| Sony DVP-S7000 mods continued |
Here's the modded board as described on the previous page. You can see the 4 DIP8
package IC sockets to the left. The stock 'LPF' IC's were Mitsubishi M5238's. I replaced them
with NJM2082D's, which have better S/N ratio and 25% faster slew rate. The actual LPF filter
is built around the dual op-amp chip, and I calculated the frequency to be around 60kHz. No
matter which buffer IC op-amp is used, the trebles are open and clear and reveal more about
the source recording than anything else IMHO! I currently have National Semiconductor
LM4562's installed in the gold-plated sockets of the buffer section; previously I've used a pair
of OPA2134's and also found them excellent.
I changed the output coupling capacitors- stock are Nichicon/Silmic- to Nichicon Muse KZ
series in the stock value (100uF/25v). They take approximately 40-60 hrs to settle in
according to the manufacturer, and auditioning bears this out. But bass definition and
midrange warmth really bloom in the end. Compared to the stock player, the bass drums in
Emmylou Harris' 'Wrecking Ball' have excellent detail, slam & decay, where the stock player
has good punch, it is more thud-like with less information. Not irritating or particularly 'farty',
just wooden. I guess I'm used to trebles becoming unveiled, less so 'bass veiling'!
I also replaced the stock bypass caps for 1% metallized-film polypropelene types. I tried Mylar
and polyester but the poly films were the most invisible. I did re-use the stock good-quality
caps as bypass caps on the power supply filter caps that feed the op-amps. Each little mod
didn't sound huge in and of itself, but once all were done the player's audio quality improved
by the proverbial 'an order of magnitude', whereupon it rivalled the x707es in bass definition,
and to my ears has better vocals/mids than the mega-buck ES. But that's what happens in
audio evolution, it just ain't the late 90's anymore! Take into account that the used S7000's
sell for under $100 frequently, and the cost of upgrading one to near state-of-the-art is more
labor than parts, you still have under $300 invested in a killer digital front end!
package IC sockets to the left. The stock 'LPF' IC's were Mitsubishi M5238's. I replaced them
with NJM2082D's, which have better S/N ratio and 25% faster slew rate. The actual LPF filter
is built around the dual op-amp chip, and I calculated the frequency to be around 60kHz. No
matter which buffer IC op-amp is used, the trebles are open and clear and reveal more about
the source recording than anything else IMHO! I currently have National Semiconductor
LM4562's installed in the gold-plated sockets of the buffer section; previously I've used a pair
of OPA2134's and also found them excellent.
I changed the output coupling capacitors- stock are Nichicon/Silmic- to Nichicon Muse KZ
series in the stock value (100uF/25v). They take approximately 40-60 hrs to settle in
according to the manufacturer, and auditioning bears this out. But bass definition and
midrange warmth really bloom in the end. Compared to the stock player, the bass drums in
Emmylou Harris' 'Wrecking Ball' have excellent detail, slam & decay, where the stock player
has good punch, it is more thud-like with less information. Not irritating or particularly 'farty',
just wooden. I guess I'm used to trebles becoming unveiled, less so 'bass veiling'!
I also replaced the stock bypass caps for 1% metallized-film polypropelene types. I tried Mylar
and polyester but the poly films were the most invisible. I did re-use the stock good-quality
caps as bypass caps on the power supply filter caps that feed the op-amps. Each little mod
didn't sound huge in and of itself, but once all were done the player's audio quality improved
by the proverbial 'an order of magnitude', whereupon it rivalled the x707es in bass definition,
and to my ears has better vocals/mids than the mega-buck ES. But that's what happens in
audio evolution, it just ain't the late 90's anymore! Take into account that the used S7000's
sell for under $100 frequently, and the cost of upgrading one to near state-of-the-art is more
labor than parts, you still have under $300 invested in a killer digital front end!
