Looking to Mod Denon 3930CI: Options?

[strangelove]

I have a Denon 3930CI I want to get after market modded. Just doing a google search there looks to be several options. I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations on which to go with.

SACDMods

Reference Audio

ASI

ModWright (a little out of my price league)

 

[ssportclay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by strangelove /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have a Denon 3930CI I want to get after market modded. Just doing a google search there looks to be several options. I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations on which to go with. SACDMods Reference Audio ASI ModWright (a little out of my price league)

I have an older Denon 2900 that was modified by SACDmods. Even though this is an older and less desirable unit than yours, it will still blow my just acquired Marantz 5001 out of the water and I very much like the Marantz for the money spent. SACDmods has always seemed like a better deal than the others.

 

[strangelove]

I'm leaning toward SACDMods because I've heard good word of mouth about them. I just figured I'd see if anyone has anything to say about these other places.

 

[strangelove]

Anyone else have any opinions or recommendations?

 

[Bones13]

I have that Denon, but have not modded it. I listen to computer source music most of the time. I only have a few SACD/DVDa titles that I do listen to. I have not felt the need to put a lot more $$$ into my CD player. SACDMod does have a good rep, but I have no personal experience with aftermarket modding.

 

[naamanf]

From seeing the work the that RAM has done in the past I would stay away from them. They might have cleaned up their act but I don't think it's worth the risk unless you plan to open up the player and verify they did a quality job and you got what you paid for.

The SACDmods seems to be reasonably priced no nonsense mods. I plan on picking up a 3930ci and do some similar DIY mods to it.

 

[jpelg]

I'm a big fan of modding sources, having had good experiences doing so. I had a lower-end Sony player modded by SACDmods, and the improvements were subtle, but real to me. Worth the price? Matthew's fair pricing offers a good value quotient.

That being said, Dan Wright's work is in another league, imo. I had him mod a Sony 999ES, and more recently my current Denon 3910, with his full treatment. Love it! Personally, I'd save my extra pennies and eventually go for the Modwright work, rather than doing an incremental mod with SACDmods sooner.

Expensive up front - yes. But I haven't made any changes in my reference system in over a year. In the long run, going big with my source is saving me money, not to mention increasing my listening enjoyment tremendously.

 

[DigiPete]

The SACDmods 3930 is a great source and you won't be dissappointed.

This is the second Denon I've had modded by Matt Anker,
and I have always been quite pleased with the results.

Lots of bang for your buck, and the mods are much more thorough than typical cap, diode and resistor modders.

Tubo output stage mods may sound better to some, but that is just pesronal preference. The Zapfilter boards put out some seriously high quality sound.

 

[ssportclay]

I think the key to getting a good sounding modified unit is to start out with a good player to begin with. In other words, an SACDmods 3930ci will probably sound better than any one's Denon 2900 regardless of how much was done to it. Also as newer and better players become available down the road, these newer modified units will in turn sound better than the aging 3930ci.

 

[strangelove]

Although I'd ideally love to get my mod done by ModWright, I just can't afford it. I think I'll probably go with SACDMods. From everything I've heard, I don't think I'll be disappointed with them.

 

[rlmacklin]

There is a continuing problem that Matt Anker at sacdmods.com has not been able to get any reliable ZapFilter MKIIs for many months. I have been awaiting a custom mod for my Denon 3930CI since late last year.

In fact, I e-mailed Matt Anker Thursday last week and received his reply Saturday:

-----------------------------------

I keep checking in and I haven't heard anything yet on the ZapFilters.
I'm extremely annoyed to say the least.
Parts Connexion is pushing a discrete opamp made by some company called
Burson, but they only replace single opamps, are prohibitively
expensive, and can't get you balanced outputs.

I haven't heard much about the Neutron star clock other than what's
listed on the website. The principles behind the design are very sound,
but since the standard D-Clock is already very good, I have my doubts
that it would be a significant if even noticeable difference over that
board. I'll have to wait until someone buys one for a player, but I
probably will not buy one for myself on blind faith.


