Various Testimonials
Various Testimonials
Unsolicited Customer Testimonials - Every client has paid The Upgrade Company LLC in full. No kickbacks, no commissions, no fees of any kind for recommending our products and services.
September 2010
NuForce Oppo BDP-83SE w/Signature Edition Upgrade
Your upgraded NuForce Edition Oppo 83SE has got to be one of the biggest bargains in the high-end industry. It is so much better then my Wadia 861 it replaced, the Wadia sounds really old fashioned next to it, bloated and grainy. Your upgraded NuForce works really well as a transport also, it bested my friends Mark Levinson 31 hands down: much more musical, fuller more colorful mids, more soundstage depth. However since these are older machines, I borrowed an 8,100 euro new model Audio Aero Capitole Reference from my dealer modded with the latest Audiocom Superclock 4+PSU, V-Cap TFT coupling cap upgrades, and a built in preamp. Your upgraded NuForce 83SE creams it, even when I connect the NuForce to the Audio Aero's own internal pre-amp (it has analogue inputs next to digital). Much more detail, way bigger soundstage, stronger tighter bass, it's really quite sick how much better your upgraded NuForce is.
Emile, London UK
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April 2009
EMM Labs CDSD-SE & DAC6e-SE SACD/CD Transport & DAC Upgrade
I originally became interested in the Upgrade Company, because EMM Labs, the manufacturer of my digital front end, had just released a new and "improved" pair of CD transport and DAC; and, I was not prepared to spend an additional $20K after only two years: EMM offered no upgrade path from what I had.
As a composer and professional musician, I have exposure to the sound of live instruments and voices on an almost daily basis. The chief deficiencies in recorded sound usually involve the sense of timbral rightness and instrumental weight, which give instruments and voices the stable image and the sense of being in the listening room. Traditionally, the best LP's can provide much of this illusion, but at the expense of real dynamic range and image clarity. The digital format in general, and CD's in particular have the potential to provide an adequate dynamic spectrum with greater channel separation, but until the last few years, all CD front ends have fallen short. I selected EMM Labs CDSD and DAC6e (both Signature Editions) because the pair came close to the "believable illusion."
However, I was not prepared for the quantum leap in performance these units exhibited after being upgraded by David Schulte of The Upgrade Company. All the residual flatness of the image disappeared, and the sense of each instrumental or vocal space was created after the manner of the finest analog reproduction with the preservation of dynamic and frequency range. Schulte's upgrade unlocks the potential in CD's which I would have not thought possible. The most revealing feature is the ability of each instrument to occupy its own space, independent of other instruments and within the balance of the total ensemble. This particular advantage I have never heard in recorded sound, primarily because the apparent loudness of live instruments is an illusion created by their presence, rather than real acoustic power (e.g. and violin playing as loud as it can generates about .02 acoustic watts, while the bass drum in a normal loud passage will generate 20 acoustic watts).Obviously, high end manufacturers cut corners on their basic components, like resistors and capacitors. In addition, I suspect that power supplies are largely short changed and leads which should be shielded are left exposed to RF and vibrations.
With an archive of over 10,000 CD's and SACD's, collected over the last 25 years, it would be an understatement to say that I was more than pleased with the upgrade. As an added bonus, the sense of background quiet and three dimensionality was something I had never heard with any format, save a few direct-to-disk LP's. In my collection of over 15,000 LP's I have many CD counterparts, which allowed me
to compare the analog with the digital. I would say that largely, the CD's played on the modded EMM pair surpassed the LP's.
I really feel that my digital front end is unquestionably now "the best of the best."
In retrospect, what I wonder is: in very high end units that cost in excess of $25,000, why are the manufacturers not seeing the huge potential in their mostly excellent designs? Dave Schulte is a person who has the ability and experience to realize this potential. He even generously gave me tips on upgrading my Sound Lab speaker crossovers, which I performed while my EMM units were at The Upgrade Company. To top it off, having another stock EMM LABS CDSD-SE and DAC6e-SE set directly on hand for comparison lent total precision to my evaluation of the upgrades.
My advice: send your equipment to the Upgrade Company and find out what you have been missing.
