ah... so this is what I have been missing. This is what it should sound like." You can reach deeper into the recording and extract this extra level of truth.
Perhaps the best example of this is with Josh Groban's "Vincent". Listening to this track with the modded CD-25, I sat up and noticed a beautiful contrapuntal cello line coming out of the right channel that I never paid attention to before.
But more importantly is that it is grain-free and glare-free, not harsh. This is important because sometimes, especially with solid state amps and dynamic headphones, you get this extra detail and transparency with the added side effect of the glare and fatiguing treble. Some people will say that "it's worth it for the extra detail". I say bull****. You shouldn't have to settle for glare or fatigue just to lift the veil, to get extra detail and transparency. The ZapFilter and Clock 4 do a great job giving you the detail and transparency without the glare. No digital nastiness, folks. I can listen to CD's for hours on end without crying afterwards.
Another thing I notice is greater air and liquidity... as if the ZapFilter and Clock 4 imparts some aspects of "tube magic" to the mix. Really, it sounds like the same improvement in air and liquidity as when I moved from the PPA to the MPX3 tube amp.
The Mods
Sound Odyssey Level 3 (ZapFilter + Trichord Research Clock 4 + PS diodes) with:
- NeverConnected PS for clock
- AC mains coupling module
I guess you would call this Level 3+
Honestly, I think this is the best mod package for the CD-25 in terms of value. I looked around and nobody else offers the clock AND the ZapFilter at this price. Changing a bunch of resistors are not going to make a big difference. Capacitors... maybe. Op-amps, yes (the bang for the buck ratio with upgrading to AD8620 or OPA627 op-amps is excellent)... But a new clock and especially the ZapFilter give you the kind of improvement that better resistors can only hint at and top of the line op-amps can never quite match.
Now I know why all the people with SACDmods players crow about their ZapFilters.
The Man
Brice Donnelly is a magician. A magician with audio components but not with time
Construction and Shipping was quite delayed -- unit arrived 1.5 months after Brice said it would be ready! (although part of that was the 2 weeks that it takes to ship to Canada via USPS). Nevertheless, Brice could have managed expectations better by not promising that it would be ready until it was actually close to completion.
For completeness, I want to mention that the CD tray was misaligned when I opened the box. Had to pop the hood and re-align it myself. That was purely a function of shipping, though. Not Brice's fault there, but I thought you should know the risks when shipping a CD player across the country.
Overall, Brice is a good guy. Pleasant to deal with and he did a hell of a job with the mods. Nice clean mod job inside (I have pics to prove it that I will post at a later date). Sounds great. Excellent value. Highly recommended. Just be ready to go down to Brice's house and light a fire under his ass to finish yet another masterpiece