One myth I was happy to investigate in all this trial-and-error was
the infamous "Elna Cerafine 'Black Gates'" caps. I managed to
obtain some in the correct values and once again went back 'n forth
over and over. If you read the stories on the web regarding these
caps and how they sadly have gone out of production, you'd think
audio outright died the day they stopped production. I'm happy to
report that for the 95% of us, Nichicon Muse KZ's & VZ series caps
are virtually every bit as good. I did swap in my best $200 half-meter
solid copper interconnects to see if there was some missing 'magic'
due to the 'mid-fi' Sidewinders...heck, I WANTED to hear something
astonishing...but nope, just heard what was on the disc!
the infamous "Elna Cerafine 'Black Gates'" caps. I managed to
obtain some in the correct values and once again went back 'n forth
over and over. If you read the stories on the web regarding these
caps and how they sadly have gone out of production, you'd think
audio outright died the day they stopped production. I'm happy to
report that for the 95% of us, Nichicon Muse KZ's & VZ series caps
are virtually every bit as good. I did swap in my best $200 half-meter
solid copper interconnects to see if there was some missing 'magic'
due to the 'mid-fi' Sidewinders...heck, I WANTED to hear something
astonishing...but nope, just heard what was on the disc!
The re-cycled 0.1uF/63v bypass caps. Every little bit helps! And of course I only
use silver-bearing solder for all connections because...because why not! I'm
going this far, what's wrong with a little bit better solder?!?
use silver-bearing solder for all connections because...because why not! I'm
going this far, what's wrong with a little bit better solder?!?
For now, I'm selling AU-194 audio boards on Ebay with set parts. I will sell a couple whole
modded players, with IEC power plugs like shown above, and also offer individual upgraded
power supply boards. I can add an IEC socket to your rear apron if you want to remove it and
ship it to me. If you want to ship me a player to mod I can do that too, but it's a lot easier if you
can remove the audio board and or any other ones we may mod...overall they come apart
pretty easily. Feel free to email me anytime:
techtom_882@yahoo.com
Thanks for looking!
Coming soon:
Modded S7000 players, modded power supply boards, modded rear aprons. All on exchange
basis or buy outright.
modded players, with IEC power plugs like shown above, and also offer individual upgraded
power supply boards. I can add an IEC socket to your rear apron if you want to remove it and
ship it to me. If you want to ship me a player to mod I can do that too, but it's a lot easier if you
can remove the audio board and or any other ones we may mod...overall they come apart
pretty easily. Feel free to email me anytime:
techtom_882@yahoo.com
Thanks for looking!
Coming soon:
Modded S7000 players, modded power supply boards, modded rear aprons. All on exchange
basis or buy outright.
I have been a subscriber to Stereophile for years, and even to The Absolute Sound now &
then. Also subscribed to "Audio", and even was a charter subscriber to "Fi", probably my
favorite. I have avoided using most of the terminology of those publications, because to me,
after all is said and done, it's still supposed to be more about the music and less about the
latest and greatest equipment. I also build vacuum-tubed guitar amps; some of my
customers play music, some play equipment- same types are in the audio world. I ended up
letting my audio magazine subscriptions lapse because I feel that while they informed me of
the latest stuff, they also created a false dis-satisfaction with current gear. I still drop by the
local HiEnd store and take in what is said to be the 'ultimate'...and I leave knowing I'm still
over 90% of the way there even with a late 90's modded DVD player! Sure I'll eventually get
bigger main speakers, but for my 12' x 18' listening room the small B&W's rock- and the sub
makes them sound huge anyway.
In these tough economic times, a bargain is even more of a bargain...and spare parts for
these players are abundant & plug 'n play. Excellent player for rolling your own OpAmps
and cap mods without spending all day wrenching an ES chassis, nice as they are.
then. Also subscribed to "Audio", and even was a charter subscriber to "Fi", probably my
favorite. I have avoided using most of the terminology of those publications, because to me,
after all is said and done, it's still supposed to be more about the music and less about the
latest and greatest equipment. I also build vacuum-tubed guitar amps; some of my
customers play music, some play equipment- same types are in the audio world. I ended up
letting my audio magazine subscriptions lapse because I feel that while they informed me of
the latest stuff, they also created a false dis-satisfaction with current gear. I still drop by the
local HiEnd store and take in what is said to be the 'ultimate'...and I leave knowing I'm still
over 90% of the way there even with a late 90's modded DVD player! Sure I'll eventually get
bigger main speakers, but for my 12' x 18' listening room the small B&W's rock- and the sub
makes them sound huge anyway.
In these tough economic times, a bargain is even more of a bargain...and spare parts for
these players are abundant & plug 'n play. Excellent player for rolling your own OpAmps
and cap mods without spending all day wrenching an ES chassis, nice as they are.
