Topic: $60 toshiba 3960 DVD player...I must be high!!

[Nick's Picks]

I must be, that's got to be the answer to this riddle.

the riddle is this:
- how is it that this $58 Toshiba 3960 DVD player sounds just about identicle to my $2000 Musical Fidelity CD-PRE24?

i'm doing tests using the MF transport, the toshiba transport (digi to the MF box) and the toshiba stand alone (line in to MF box).
I am DAMN hard pressed to hear a difference, and wonder if i'm telling myself that the things i do hear are really just ghosts of my imagination trying to justify what i'm experiencing.

I also found a guy who mods this toshiba (lots of mods) for $200.
hmmm.....
go figure.

maybe hi-end audio is just a myth, easily achived with a $60 front end and a brand new $300 Sony digital reciever.
what ever happened to the good ol' days of hi-fi?

[jpschust]

if you wanna have it sound really amazing, put it on some walker points.

[Tim]

what all does this box play?

[Sean Gallemore]

anyone get a DVD player that will play avi files?  SUpposedly they were on sale for $70 the other day...

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

where did you find the mods?  I found the audio output cap mod but nothing else.

did you use any homemaed DVD-R discs?

did you get 192 out the digital interface?

[Nick's Picks]

where did you find the mods?  I found the audio output cap mod but nothing else.

from a guy on audiocircle.com
Vinnie.  I have his email addie.


did you use any homemaed DVD-R discs?

dont have any....


did you get 192 out the digital interface?

haven't tried, but I doubt it

[Nick's Picks]

here is another modification page:
http://www.asi-audio.com/ToshibaSD-3950.html

[Thom Joad]

Have you checked Audio Asylum for the "Swenson" and "Vinnie" mods.  They may be the same as that asi-audio sight, but you may find something new.  I remember reading something about simply dampening the chasis, and it having a major improvement.  FWIW, I have an unmoded 3950, that I just haven't gotten around to getting to yet, one of these days.  Have fun with yours!

[Nick's Picks]

The Vinnie mod:  $250 for the 3950 and
$200 for the 3960

POWER SUPPLY PCB MODS

-->Replace the stock 68uF 200V electrolytic cap with
a Panasonic ECG 150uF 250V type for better filtering and lower ESR

-->Add a Panasonic X2-rated 0.47uF Noise Filter cap
    in parallel across C801 and one across C802 for better mains filtering

-->Replace C822 and 824 (10V, 680uF) with Panasonic FC 16V, 1000uF caps

-->Replace C827 (16V, 470uF) with Panasonic FC 16V, 680uF

-->Replace C825 (10V, 120uF) with Panasonic FC 16V, > 220uF

-->Replace C821 (16V, 120uF) with Panasonic FC 16V, > 470uF

AUDIO PCB MODS

 -->"Full Swenson Mod" using 3.3uF Auricaps and 300pF silver-mica shunt caps to GND

-->Replace C903 and C905 (for the Burr Brown 1751
DAC power decoupling) with Black Gate NX Hi-Q caps


TRANSPORT AND DAMPENING

-->Add dampening sheets to the inside of the top cover and under each PCB.

-->Add new L and R Cardas gold RCA jacks for stereo output
 
TESTING
 
--> Overnight burn-in using resistive loads on the output RCA jacks (20k) and an
listening test (around an hour) to verify sound and functionality.

COMMENTS ON THE SOUND
 
Compared to the stock sound, these mods completely
transform this playing into a low-cost, kick-butt
redbook cd player that sounds better than others in
the $1K to $2K range. Those that have the units I
modded are simply floored by the complete lack of
grain in the sound, the tightness and speed of the
bass, and detailed and natural sounding midrange.

[Brian]

Nick, huge thanks for this find! +t , i know what i'm gonna be getting when i finally put together my playback system!

[Nick's Picks]

I sent mine out today for the "vinnie mods" that I posted.
I'll report back...

[Nick's Picks]

update...
my unit (which should arrive on sat or mon) only underwent the power supply pcb mods  and the chasis dampening as i'lll be using it as a transport only.
total cost:
$58 for the stock player
$125 for mods.

i'll have to find out if the new 4960 universal player ($139) can pass a 24/96 or better PCM signal.
that would rock.
I know vinnie is gutting one next week.

for shits and giggles...
I might have him mod my Edirol FA-101's mic preamps and power supply, if he can do it.  I'll find that out after coventry.

[Craig T]

i'll have to find out if the new 4960 universal player ($139) can pass a 24/96 or better PCM signal.
that would rock.
I know vinnie is gutting one next week.

according to the manual it will pass up to 24/96 (unless "protected"), but downsamples 192 to 96.

I just got mine, but haven't even had a chance to plug it in yet.

let me know if any of the vinnie mods are offered on the 4960 - I may be interested.

[Tim]

saw the 3960 today and *almost* bought one...'

Craig, Nick, anyone... any thoughts on how the stock units sound?

[Nick's Picks]

running digital out of the 3960 (stock) into my Musical Fidelity CD-PRE24....I could not hear a difference from the MF onboard transport.
running analog into the MF box, I had to really strain to notice a little grain in the sound, and not quite as tight in the bass.
but it was marginal...and i'm talking about a $60 deck vs a $2000 deck.