Paul Reale, CA
UCLA Professor of Music & Composer, (retired)
See also Paul Reale's Bel Canto Pre-2 upgrade testimonial under Bel Canto Testimonials
Dear Dave,
When it comes to music, I am impossible to fool. I have absolute pitch and can tell you the manufacturer of a recorded piano. Major performance organizations, electronics companies (like Wadia, Bybee and others), as well as MAJOR record producers have relied on my ear for accuracy. I don't care to know details on what you do to dramatically improve my gear/sound, you get results, and that is GAME OVER.
Paul Reale
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July 2009
$2000 Denon DVD-5910Ci upgrade including optional XLR output stage, Bybee bullets. Also McIntosh 871 & 205 players
I decided to drive to The Upgrade Company way up in Harbor Springs Michigan to collect my newly upgraded equipment in person, rather then risk shipping damage. I ended up spending a couple of days there comparing the sound of several upgraded players against some really high end stock Esoteric digital they had for comparisons.
On display were the stock $45,000 Esoteric P-03/D-03/G-0Rb 3-box CD/SACD set and a $14,000 Esoteric X-01 Limited Edition. I verified under the covers that each Esoteric was stock/unmodified. I looked carefully and could not see any signs of modification or upgrades from the brochure pictures. We listened and compared the sound of many stock and upgraded players over the weekend We were always careful to eliminate variables by using the same power cords and interconnects and resonance/shelf support rack for all of the comparisons. We adjusted the volume of the units with a handheld dB meter to make sure that all of the listening tests were fair. There were 2 high end systems setup in different areas. One of Upgrade Co's demo systems had an upgraded McIntosh C-200 preamp which has a digital readout input level trim, which memorizes the trim settings for each input so it made it very convenient to A-B mutliple inputs at the same dB level quickly without having to adjust the volume setting. On the other system, an upgraded Audio Research LS-10 had a similar input level trim feature as well as an A-B input instant comparison button on the factory remote control for instant level matched A-B comparisons. Any input & level can be programmed.
All of the comparisons used the same brand/model power cords and the same brand/model interconnects with dual or triple copies of the same discs for instant accurate comparisons.
The first unit that I listened to was an upgraded McIntosh MC-205 CD changer they use for background music during upgrades, versus the stock Esoteric X-01 Limited Edition and the stock Esoteric P-03/D-03/G-0Rb set. I could tell right away the upgraded McIntosh MC-205 player provided more detail, with far better highs, midrange, and bass along with a huge soundstage, precise imaging and far greater micro/macro dynamics over the Esoteric X-01 Limited Edition or the expensive Esoteric P-01/D-01/G-0Rb set. We also A-B'd an upgraded McIntosh MVP-871 and upgraded Denon DVD-5910Ci fitted with optional balanced outputs, and other units stock and upgraded, but I dont want to speak out against too many manufacturers.
The stock Esoteric units might sound acceptable to someone unfamiliar with upgraded/modified ultra high end performance, however, in direct side-by-side comparison they sounded dull and flat. Even the $45,000 Esoteric set did not have near the detail, body, transparency or resolution any of the upgraded players exhibited. This may sound like a big fat lie, but it's absolutely the truth. Additionally, the stock Esoteric's tended to sound constricted small and “nasal”, much harsher and more strident than the upgraded players.
It's a shame what these manufacturer's are charging. I witnessed firsthand many Upgrade Company upgraded players surpass the $45,000 Esoteric setup by a wide margin, and they only costs a fraction of the cost in comparison. Almost a crime. To top all this off, the Esoteric 3 box player required 3 expensive MIT Oracle power cords, (2) MIT Oracle 110 ohm AES-EBU digital cables and (2) MIT clock link BNC cables to operate. That's a huge additional expense right there in cabling.
I understand the high priced Esoteric models after being upgraded perform in an entirely different league above everything we heard, but there were no upgraded Esoterics on hand at the time to double blind A-B.
I'm truly impressed.