-Matt Anker
SACDmods.com -- SACD Player Modifications for the SCD-CE775, SCD-C555ES, SCD-C222ES, DVP-NS9100ES, DVD-3910, DVD-3930CI, DVD-2910, DVP-NC555ES, and DVP-NS999ES SACD players
matthew@sacdmods.com
anker.5@osu.edu
Cell: 614-572-8561



Rlmacklin wrote:
> Hi Matt,
>
> Still no supply of reliable ZapFilter MkIIs?
>
> Noted new Dexa "Neutron Star" master clock at PartsConnexion -
> would this a worthwhile performance upgrade over the first Dexa clock
> for my Denon 3930CI custom mod?
>
> Hope your Cessna job is going well.
>
> Best wishes,

 

[rlmacklin]

I had exchanges with DigiPete concerning his sacdmods Denon 3930 CI(he sent his 3930 to sacdmods and Matt used that one as his prototype for development of his 3930 mods).
DigiPete was very helpful and sent me links to his reviews of his modded 3930 which were on another forum.

I made similar inquiries re modding 3930CI at Reference Audio Mods, talking with both Doug Jesse in Michigan and Kyle in Los Angeles. They seemed to not be aware of any possible downmixing issue relative to 2-channel mods not providing any benefit for front left/right channels of multi-channel.

When I first talked with Matt Anker of sacdmods.com, he had purchased and studied a circuit diagram for the Denon 3930 and had developed his 3930CI mod when he received DigiPete's 3930CI as the protoype.

Understandings from those earlier converstations with Matt Anker:

The 3930CI circuitry differs from the 3910.
The 3910 circuitry has a separate set of "stereo" output jacks but my understanding is these can also output the "pure" front left/right signals of multi-channel as well (without any downmixing in of the other channels!).
Thus front left/right channels of multi-channel will receive full benefit of a mod to the 2-channel in the 3910.

The 3930CI has a separate 2-channel ("stereo") circuitry (and outputs) using paralleled DACs, which according to earlier conversations with Matt Anker will/can only output the 5.1 channel "downmixed" to 2-channel for multi-channel material (such as many SACDs and DVD-As)
Thus the 3930CI's front left/right channel signals of multichannel would not benefit from a ZapFillter MkII mod of the 2-channel ("stereo") output stages per conversations with Matt.

(Which is why I asked Matt for estimate for a custom mod using 2 ZapFilter MKIIs - one for 2-channel ("stereo") circuitry and one for the multi-channel circuit path.)

I do not know if Dan Wright has ever modded a 3930CI.
He did wonderful design tube mod for the 3910 and this could probably be adapted for the 3930CI 2-channel circuitry, but again it would not benefit the front left/right for multi-channel to my understanding.
I completely agree Dan's work is outstanding - as I use a Modwright SWL9.0 Signature as my 2-channel linestage.

 

[naamanf]

I guess it's good I have a Zapfilter sitting around without a home then

 

[rlmacklin]

http://www.partsconnexion.com/catalog/digital.html

Parts Connexion

Digital Products - LC Audio

NOTE: May 15th, 2008. Due to recent problematic production issues (related to RoHS soldering regulations), LC AUDIO has a had a higher
than expected defect/return rate on their popular Zapfilter MKII product. Thus, they have decided that until it is resolved, they will ONLY
sell/ship the Zapfilter II within Europe...due the high cost of warranty coverage (shipping costs) in International markets.

Once this issue is resolved, pcX will once again stock/sell this product...and will announce the resumption of sales, in our eConneXion newsletter.


SKU Code Description pcX Price US $

CLOCKS 66013 ZAPfilter Mk2 including 120V Schottky Power Supply $214.95

 

[strangelove]

Unfortunate to hear about the ZapFilter problems. I guess I'll have to wait a bit then before I get my mod done.