So, off went my unit to Mr. Dan Wright. I bought the level 1 mods ($350) and the audiocom DVC-1 master clock ($170), essentially a jitter-bug device that acts much like the Monarchy DIP and many other anti-jitter devices, with the tremendous advantage of being inside your unit. Soundstage gave it a rave, and Dan has the following to say about what the DVC-1 does:
"I am not a fan of minute tweaks that require "serious" listening to hear. If I can hear it immediately, then I consider it a worthwhile upgrade. I could hear the improvements of the individual Audiocom upgrades immediately. I would say that the clock upgrade is probably the most significant upgrade in addition to the Level I mods, but the Super Regulators and the Clock upgrade together and in addition to the Level I mods, simply take the unit to the next level. The clock upgrade seems to make a very nice improvement. It improves the dynamics and timing a lot. If you listen to music that is very dynamic, the Clock will provide the best results."
Above, Dan references yet another upgrade, audiocom's Super Regulators ($180), which he says basically lowers the noise floor even more and helps with the way music flows and is especially suitable for people who like acoustic and classical music. At this time, i just couldn't justify that, though I'd love to have them, too. So I stuck with Level 1 and the DVC-1.
Here's what the "basic" Level 1 mods entail:
Upgrade power supply with Schottky rectifiers and further mods to lower the noise floor
Upgrade key analog power supply capacitors to Black Gates
Upgrade key digital power supply capacitors to Black Gates and Sanyo OS-CONs
Upgrade all op-amps to ultra-fast Linear Tech. Units with current loading mods
Upgrade key analog signal path resistors to Vishays and Caddocks
Upgrade key analog filter path capacitors to Wima films
Upgrade analog coupling caps to Black Gates with Auricap film capacitor bypass caps
Add an IEC socket for use with removable power cords
Damping mods
I can expect about a 2 week turn-around, as dan is getting quite busy as his rep grows. i believe there is an article in the Oct. Stereophile that talks about his mods to the Perpetual Tech DACs, so that may have added to the delay. Good for him, bad for me.
markl