Modding audio gear

[furrycute]

What are your guys' opinions on modding your audio gear. There are tons of modders who for a fee will mod your audio/video gear for you. Supposedly that modding improves the sound/video.

But the problem is, the price of most of those cost more than the price of the unmodded equipment. Is it worth it?


Like there is one guy that charges $1,000 to mod a Benchmark DAC1 (which carries a MSRP of $999).

And another modder that charges $900 to mod a $300 Marantz DVD player.

 

[jaxvon]

I personally have no experience with mods, but I think that many are kinda ridiculous. I can't think of a good reason to mod the Benchmark DAC-1. It's already designed and built to be a studio reference, what more can you put into it? Just my 2c though.

 

[MDS]

Ridiculous is the first word that comes to my mind as well.

First a reference level dac is already the cream of the crop. Add to that the fact that the audible differences between that and the cirrus/burr brown/analog devices dacs that are found in mid-level receivers will be minimal at best, IMO it would be a total sunk cost with no gain commensurate with the cost.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Electronics companies spend millions of dollar over decades to get good sound from components. Now some guy in his garage thinsk he can do better by changing some caps?

I'll argue that modded gear sounds "different", not "better" or more accuracte.

But I don't have any $$$ invested in modded audio gear. Feel free to prove me wrong.

 

[furrycute]

I got blasted pretty badly for posting the same question on another board. I was basically called an idiot, a fool, a ***** for questioning the benefits of mods.

I guess that's why I like to hang out on audioholics so much. There is much more sanity here than some of the other audio forums.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Modding is an excellent way to go, but first you want to try some maple cable elevators and boiling your cables so that you can be sure to get the most out of your system.



Come on, it isn't exactly snake oil, but it could actually be far worse - or just a bit better. Anyone who spends a grand is likely going to justify it to themselves somehow.

You want a non-snake oil mod? ISF calibration of your video display!

 

[highfihoney]

if you need to mod a unit no matter what it is you are better off buying a different unit that has what you want out of it stock,on top of the initial cost of the mod's you stand to loose more at resale time,mod's tend to lower resale on most gear.

just my 2 cent's.

 

[gellor]

I'm thinkin' it sounds like a great way to upgrade my audio gear.

Here's how it works...

First, you send me your gear and $2000.

Next, I spray some CAIG Progold Spray on the contacts for "a satisfying sonic improvement—less smearing of instrumental timbres while quiet instruments stand out clearly from their background."

Then I send your equipment back with a "special edition" emblem attached (drawn by my wife in gold sparkly pen)

Finally (and this is the most important step) ... I buy new speakers! Sounds like a great business model to me...wonder if I can find some venture capital for my initial investment.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I got blasted pretty badly for posting the same question on another board. I was basically called an idiot, a fool, a ***** for questioning the benefits of mods.

I guess that's why I like to hang out on audioholics so much. There is much more sanity here than some of the other audio forums.

Naw, we like you And, we like your questions
And, you are right in asking. Some just are hiding from the facts, too painful to admit being taken, or whatever.
No different from other areas. Just check out an ID board.

 

[mtrycrafts]

boiling your cables

You mean cooking the cables. Or, is this boiling a new tweak I missed?


Anyone who spends a grand is likely going to justify it to themselves somehow.

Yes, you would have to. Human nature, no?

You want a non-snake oil mod? ISF calibration of your video display!

Now come on, that cannot possibly work, must be snake oil. People do trust their eyes like they trust their ears, right

 

[furrycute]

And just to follow up, on that board where I posted my doubts about modding audio gear, a moderator there basically told me to shut up, locked up my thread.

Unbelievable.

 

[Sheep]

PLEASE say what board.

Audio asylum?

SheepStar

 

[furrycute]

It's www.headfi.com

Apparently my thread got locked up and then got deleted. Can't find it anywhere. And apparently I got banned as well. Oh well.

 

[Buckle-meister]

Apparently my thread got locked up and then got deleted. Can't find it anywhere. And apparently I got banned as well.

That's horrendous!

 

[WmAx]

It's www.headfi.com

Apparently my thread got locked up and then got deleted. Can't find it anywhere. And apparently I got banned as well. Oh well.

Not suprising. I was also banned from that pathetic excuse for a web forum. My record there is the same as here so far as useful/correlated advice/data, but I made one opposing comment to one moderator on one occasion that was a satire against a crazy politically correct speech he gave, and I found myself banned without warning within 15 minutes!

-Chris

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

But you have only to look at their forum sponsors: Headphone amplifier manufacturers (!?!), cable vendors, and equipment modders. Thats kinda like going to a Sunoco forum and telling people not to use cars, but buy bicycles instead

 

[furrycute]

I was a longtime member there. But lately I have noticed the place has turned way too commercialized. There are more and more posts that are obvious ads for certain headphone amp manufacturers, cable manufacturers, modders, etc. that are disguised as posts by "forum members."

And there are many supposedly "objective" reviews of various headphone amps. I swear more colorful adjectives are used to describe the supposed sonic characteristics of various boutique headphone amps than resturaunt critics use in describing various cuisines. I find those glowing "reviews" truly nauseating.

For example, the a certain manufacturer's headphone amp can be described as making the sound "syrupy, dark, sparkling, tingling, revealing details in your music that you have never heard before, or may not even be recorded on your CD, etc."

My ears truly pale in comparison to those "golden" ears.

 

[mtrycrafts]

And just to follow up, on that board where I posted my doubts about modding audio gear, a moderator there basically told me to shut up, locked up my thread.

Unbelievable.

Information control!!! How else can they keep the faithful from learning what the real outside world is about??? LOL
You cannot have them thinking for themselves now, can you? Then, you have no following, no power, nothing.

 

[MDS]

For example, the a certain manufacturer's headphone amp can be described as making the sound "syrupy, dark, sparkling, tingling, revealing details in your music that you have never heard before, or may not even be recorded on your CD, etc."

Just what we need - a headphone amp that 'makes up' music that isn't even there. I am always amazed that there are people that actually think that would be a good thing (were it true, which I doubt anyway).

 

[mtrycrafts]

Just what we need - a headphone amp that 'makes up' music that isn't even there. ).

Hey, that is what I need, then it would solve buying CDs, etc. Just war that by itself, it makes up the music, free. Who needs a CD collection. LOL