|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
In Reply to: Modded Denon vs. high quality Redbook posted by Bob S on May 05, 2004 at 06:23:00:
My Modwright Denon 5900 mods, without the tube mod, will clearly put to shame many standard stock cd players, across the board, equalling maybe some and bettering some others by far.
Follow Ups:
Thanks for your input... What mods did you have done to your 5900? Do you know what the major differences are between the 2900 and 5900? I would say that 80% of my listening would be 2 channel CD--I wonder if a 2900 with the Ulitmate Truth mod plus the clock upgrade/Bybees would be a better way to go in my situation than a 5900 with a basic mod??
Hi Bob,Here is a recent quote from Dan on his ModWright forum of Audio Circle,
> > > Well, it is interesting and I can honestly say that both are very good. The stock 5900 is audibly better than the 2900 and the Sig. modified 5900 (no tubes) is better than the sig. modified 2900 (no tubes).
When the 2900 is modified with tubes however, we are able to eliminate ALL op-amps in the signal path (8 op-amps per channel!!!) and this makes a big difference.
To my ears, the tube-modified 2900 is more refined and more natural sounding than the Sig. modified 5900, but they are not WORLDS apart though either. I do prefer the tubed 2900 however as I feel it gets the listener closer to the music and has a quality that is not matched by any of our other mods. Okay, so the Absolute Truth modified Sony's ARE better, but they are also MUCH more money.
You really can't go wrong with either, but I do feel that the tube-modified 2900 will suit the music listener best. Now tubes in the 5900??? We will soon see. This ought to be REALLY good also. < < <
As for your consideration of the mod package for the 2900, I believe that it is the way to go with your listening preferences. I would also suggest that you correspond with Dan via e-mail or phone. He is very prompt, courteous, patient, knowledgeable and helpful. Now, for the bad news...I believe that the wait list for Universal Truth tube mod for the 2900 is ever-growing...in the teens now?
The major differences between the stock 2900 and the stock 5900 are: a.)independent power supplies for video and audio in the 5900 as compared to the single one in the 2900, b.) 5900 can play HDCD, c.) AL24 processing for all channels in the 5900, c.) chassis construction/dampening, d.) video decoding/deinterlacing...Faroudja in the 5900 and Silicon Image in the 2900, and e.) ability to upscale to 720p/1080i and output via DVI in the 5900.
I have a 5900, and I have been exchanging e-mails with Dan. I also spoke to him about two days ago. He is currently working on three 5900's for the Universal Truth tube mod and should be finished with them in 3-4 weeks. My 5900 will be next up, and I hope to be sending it in at that time.
Sorry about this long post, but I hope it helps in your consideration.
Ken
What is the price for the tube modified 2900 & 5900?And what is the price for complete units already modified with tubes?
Couldn't find those details on his website or maybe I didn't look hard enough. Thanks!
I have been corresponding with Dan, and as of now you have to purchase your own unit, and then send it to him--Although, he has been looking for a source to purchase these players, in order to offer a complete unit already modded.The tube mod for the 2900 is $1200, and I believe the 5900 mod will be $1400.
I asked him about possibility of adding a digital input as part of his modifications, and he has been studying the idea. If he were to offer a complete unit already modded w/digital input, that would be enough for me to take the plunge...
Thanks Bob. For the 2900, does that $1200 *include* the other mods or is that $1200 on top of the other mods?
The $1200 includes all of the mods, except for other *options*, such as Bybee filters and the LC audio clock...
..
Hi Ken,I have just FINALLY !! watched a couple of movies on the 5900 and all I can say is WOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!( Lara Croft: Cradle of Life & T-3 )....
Good luck with your mods:-) Keep us updated.
Hi AP,Thank you so much! I can't wait! Dan is so helpful.
I'm glad you are watching movies with this incredible UNIVERSAL player. The video is awesome, isn't it? I'm using the 5900 to upscale to 1080i and then utilizing the DVI connection. The results are truly stunning! AP, have you received the Denon firmware update disks? If not, I would contact Denon to get them, because the menu navigation speed is improved immensely.
Hi Ken !The video is AWSOME even on a 10 year old Sony TV connected to the the Denon with the stock video RCA video cable supplied !! Both movies were compressed copies on a DVD-R disc!!!!!
I haven't ordered the firmware update disks yet but will do so very soon. Thanks for the reminder:-)
As to the audio capabilities, I have upgraded my AZ speaker cables from Epoch to Hologram II's and the transformation is even more stunning!! No more of the once slightly forward presentation and the
sonic picture is even much more 'musical' than before.Dan's modded 5900 is truly a masterpiece and I can very well imagine what the tube mods will 'sound' like!!:-)
Hi Bob,If your main listening will be to 2-channel CD, then the general concensus here and also as per Dan Wright's recommendation, the 2900 with Ultimate Truth Mods etc..would be the best way to go.
I have done transport mods, digital out mods, 2-channel audio out mods, general power supply mods and 2 Bybees at AC inlet. I would have also liked to have done the tube mods but since my unit was the first 5900 that Dan modded, he didn't have the tube mod available then.
I suggest you contact Dan by email and discuss your requirements, he will guide you to what is optimum for your situation.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: