kaepplein@amber.DEC (09/13/85)
Addendum to my posting on Magnavox FD1040 CD player mods: Only hours after posting my article, I saw an ad from the Mod Squad in the October Audio. I wanted to give them a fair shake, so today I called and spoke with Steve McCormack. They modify Magnavox, Mission, and Meridian players. They also recommend Tiptoes, and a CD dampener similar to what HFN&RR advocates. Their Magnavox mod costs $200, is similar to what Musical Concepts (MC) does, however they somehow manage to replace several surface mounted components that distort the sound but don't include a better interconnect. The extra cost is probably fair as combat pay for grief and burns replacing surface mount components on a 1040, but unnecessary on a 2040. Pricing on additional upgrades seems unsettled, but $300-$350 or so gets you an outboarded audio section with the works: FMS Blue interconnects, Tiptoes, the CD damper, and a VPI magic brick. Modifiers earn their money. More than the cost of the parts and tedious effort to install them, is the time these guys spend researching, experimenting, and listening to different circuits and even parts. Beware though, that while modified equipment may sonicly equal prestige competitors, its tough to sell it for much more than the unmodified gear. This may improve because both these places have a growing reputation, especially the Mod Squad with their Tiptoes on dealers' shelves. Mark Kaepplein Kaepplein@Dec-Marlboro.arpa Kaepplein%amber.dec@decwrl