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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: Nick's Picks on July 10, 2004, 12:50:04 PM
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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?
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if you wanna have it sound really amazing, put it on some walker points.
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what all does this box play?
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anyone get a DVD player that will play avi files? SUpposedly they were on sale for $70 the other day...
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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?
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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
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here is another modification page:
http://www.asi-audio.com/ToshibaSD-3950.html
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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!
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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.
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Nick, huge thanks for this find! +t , i know what i'm gonna be getting when i finally put together my playback system!
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I sent mine out today for the "vinnie mods" that I posted.
I'll report back...
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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.
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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.
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saw the 3960 today and *almost* bought one...'
Craig, Nick, anyone... any thoughts on how the stock units sound?
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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.
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I haven't heard the 3960 - I have the 4960 (adds DVD-Audio & SACD playback). I'm without speakers right now, so I can't comment on the sound.
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okay, the 4960 is what I'm looking for then! I want sacd and dvd-a playback.
Nick and Craig, thank you both very much!
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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.
What did you think after the mods?
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fwiw - Best Buy carries the 3960.
haven't found the 4960 locally yet but I'm buying one immediatley if I do!
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haven't found the 4960 locally yet but I'm buying one immediatley if I do!
I've read a few places on the internet that the 4960 doesn't share any qualities with the 3950/60's... In fact it's not a Toshiba at all, but rather a rebranded Samsung HD841.
Link 1 (http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/184210.html)
Link 2 (http://www.hometheaterspot.com/htsthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=609442&Main=606878)
Link 3 (http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/184328.html)
Doesn't seem to be the extreme value like the 3960 in terms of audio playback...
Take care,
Nick
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I am looking for a new dvd player. I like reading up on the playback forum and I figure that since we are all in this similar hobby then our listening ears are close too. I looked around a bit and found this tread. I like Nicks picks web site and respect his reviews, so I started to look for the toshiba machines mentioned here. I looked up the 4960 plays dvd audio & sacd, cool. then saw the 5970 wich steps up video to almost hd quality. That's cool too. But it doesen't do sacd & dvd aud. so Then upon furthur searching I found the samsung hd 841 which seems to do everything? Is this machine strtching itself to far and subtracting form audio quality for video quality? should I just bite the bullet and blow over a grand on the denon uber machine?
edit.
well I just saw a Samsung HD941 and it looks like it's coming out in a month or so, so the old sony ns700p will have to hang in there, glad I didn't smash it ;)
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anyone get a DVD player that will play avi files? SUpposedly they were on sale for $70 the other day...
not a dvd player, but a modded xbox will play avi's, both divx and xvid...and vcd, and svcd, and PAL dvds, and mp3s, and .rms and just about everything i've thrown at it (no flac tho - but i do have a dvd full of every nes, snes, atari, genesis, sega master system, neo geo, etc game that will play). plus you can either do a digital mod on it yourself, or buy a high defnition output thing for it for digital audio and component video.
more than 70 bux tho, but pry around 150
edit...i'm only a few months behind on that post.