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Post by MartinT on Feb 2, 2021 20:23:32 GMT
Yes, my MC-3+ USB will soon get the power supply removal treatment and updates. The QP-1 is already powering it.
Hard to think how it could improve the sound but I know it will.
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Post by John on Feb 2, 2021 20:36:14 GMT
I totally understand
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Post by MartinT on Mar 21, 2021 10:37:20 GMT
I plugged my Coherent upgraded Mutec MC-3+ USB back into the system yesterday afternoon, so it's had about 18 hours on top of Tony's soak test. In that time, it has settled some more.
For the purposes of clarity, you could consider this a 'Stage 2' mod as running it from 5V is an obvious 'Stage 1'.
My thoughts about what it does over and above the stock Mutec:
The overwhelming impression can be summarised as 'precision'. Not in the slightest bit cold or clinical, I mean precision in focus, precision in instrumental clarity, precision in soundstage width, depth and note decay. There is more 'shape' and 'texture' to sounds, helping to define what they are, how they are being played and where they are positionally. Noise floor is further reduced, giving the impression of even more dynamic swings. Drum beats are startling while a singer like Van Morrison, who varies his loudness from soft to belting it out, can easily be the most dynamic 'instrument' in the song. Delicate instruments like the dulcimer used in many of Christina Pluhar's recordings make tiny sounds that are exactly like hammers striking strings from a distance in a defined space. The harmonic decay just goes on and on.
I could continue but I think I've described the effect well enough. In short, Coherent have taken an already excellent product and brought me closer to the master tape than I ever could have dreamed of.
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 21, 2021 10:54:47 GMT
Bonkers
A rebuttal to those who say the manufacturers know what they are doing and mods are pointless
They go so far
There are very few like Tony who can work out what will improve an already good product
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Post by MartinT on Mar 21, 2021 11:07:46 GMT
Manufacturers always have to work to a production bill of materials, then add profit margins to reach a sales price. It's a balance between more sales and not making enough profit for further R&D.
When you're modifying, you don't need to consider those things at all. For me, the simple equation is "was this upgrade worth the extra cost?". I don't care about anything other than the sound quality uplift. I couldn't give a monkey's about appearance or resale value or what other people think.
You can nearly always improve something. I see the same thing with cars and use the same arguments for upgrading them.
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Post by John on Mar 21, 2021 12:15:57 GMT
I get the point with resale value I remember years ago spending a lot of money on a nudvista 3d cd player with Audiocom that transformed and probably added about 100 to 150 to its value when I sold it.
I can see in terms of originality for a vintage car or bit of hifi why people like this but for me bottom line is I don't care if it sounds better
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 21, 2021 12:55:41 GMT
If I intend to keep something long term, I don't worry about resale at all.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 21, 2021 13:32:13 GMT
I forgot to add: there's a further reduction in sibilance.
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 21, 2021 15:32:47 GMT
Manufacturers always have to work to a production bill of materials, then add profit margins to reach a sales price. It's a balance between more sales and not making enough profit for further R&D. When you're modifying, you don't need to consider those things at all. For me, the simple equation is "was this upgrade worth the extra cost?". I don't care about anything other than the sound quality uplift. I couldn't give a monkey's about appearance or resale value or what other people think. You can nearly always improve something. I see the same thing with cars and use the same arguments for upgrading them. I liked the Sony attitude where they worked on competing with their own products. Only takes a little enlightenment to work on improvement and it should also result in more sales |
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