Wow! CD players make a difference.

[TerryG]

I have several CD players, and after over a year of not having any real system set up (It is a long story of buying and renovating a forclosed home), I finally have been unpacking my audio boxes. At first I could not find my highly modified Ah Tjoeb 99, I have had this CD player for years and it has every concievable mod you can imagine, or has had I have tried almost everything at one point or another. Anyway I could not find it it was barried behind other boxes, but I did come acrossed my Pioneer DVD player the DV-525 which was the first player Modright ever worked with. So I got a small system up and running in my garage, which is where I am working at right now unpacking stuff. I listened to it for two days, and tonight I found the Ah Tjoeb, and so switched them out, and WOW! what a difference. Everything is so much more THERE, more high end, a more solid bass end, a darker background, very noticable dynamics, with an upper treble air that is awesome, compared to the Pioneer there just is not comparison. I have compared them before but I always thought they were just moderate differences, not as drastic as this, this is marketedly different to me. Detail is not the word for it, every little thing comes through, every little thing, the scratches of the brushes on the snare drum now just jump out at you as if they are real.

Anyway isn't audio fun, especially when something pleasant like this happens. And I always thought the Tjoeb was the weak link in my system. One of the last things I did was install a OPA627 opamp in the final output, this is the only opamp in the thing, otherwise I would change more of them out. I never knew it was there for years because the output relay that was installed by Ah Tjoeb was hiding it by covering it over. I also bypassed the final tube output in favor of my own design I usually use with it, but haven't unpacked yet, it is similar to the Decware Zbox, but mine uses a different tube and is a different circuit altogether. I have circuit ideas for another buffer circuit that might even do more for digital, the current one I designed actually sounds like it is adding dyanmics. Odd but that is what is sounds like.

T

[jimcant]

Hi Terry,

I hope you are right about this

I currently use a 10 year old Marantz CD player, that I think is what the Ah! Njoe Tjoeb is built up from, and I think it sounds reasonable.
For some unknown reason, I had a brain explosion and decided to purchase Randy's Decware ZCD player and it is on its way to me as we speak

I am rather excited to hear how a high end CD player compares with my existing unit.
For it to have been a part of Randy's system, I know it must have been pretty good

Cheers,
Jim.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Personally Jim, I would consider any piece of equipment that has crossed the threshold of Randy's home to be more than worthwhile to mere mortals such as ourselves. I am fortunate enough to have been graced by the presents of Randy and found him to be of a superior level of intelligence and intellect versus the average person of "audio faith".

Put another way......If randy owned it, it's gonna kick ass. No worries Brother.

Bob

[TerryG]

Hi Terry,

I hope you are right about this

I currently use a 10 year old Marantz CD player, that I think is what the Ah! Njoe Tjoeb is built up from, and I think it sounds reasonable.
For some unknown reason, I had a brain explosion and decided to purchase Randy's Decware ZCD player and it is on its way to me as we speak

I am rather excited to hear how a high end CD player compares with my existing unit.
For it to have been a part of Randy's system, I know it must have been pretty good

Cheers,
Jim.

Jim,

You should buy at new opamp for the output, if you want I can walk you through how to put it in and where to get one from. For less than $50.00 it will probably be the single best thing you can do for your CD player, I have an upgraded motor and controller in mind, as well as a new crystal, not the mention the tube output. I put a second set of outputs on the back so that I could use the tube out, or a direct out from the output opamp. To be honest I like my own tube buffer better so most of the time I use the opamp output. I should go through and check the operating points on the tube output in it and perhaps change a few components I did put in some other caps changing the existing WIMA caps. Anyway if you ever want to sell it I am interested as I know what to do to make it comparable or better than over 90% of the digital market. The only CDP that I felt bested it was an $8K player, and I forgot the brand, it just slipped my mind, a senior moment come early I suppose. Anyway let me know and I can provide instruction right here on this thread.

Terry

P.S. I just remembered the CDP I was trying to recall the name of that I heard, Wadia. They make some nice players perhaps someday I will own one, but I would rather spend the money on a nice vinyl rig first.

[Doorman]

Jim: Undoubtedly, Terry's advice on the op-amps is worth considering. If your ZCD doesn't have the variable output mod, and your using an active pre, you may find it worth considering too.
I've had to go that route with mine--
Best, Don

[jimcant]

Terry,

I am a bit late responding, but thank you for that kind offer
The ZCD is fitted with a rear mounted, motorized volume control I believe, which should be able to tailor the signal level to my TS GG pre.
I don't know about any of the other mods you have mentioned though. Perhaps after I have had a chance to listen to it as is, I will see what Randy's view is on doing more mods to this unit

Don,

Thanks also for your support.
I have read quite a few of your posts on the Decware forum relating to the ZCD.

Cheers,
Jim.

[TerryG]

Jim,

I was talking about modifying the Marantz CDP, not the ZCD.

T

[guitarlover]

Great CD you have i wish i could have them to listen to music track to improve my drum playing.

[Darrel Hawthorne]

Hey guitarlover,

Welcome to the forum.

Cheers,
Darrel