Not to start a science vs smoke&mirrors debate - but as I own the Sony (CE595) in question - this review intrigues me:

TRL Sony CE595 Mod

Has anyone had personal experience with a TRL modification? I'd appreciate any thoughts on going this route...

It doesn't mention specifically what the mod actually changes -- or maybe I just didn't read it carefully enough.

unlike the modders who list parts/procedures, evidently TRL is quite tight-lipped re their 'proprietary' mod...

Quite honesty if you want to spend that kinda money for an improvement, I would buy a sub long before any mod of this type.

J, nothing about that specific "mod", but in general "mods" which purport to audibly improve units which already reproduce what's on discs audibly flawlessly(e.g. your 595)are rip-offs.

I just have to shake my head at the immodesty and presumption of a true believer whose faith requires the conclusion that all CD players sound the same when anyone who has done any critical listening of different CD players in a given system would know the "all CDPs are the same" mantra is so much foolishness.

I have gone through many CD players, some very highly regarded by reviewers, like the Cambridge D500SE, the Pioneer DV 578AS, which I've sold or otherwise passed along because they are not as good as better units. Now, by better units, I do not mean more expensive units. One of my favorites is the Onkyo MX504, a CDP with a garage sale value of about $5.00.

Tonight, I swapped out the Pioneer for a Sony DVP S7000ES flagship CD/DVD player. Is there a difference? I'm laughing at anyone whose theory requires them to say "no," in the face of the overwhelmingly obvious, audible truth to the contrary.

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I just have to shake my head at the immodesty and presumption of a true believer whose faith requires the conclusion that all CD players sound the same when anyone who has done any critical listening of different CD players in a given system would know the "all CDPs are the same" mantra is so much foolishness.

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Except for all of us who have done just that and have been told we're obviously not golden-earred enough to hear the difference by those who believe moon rocks aligned with Cygnus will let their speakers breathe better and open up the soundstage.

I see your thumb in the eye and raise you a knee to the groin.

Bren R.

I agree with you to a certain degree. Quality relates nothing with reviews and retail price. When I "upgraded" to a Sony DVP755V I actually heard a degradation in redbook cd sound quality from my dad's old 14+ yr old Sony changer (which I still use as my main CD source, for its sound quality and disc changing convenience). On the other hand, SACD sounds great and video quality is impressive for such an inexpensive set.

The psychobabble, my mind should have told me the "new" player should have sounded better (SACD quality is excellent) but my "ears" told me it didn't.

I think I will be sad when I have to replace it. I'll probably stick with a Sony (probably a megachanger) due to it's impressive lifespan.

P8, the Onkyo MX504, which I think is terrific, is about 20 years old, don't know why it reproduces redbook so well.

One of my audio equipment theories is that 1 or 2 generation old top-of-the-line components make terrific audio values with nearly unbeatable sound quality.

One of my favorite systems is in my office - a Sony TA E9000ES 5.1 processor (no multichannel SACD) - bought refurbished from ebay for about $400, a Sony DVP S7000ES CD/DVD player, a former Sony flagship from maybe 3 generations ago, an Anthem PVA5 5 channel amp I picked up at a closeout from a local high end audio shop ... anyway, I pick components I like ... that sound good to my ears, and which the mfgrs have taken some pride in building. Works for me.

I'm always looking ... listening for the better sound, so I tweak my speakers with upgraded capacitors, supertweeters. Couldn't find a center channel which worked for me, tried a bunch, including a huge Klipsch KLF C7, Axioms ... finally stumbled on the Axiom made Merak MC series, the 6H with a pair of 6.5" drivers and a big horn tweeter, and the 634, also with the 6.5"s and the Axiom 3/4" titanium tweeter. So, I played with the crossover, swapped the Merak 6.5"s for Axiom aluminum 6.5"s, got rid of the Axiom 3/4" tweeter (a great tweeter), operated on the cabinet, replaced it with one from the reference 3a de capo mm and voila, the best sounding center I've ever heard.

It has nothing to do with Cygnus or moon rocks. So, the point is, Bren, I can hear the difference between components. You can't hear the difference, and that's OK.

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It has nothing to do with Cygnus or moon rocks. So, the point is, Bren, I can hear the difference between components. You can't hear the difference, and that's OK.

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Apparently it's not okay. Quick recap - Jazzed asks about it, JohnK gives his opinion, you attack JohnK, I attack you, you turn down the heat and suggest that I cannot hear what you do, and here we are.

For the new members, from here it goes on to:
2x6 "I hear a difference"
BrR "Assuming you're not doing anything to pervert the data stream, no, you can't..."
2x6 "I hear a difference... I trust my ears, you Star Trek science officer, you"
BrR "If you do hear a difference it's because whatever mod you're talking about is screwing with the signal in some way... playing what's on the CD is good and right, you witch doctor, you"
Then it degenerates into name-calling.

Now that we've fast-forwarded through that... you're a poopiehead. :P

Bren R.

Hi jazzed,

I have a modified Denon 2900 from Reference Audio Mods. It uses battery power for some of the critical digital and analog circuits. It also uses a transformer coupled output stage. It is clearly better than stock. Not just subjectively, I'm talking better resolution. I can't speak to the specific TRL mod you are considering, but their customers all seem very happy and they have a money back guarantee.

Ya, I'm not on quite the quest that you are for the perfect sound, but in CD players at least, I've heard differences. I don't join you in the amp and cables department, but I won't rule out that amps could sound different. The thing that most people don't understand, (at least imo) is that the changes are subtle, not night and day. Plus, I'm a pretty discerning listener with better than average ears. I've once heard an earth quake in San Diego (I was in PHX at the time) and I also once heard a cockroach crawling on our tile kitchen while I was watching TV. Both times my dad thought I was crazy, but I was correct nonetheless. My dog ears come at a price though, I have piss-poor vision.

That's why I had to leave New York. Couldn't take the muffled scuttling/rattly noise cockroaches make while clacking along hard wood floors.

BTW, I don't know anything about the TRL mods or how they effect the sound of a CDP. I do have an Ah! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 CDP which is a modified Marantz. Sound quality improvement is very noticeable.

That's pretty funny Bren.

Please don't teach that P word to my daughter when you come over for our OBJECTIVELY discerning BLIND LISTENING tests, while trusting our ears ONLY under CONTROLLED conditions, of audio equipment in the next month.

Be sure to bring any items you think would be worthy of comparing. I have a friend who's got a tube amp we can probably borrow. I have 2 receivers here, one preamp, one separate amp, 2 different brands and one different model of dvdp as well as 3 different speaker sets.
I have 18, 14 and 12ga wire from different sources, but no big 'boutique' names, unless some Axiom material counts.
Most importantly, i have a component switcher, all internally wired with nothing but the world's best wire and components which should exceed the performance quality of anything we hook up to it even by the most stringent audiosnob standards. If anything, it should, by imagination, improve the quality of sound from our components.

Thanks all. I'll sit on the TRL mod for a bit...
As the current system can reveal notable nastiness on less than excellently mastered/recorded CDs - my best bet for significant/noticeable/non-imaginary improvement is probably to keep building my SACD stack.
As for adding a Sub, I honestly feel no need - extended bass was one of the reasons I went M80 over M60. I'm quite content with the (well balanced) low end.
Peter Gabriel's So (SACD) just ended and the bass was bordering on Dangerous/Destructive.

Axiom-Friendly CD of the day: California Guitar Trio ~ Cg3 +2. You will swear this is Super Audio!

Thanks again for the varied input!