My 2019 Update Thread - My final system I think.

[Ali Tait]

See if he still does the Ikemi silver wire mate, had that done on my Mission arm and was well worth it to my ears.

[Gazjam]

IMPROVING CD PLAYBACK ON MY OPPO 203

The Oppo is an awesome thing, as good as you've heard, and even better after modding.
Already done extensive upgrades on it over stock, see here: https://theartofsound.net/forum/show...ajor-Oppo-mods

Its my Roon endpoint, endgame level movie player and my current CD spinner.
Sounds really great, trounced my modded Audiolab 600CDT, but there was that last bit of 'digital' and slight fatigue about it to these fussy ears.
I even considered another CD Transport (Still might) but wanted to make sure I had eeked out the last bit of performance from it.
I like modding my gear.

Back in the day i didnt really suscribe to the CD tweaks that were doing the rounds, green pens on the edge of CDs, CD demagnetisers and the like...
But one thing that DID make me sit up and take notice was a clear damping film that you put over the CD to dampen vibrations and improved the sound.
Still have the CD I put it on, and remember how it improved the sound. Things were more focussed and the image was more stable.

So... player vibration could affect CD playback?
Not a daft concept if you think of the nM level a Redbook laser works on (never mind a Bluray) - any deviations got to affect something - right?

Remembering my experience with the CD damping film I wondered if there was any tweaks I could apply to the Oppo to help with that last bit of Digital-ness I was hearing.
Turns out there was - big time.

Did my usual reading about online, and a couple of potential ideas came up.
I was aware CD damping mats were a thing?
As a fan of Herbies Audio Labs and their philosphy on vibration control with audio gear it was interesting to see their products kept coming up in forumland as a sane practical improvement to CD playback.
Big fan of what they do, have their bits 'n bobs under my speakers, hifi rack and turntable so I know what they are about - their stuff does what it says on the tin.

So got a thing.


Under a mm thick,
the side that sticks to the CD is a semi-tacky sillicone, you press it down onto the CD, the other side which interacts with the transport clamping mechanism is made from carbon fibre.







All Im hearing is improvement from my CDs

Sound is more relaxed, yet more details there.
Biggest takeaway is that the soundstage is more locked in place, everythings more precise and in place, timbres improved too - a cello sounds more wooden and strings sound more like metal being rasped on.
Its great.

The Oppo is my movie player too, so tried it on some blurays.
Wow, improvements are more noticable with movies.

The image is more 'locked in place', more noticable contrast between static elements and any moving stuff in any scene. The picture is more Solid and 'there'.
Bigger improvement with movies over audio CDs.

Dont know how a carbon fibre/sillicone mat can improve with time on it, but not paying attention to that.
From the get-go CD and particularly bluray moves are improved signigicantly with this 2" donut.

No brainer for any physical media folks, just get one.


Seriously.

[Gazjam]

A 'Final hoorah' for my Oppo was to crack her open one last time and do the internal vibration mods I did to the Audiolab CD transport, so took the Oppo out the rack today and cracked her open.

Turned out I'd already done the power supply and capacitor damping mods... a Senior Moment! ��
Couple of bits I'd missed, so took care of those.

Armed with a sheet of now spare Silent Coat damping material, I set about... Hang on, what can I use this stuff with?
Was on a bit of a mission after the disappointment of the Oppo...

The analogue output stage of my dac is powered from a separate linear power supply, its a tinny metal box (though its very heavy given size of transformer and its Supercapacitors) so cracked the case open on that and a couple of hours later and much tweakery I ended up looking at this...

Cant tell from tbe photo, but the bottom of the case is completely covered too in Silent Coat damping material.
It's where the PCB lives, makes sense to damp that from vibration.



Case is a tight fit, so some selective dampening on the inner top lid.

Big change, at first I thought I'd maybe overdamped as Id lost air in the top end and that 'snap of reality', but I'd powered everything down when I was doing the Mods, after a few hours the Air and sparkle came back, but oh boy its sounding better.

Power supply is everything, sorry to keep saying that but happy with this cheap as chips upgrade to my system.

[Gazjam]

[Gazjam]

Listening over the last week I felt the top end was a bit more ‘shut in’ than I’d like, bit of sparkle had gone.
Opened the Farad up again and removed most of the damping compound from the Caps, kept the case and transformer damped, along with a few spots here and there on the PCB.

That sounded more like it…I had overdamped it.

lesson learned, should have been more selective like I was damping my Dac and amps.
Found the sweet spot now, so all good.

Have the benefits of tighter bass and better soundstage, but without the duller top end.

[Jimbo]

Listening over the last week I felt the top end was a bit more ‘shut in’ than I’d like, bit of sparkle had gone.
Opened the Farad up again and removed most of the damping compound from the Caps, kept the case and transformer damped, along with a few spots here and there on the PCB.

That sounded more like it…I had overdamped it.

lesson learned, should have been more selective like I was damping my Dac and amps.
Found the sweet spot now, so all good.

Have the benefits of tighter bass and better soundstage, but without the duller top end.

Interesting stuff Gary and completely understand the issues involved regarding damping. There is always a sweet spot I feel?

[Gazjam]

I think there is James?

From playing around with this stuff for a while now, reckon it's different for every bit of kit - no-one stop solution.

But hey,
Finding that out is part of the fun of the hobby, right?

Considering all gear is built to a BOM price point, there's always room to tweak and get more bang for your buck.

Marco always spoke about SPPV (I think it was?) and I think modding your gear for not a lot of outlay is a way to maximise it.

Good fun and and easy fix if you overdo it.

[Gazjam]

Some Room correction...

Fancied a change of vibe, plus having smooth stone walls, was curious about putting something behind the speakers and any potential effect on sound.
Couple of tables with big ass plants, changes the vibe of the room, I like it.




Turns out sound has changed as well.
Left / Right focus has definitely improved, soundstage a tad deeper.
Ok, Concept in my own room proven, will investigate some 'proper' stuff going forward.

Years ago tried digital room correction software and didn't get on with it.
More potted plants it is!

Mahoosive framed print on wall behind me, figure thats playing a part, though my room doesn't sound particularly echo-ey.

Piqued my curiosity this.

[Jimbo]

System looking great Gary and like the plants! Think they had reflection rather than absorption?

[AJSki2fly]

Some Room correction...

Fancied a change of vibe, plus having smooth stone walls, was curious about putting something behind the speakers and any potential effect on sound.
Couple of tables with big ass plants, changes the vibe of the room, I like it.




Turns out sound has changed as well.
Left / Right focus has definitely improved, soundstage a tad deeper.
Ok, Concept in my own room proven, will investigate some 'proper' stuff going forward.

Years ago tried digital room correction software and didn't get on with it.
More potted plants it is!

Mahoosive framed print on wall behind me, figure thats playing a part, though my room doesn't sound particularly echo-ey.

Piqued my curiosity this.

Looking good Gary, just need some hanging plants from the ceiling strategically placed to do a bit of refraction/reflection, watering might be tricky.

See the Meridian 557 is still pumping.