| Currently, on a worldwide basis and primarily through the explosion of the internet, audiophiles may purchase new, used, and modified digital audio equipment. It is apparent the digital audio era is present in full force triggering the births of new innovative companies as well as causing the mature to develop an ever increasing number of new products. In addition to all this, digital modification has recently developed into another valid avenue of purchase for the audio enthusiast. The choices out there are unquestionably immense! How does one choose? What path does one take? New? Used? Modifications?… Help!!! It is our belief that the modification avenue will get you the “most bang for the buck”. Many great mod companies have developed and completed some very good sounding digital front-ends for relatively bargain basement prices. You may have heard of Electronic Visionary Systems, ModWright, Audiomod, ASi, Great Northern Sound, Supermods, SACDmods, etc…to name a few offering outstanding upgrades to various digital components. Although, not quite the plethora of choices as above, Reference Audio Mods would like to explain how we specifically and systematically address an SACD/CD player modification. These are current methods that constantly change as we discover more through increased resolution. POWER SUPPLY MODIFICATION The power that feeds any digital circuit is absolutely critical! However, before we go any further, we categorically believe no matter how good a power supply is executed, or how extreme the parts quality, this will NEVER be enough!! Unfortunately, we have a much bigger problem with our AC mains worldwide causing more bad sound then you can possibly fathom. (Please read our solution for good quality mains regarding this topic [Coming Soon!]). On the other hand, high quality supplies are essential to high quality sound…no two ways around it. A player may consists of either a classical linear power supply or the more efficient and increasingly popular switching supply. Some may have both. With either supply our method of modification consists of: Low Impedence Power Transformers We use ultra low impedence M6X power transformers for superb energy transfer. These are custom made by Audio Consulting. New levels of performance were obtained upon first trying them as we never realized how much effect the power transformer has on sound. High Quality Diodes The use of high quality Schottky or FRED diodes will lower switching noise and reduce impedence for much better sound. High Quality Capacitors Using Jensen 4-pole electrolytics, Blackgates, Leclanche paper and oil’s will always improve sound. It is known to us that measurement is not everything here rather the materials and construction of the cap will also greatly influence sound. Simply try peeling the plastic off your electrolytics and you will “hear” what we mean! High Quality Voltage Regulators If the circuit requires regulation a simple 78XX or LM317 type regulators are not enough. These devices are much to slow and very high in impedence for good sound. We currently use the Audiocom Q-power discrete regulators A fantastic and convenient solution! The Q-power’s use only high grade parts, dramatically lower the noise, and maintain much better speed. OUTPUT STAGE MODIFICATION The output stage of any player is extremely important. This is the primary area where most music gets “lost” or becomes “compressed” and “lifeless”. Many solutions exists in this area as it is the one aspect that very much distinguishes the modders from each other. Here is our approach: Remove all analog filtering. We believe this really is performed to satisfy the scope and not the ear because music sounds compressed with filtering. As always, I give credit to Ric Schultz of EVS for he has preached this to me from the beginning...boy, he is absolutely right!! Execute summation and amplification with transformers. Whether after a current out or voltage out dac chip our resolution has been best with the transformer coupling topology. With a current out dac we recommend using a high grade opamp or possibly go the passive route for I/V conversion while with the voltage out dac chips it is done internally for you with an opamp. As our resolution increased over the past couple years due to better mains correction we now believe the opamp to be extremely good for I/V conversion. Our experience with the Marantz SA-1 where we used the voltage out option on the TDA1547 chip was some of the best resolution we have obtained so far! Yes, there is heavy feedback and it is an opamp but with good mains we were shocked at how good it sounded. From this point we always execute summation or additional amplification through extremely high quality Audio Consulting transformers. Two versions are available. You may select the lower cost but exceptional silver wired transformer or the signature Silver Rock level transformer for unsurpassed performance. Either may be had in varying step-up ratios for proper gain. The real key here is the Quality of the transformers as it is commonly misconstrued that all transformers are alike…NOT EVEN CLOSE!!! Two unique aspects are inherent in coupling transformers. First, the output stage is now galvanically isolated from distortion which is clearly a big improvement in sound. Second, the transformers naturally roll off at a frequency high enough not to affect the sound yet prevent some of the ultrasonic garbage from getting to your next component possibly reducing detrimental thermal distortion in amplifiers. Also, since the DC component is unable to go through a transformer we are now able to remove any coupling cap which always seems to cause harm to sound. All in all, so far, this has been the optimal topology for our ears. RECLOCKING The internal clock of digital gear has a profound effect on the music. Audiocom International of the UK has developed the latest Superclock 2 which is a “household” name in digital modifications. We all use it and love it. It has been proven worldwide in players ranging from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. We believe the measurement of a player only goes so far because even the players measuring the lowest jitter improve dramatically with the Superclock 2. Currently, we use it in every mod we perform. SILVER INTERNAL WIRING All our installations use Audio Consulting’s .5mm Silver solid core wire. The wire is coated with an ultra thin layer of Polyesterimide enamel which is choosen specifically for its sonic properties. Also, additional unbleached cotton may be used for extra insulation which actually improves the sound of the wire. Once again the sound is really due to the choice of material and construction as not all silver wire sounds bright as a majority of us have heard. WILD TWEAKS FOR THE VERY BEST Of course even after all of this one can always take things much further. Usually, a mod at this level takes a bit of an open mind and some faith in RAM’s ears. A natural hardwood chassis such as Oak or maple make significant improvements in sound over the typical copper, aluminum, and plastic ones. You definitely hear much more air, and shimmer with a freer sense to the music. Essentially it just sound more natural. Using Bybee filters work extremely well in the signal path. We use the Bybee quantum filters in signature level mods resulting in much better inner resolution and clarity with no detrimental effects such as compression or lack of dynamics. Interestingly, to this point, we have not had success with these in the power supply. A white paper has been written by Jack Bybee explaining the quantum mechanics behind the filters…interesting indeed!! A very unique lacquer has been developed by violin maker Deiter Ennemoser called C37. Amazingly, this has a great effect our hearing. Please read his principles of this product at his website. We have applied this lacquer to wood and various areas inside theCD player with simply stunning results providing more air, resolution, and greater human texture. 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