Effective_audio 0 Report post Posted December 5, 2011 (edited) Dear all, Have been doing quite a lot mods / upgrades of Esoteric SACD Players recently and will like to share. The scope of work includes: 1) Installation of the Ultima Clock and Dedicated Power Supply as designed by me: http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.ph...31545#msg731545. This is a HUGE Upgrade, by improving the internal clock of the Esoteric Players itself, if spending on external clock is way off budget. ESSENTIAL TO BRING ABOUT MOST COST EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE OF ALL ESOTERIC PLAYERS!!! 2. Change of the critical opamps to Burson Class A operation, discrete Opamps. The best ones. As voted by Audio Xpress. http://www.bursonaudio.com/burson_opamp.htm 3. Change the Voltage Regulators to Ultima Low Noise Voltage Regulators as designed by me. 4. Some circuit changes and clean up to reduce the background noise level further. Some Pictures below: UM-3 X-03 SA50 SA60 SA10 Classic P30 Transport D70 DAC Do contact me for infos and details on the upgrade of your beloved Esoterics!! Thanks! Edited March 20, 2012 by Effective_audio Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Effective_audio 0 Report post Posted January 4, 2012 Latest 3 jan infos: http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.ph...35654#msg735654 Done a X-01 and SA50 (RCA output). Here are some photos: X-01 with Ultima Clock SA-50 Full Mods with Ultima Clock/burson Opamps/Regulators. Found much better way to mount the separate power supply. Latest Customer Reviews on Esoteric Players modded Below: -------------------------------------- Dear James, I have only listened to 2 songs only. Already it sounded GREAT!. Thanks James. Customer, on his Esoteric X-03, fully modified with Ultima Clock / Burson Opamps / Ultima Regulators. ------------------------------------------ Dear James, The only quibble I have with the sound is its not run in and a little bleached. The details are astounding! I am sure the Top Esoterics can't beat this. Customer, on his modified SA60, fully modified with Ultima Clock, burson opamps, ultima regulators and component changes. ----------------------------------------- Dear James, After the Ultima Clock upgrade on my X-01, I can hear much more details and separation on my X-01. The soundstage has improved as well. The sound is much more analog. thanks! Customer, on his Ultima Clock installed X-01. -------------------------------------- Customer Reviews and Testimonials: http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.ph...45523#msg745523 http://effectiveaudiomod.com/Mod_Audio_Test6.htm http://www.effectiveaudiomod.com/mod_test1.shtml Current Promotions: DON'T MISS! Burson Clock Promotion (Best Value for Money) http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.ph...40482#msg740482 EA Ultima Clock + Dedicated Power Supply Promotion (Best Ultimate Performance!): http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.ph...35660#msg735660 NEW : Marantz CD Player / SACD Player Promotion 10% off!! : http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.ph...20224#msg620224 Cambridge Audio Player / DAC Promotion 10% off!: http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.ph...37186#msg737186 So do contact me to upgrade your digital source. Thanks for reading! I concentrate on Digital sources and here are some examples: Esoteric SACD Players/DACs : http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.ph...35654#msg735654 Marantz Players : http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.ph...20224#msg620224 Cambridge Audio Players / DAC : http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.ph...66565#msg566565 Highend CD/SACD Players : http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.ph...47997#msg647997 DAC : http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=97613.0 Others : http://www.effectiveaudiomod.com/upgrades_mods_main.shtml http://effectiveaudiomod.com/index_services.htm Cheers. James www.effectiveaudiomod.com email:sales@effectiveaudiomod.com tel : 9694 9704 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Effective_audio 0 Report post Posted March 20, 2012 3/20 update! Have sucessfully done surgery to change the DAC chip of the SA50 (AK4392) to that of the K01 (AK4399). The DAC of the of SA50 is using the AKM AK4392, which is of a lower grade as compared to the top of the line AK4399 as used in K03 and K01. Have sucessfully done the operation to change the DAC chip in SA50 from the AK4392 to AK4399. With this change, straight away you gain 3 dB of Signal-to-noise (AK4392 120dB vs aK4399 123dB) and 2 dB of THD+N (AK4392 -103dB vs AK4399 -105dB). Much more lower noise floor and analog sound immediately! Here are some pictures of the operation. Unmodded SA50 DAC board Close up of 1 channel of unmodded SA50 board. Shows the AK4392 in use. Removed the current AK4392 DAC chip. Shows also the removed AK4392 and the AK4399 The AK4399 DAC mounted onto the location Repeat for the other channel Voila! both channels changed SA50 player fully modded with Ultima clock, DAC IC changed, Burson opamps, circuit upgrades and separate transformer for the analog stage. Customer's feedback: Hi James! Marvelous Job on the player! Thanks a lot!! -------------- Cheers. James www.effectiveaudiomod.com tel : 9694 9704 email : sales@effectiveaudiomod.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
