I haven't looked at PQ yet, I'll try to get it hooked up with the PJ this weekend. Of course everyone who knows best says that this sort of thing can't improve PQ over HDMI, but I'm going to keep an open mind (and I do still have a 95 to compare it with).Thanks Nick. I actually bought my Dr. Lee Jaehong's mod for my 93 to improve the pq only, as I use an outboard dac. Great write up ftw. LOL, it took me 15 minutes to do my mod.
Hi Guys,
I mentioned I was modding my Oppo 93. Rather like I've done with several Meridian processors, I replaced the switching power supply with Lee Jaehong's linear supply. Its been a long time in the pipline, but I finished the first part of the work this week, and I took a few pictures:
I spent some time the other evening baselining the 93 against the 95, so I had a known reference to compare the modded 93. I bought the 93 specifically for this purpose, and had never listenend to it closely. Superficially it sounded OK, but it was also rather boring. After going backwards and forwards several times against the 95, a pretty clear picture emerged. The 93 was quite bold and forthright, but had little subtlety. It was always skimming off the top of the music, and never dug down deep.
I suppose it was like listening to compressed audio, or something with reduced depth of modulation, with maybe ten-bits worth of information, rather than 16. Small details were audible when nothing else was going on, but were soon masked by other sounds. You could focus your attention on one thing at a time, rather than hearing lots of instruments playing together simultaneously. It became hard and almost unpleasant work listening to it, and I didn't want to listen any longer than necessary. This was all in comparison with the 95, which was as delightful as I always remembered. Knowing what a linear supply could do with a quality processor, I was keen to listen to the modded 93, but didn't hold out much hope that it could bridge such a gap in performance.
Given my recent experience with my Sony amp and Meridian processor, this was an easy decision to experiment, and given how easy the power supply mod is, I think a few people might be interested to hear about how it works in practice. I've been listening to it for a couple of days, and comparing it with the TUC 95, which sounds very good. As well as the linear supply for the audio board, the 95 has the advantage of the superior audio board with the expensive 32-bit ESS DACs, plus the TUC mods. Audio-wise, the stock 93 was a long way behind, and I did think the PSU alone couldn't make that much difference on such a deficit.
I've only listened to the analogue outputs so far, but I'm having to eat my words. The linear PSU makes a big difference to the 93, and has me wondering if the 95 is better at all. The comparison is fascinating. My first impression of the 93/LPS is that it sounds quiet, both mechanically and musically. Linear supplies can hum and buzz, but this one is very quiet. Music is also quiet, and made wonder if the actual output voltage was lower. It isn't, but its lost the "shouty" quality that it use to have. At a stroke, it's become easy on the ear and painless to listen to.
The 95 probably has a bit more resolution, especially at the frequency extremes, but it can sound a bit "hifi" compared with the 93, which is very smooth and natural. It's very musical and enjoyable to listen to, and draws you into listening longer and longer and longer. Everything you listen to makes sense, and makes you understand why music was written and played that way. The full depth of the recording is preserved, perhaps even more so than the 95, and it's difficult to say which is better overall. I think they would probably split opinions, and even that is a great achievement for such a cheap and simple mod. I've been thoroughly convinced of the benefit of linear supplies for some time, but never thought this one would be quite so successful.
That probably suggests that the 95 would benefit from a linear supply for the digital board (rather than using an SMPS). If that's the case, then maybe the 93/LPS will sound better than the 95 with digital outputs. I haven't tried that yet, but will do so shortly. I think this has been my most worthwhile modification of all, and I've just bought one of the NuForce analogue boards today. I guess that might take it beyond the 95.
The modification isn't quite as easy as Lee suggests, but really, everyone should do this.
Nick
OK, now that's interesting. I'm also a Meridian user, and an Oppo 93 with an LPS and the vanity board sounds like the closest thing to the Meridian Blu-ray player that they never made. An all-digital Blu-ray system, where the audio never goes anywhere near HDMI. I like the sound of that.....I use it in my all digital Oppo with the Vanity93 digi out board.
OK, now that's interesting. I'm also a Meridian user, and an Oppo 93 with an LPS and the vanity board sounds like the closest thing to the Meridian Blu-ray player that they never made. An all-digital Blu-ray system, where the audio never goes anywhere near HDMI. I like the sound of that.....
Nick
Dr. Lee first intention was for the LPS to improve the pq. If you improve the image from the source, why can't it travel out? To my eyes it does.
I do recall Dr. Lee mentioning / posting video quality improves with his board.
The 105 Signature player is achieves ultimate quality for all picture and audio formats, with State-of-the-art playback for Blu-ray & DVD video and audio as well as CD, SACD, DVD-A & DTS-HD discs, and Lossless Video and Audio formats.
I think that anyone going for broke with the Oppo 95 ought to consider Jae Hong Lee's linear supply.I just bought a 105 and am getting "the full monty" from Modwright as we speak.
I think that anyone going for broke with the Oppo 95 ought to consider Jae Hong Lee's linear supply.
"Wait a minute" I hear you cry - "I thought Lee's PSU was for the 93, and the 95 already had a linear supply?"
Well, the 95 has a linear supply for the audio board, and an SMPS for the main board.
Dr Lee specifically wanted a linear supply for both boards - to improve digital audio and video quality - not just analogue audio.
His linear supply for the 95 is just for the main board, so a modded 95 would therefore have TWO linear PSUs.
If I was going to use the analogue outputs on my 95, I would get his LPSU.
Nick
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