Thread: Vacuum State Electronics

Posts: 60
Page: prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 next

Post by hiredfox January 11, 2012 (11 of 60)
stvnharr said:

John,


You already have the modification package in your player, so you don't really need to consider any stock/modified comparisons. You only need consider a clock upgrade which can be a significant upgrade to go along with what you already have in the player.

Johanna has already asked me if I want to do it.

Post by sordidman January 12, 2012 (12 of 60)
Paul said:

I've an SCD-1 I've considered having them modify but don't want to pay for snake oil; Spending that kind of money without any chance to preview the results seems a recipe for disappointment.

Although the SCD-1 isn't a totally bad player, - I don't think that you need to worry at all about a clock upgrade being "Snake oil." An improvement on that player by them will be very cost effective and really improve a "not so much" player...
Cheers,

Post by Paul January 13, 2012 (13 of 60)
I've heard the SCD-1 called many things but never a so-so player; granted, it is getting long in the tooth but I have not seen many players with this build quality. That said, time marches on and all that, which is hwy I was looking at what mods might be out there. I'm not sure about "cost effective" either, since, unless I completely misread the site, VSE's full array for the SCD-1 runs, what, $4500?

Post by sordidman January 13, 2012 (14 of 60)
Compared to the APL, Audio Aero, Meitner, Esoteric, Ayre, DCS, - that are SOTA: the Sony is really weak, especially in redbook playback, - where 90% of its work is being done. These other machines also (often)now offer digital inputs to allow one to play converted USB/computer playback as well.

Sony of course, is going to emphasize SACD playback by making sure that redbook playback sounds crappy through their players. They have released a 5400 where they were pretty much forced to build a more versatile player. The 5400 is a much better player than the SCD-1.

The improvements that Vacuum State performs, (as I understand them), helps more with redbook, where the Sony falls down really badly.

Post by Paul January 13, 2012 (15 of 60)
Ah, most of what I listen to is SACD... of course I wonder how much longer people will still use disc-based media sometimes but then I look the longevity of vinyl.

Post by rammiepie January 13, 2012 (16 of 60)
sordidman said:

Compared to the APL, Audio Aero, Meitner, Esoteric, Ayre, DCS, - that are SOTA: the Sony is really weak, especially in redbook playback, - where 90% of its work is being done. These other machines also (often)now offer digital inputs to allow one to play converted USB/computer playback as well.

Sony of course, is going to emphasize SACD playback by making sure that redbook playback sounds crappy through their players. They have released a 5400 where they were pretty much forced to build a more versatile player. The 5400 is a much better player than the SCD-1.

The improvements that Vacuum State performs, (as I understand them), helps more with redbook, where the Sony falls down really badly.

Sony has to build a 'much' better player than the 5400 outfitting it with 'beefed up' analogue outputs to even make a dent in the market. If State of the art is what you really want, VSE mods may or may not be the way to go. For multichannel enthusiasts $43,000 for the Playback Design MPS~5 3 piece unit is an awfully expensive big ticket item and I logically doubt whether a VSE mod to an existing outdated unit would equal the MPS~5.

For redbook state of the art the Meridian SooLoos or the $23,500 808.3 is the way to go.......but in this dreadful economy.......I sincerely doubt there will be many "takers!"

And with the escalating prices of SACDs (and audiophile Vinyl) SACD and Vinyl, for that matter, will always be niche markets.

Post by hiredfox January 13, 2012 (17 of 60)
sordidman said:


Sony of course, is going to emphasize SACD playback by making sure that redbook playback sounds crappy through their players. They have released a 5400 where they were pretty much forced to build a more versatile player. The 5400 is a much better player than the SCD-1.

The improvements that Vacuum State performs, (as I understand them), helps more with redbook, where the Sony falls down really badly.

Horses for courses as they say. Of course RB is an after-thought on most SACD players simply because of the need for backward compatibility being forced upon the manufacturers by the record companies. If they had been allowed to concentrate on developing SACD only machines we'd all be better off.

The later single purpose designed RB machines such as the Combak Reimyo and Weiss were pretty damned good anyway and probably as good as the format could allow.

The VSE modified Sony CDP 555ES is in my view is very close to being the equal of those older machines both having spent time in my system before the light shone down.

Post by hiredfox January 13, 2012 (18 of 60)
Paul said:

Ah, most of what I listen to is SACD... of course I wonder how much longer people will still use disc-based media sometimes but then I look the longevity of vinyl.

The answer to that Paul is until the quality of downloads matches what you get off disc but don't hold your breath.

Post by stvnharr January 13, 2012 (19 of 60)
hiredfox said:

The VSE modified Sony CDP 555ES is in my view is very close to being the equal of those older machines both having spent time in my system before the light shone down.

John,
I think you are pretty much on the money here. Hope you go for the Terra Firma clock to put in your 555 player. Then you will have the full boat and a player to match most any.
The fully rebuilt older players can be pretty good!

Post by DSD January 13, 2012 (20 of 60)
hiredfox said:

...If they had been allowed to concentrate on developing SACD only machines we'd all be better off.

Agreed, the results so far on this question:

Would You Purchase a dedicated SACD Player that was only DSD and didn't play CDs?
Yes 53 (42%)
No 71 (57%)

There just may be a market for an SACD-only player with no PCM of any kind onboard. Sorry I'm not allowed by Zeus to provide a link as it's on my blog.

Page: prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 next

Closed