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Richard Nelridge
Fine Art Photographer
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Rich has continued to purchase Upgrade Co. upgraded components. Rich trekked back up from Pennsylvania the following summer in July 2010 to collect more upgraded gear in person. Rich purchased an upgraded Audio Research LS-10 preamp, upgraded NuForce Edition 83SE BluRay Universal player, upgraded Lavry DA-10 dac, upgraded amplifiers & power conditioners, TimePortal Reference & Wireworld Gold & Platinum interconnects.
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December 2009
$1299 OPPO BDP-83 "Signature Edition" Upgrade
I wanted to get back to you regarding the Oppo BDP-83 you upgraded for me with your Signature Edition upgrade. I'd like to write something up for your website.
You know the history I have with you and your mods over the past nearly 5 years and you know the equipment I've had on hand here which includes an earlier APL modded Esoteric, Underwood "Ultimate Edition modded" Marantz SA-11 with the tubed ultimate mod that Underwood charged like $5 grand for, and the highly regarded $11,500 EMM LABS CDSA-SE SACD/CD player. I've also owned a few mid-fi components in the likes of Marantz SA-1, Sony SCD-1, Arcam CD-92, Arcam CD33t.
The first piece I had you upgrade for me nearly 5 years ago was a Marantz SA12 S1 SACD/CD player and I very much liked what you had done to this unit . After a year or so went by you sent me an Upgrade Co Denon 2900 to try out because you said you had found more ways to improve upon digital players. As you know I bought that Denon 2900 from you and I ended up selling the Marantz SA12 to a good friend of mine who still uses it to this day. He has also demo'd a few of the latest high dollar players wondering if he got his money's worth but your SE upgraded Marantz has stayed in his system and he loves its performance. Well about two years ago you told me that I should try moving up the ladder and find a good deal on a Denon 5910Ci and then send it to you for your latest upgrade so I did and then sold the Denon 2900 and it ended up with Jim Winey of Magenpan, which I understand is still playing great at his winter home. When I had the 2900 I had the opportunity to listen to an APL modded Esoteric, Underwood modded Marantz SA-11 and s stock EMM CDSA-SE. Your upgraded Denon 2900 easily outperformed the first two but the EMM was a struggle. It did hold it's own which was an amazement to both my wife and I. The APL and Underwood went out the door and the EMM CDSA stayed a little longer. I decided to send you a Denon 5910Ci to upgrade and you promised me that the 5910 would surpass the EMM with ease and it did. This was done two years ago and I have been a very happy listener since.
Two years go by and you tell me that your parts selection and techniques have further improved but I was just happy with what I had and didn't want to invest more money at that point. I was just to busy to do too much. Well, Blu-ray came on the scene and was growing rapidly.so I knew I wanted to get a Blu-ray player next. I'd been reading about the Oppo BDP-83 and the price looked great in regards to the reviews. But you know I had really been looking at the Denon 3800BDCi Blu-ray and almost pulled the trigger at one point on one but never did. Then one day you emailed me and asked If I had seen the new Oppo and I told you I had and you said I really needed to hear one of these upgraded. As you know I decided to buy a new Oppo 83 online and play it for a while to hear what it was like in stock form. It wasn't bad for a $499 player. RBCD was pretty weak and strident and SACD was better than I thought it was going to be. Perhaps close to a stock Denon 5910. One thing I noticed about the stock Oppo in regards to its house sound was it's texture and bite. The stock 5910 is more of a pansy in this area. Perhaps a bit more listenable at higher volumes but I think the Oppo has more detail retrieval and is better at lower volumes. But, as you turn up the volume on the stock Oppo the sound gets pretty bright and hard which fatigues the listener fast. I ended up putting about 500 hours on the stock Oppo which did help it relax a bit, but it was still miles behind the upgraded Denon 5910Ci you did a couple of years ago for me.
As you know I still was not sure I wanted to pour money into my new Oppo, but I was really wanting to know what it's true capabilities were. The Oppo BDP83 plays all of the formats even HDCD and the video is outstanding, so with your 100% money back guarantee, I pulled the trigger and sent it off to you. The whole time it was gone I was listening to the Denon and saying to myself there is no way the Oppo is going to be better than this but you kept telling me that I am going to be very surprised.
When the OPPO arrived there was excitement in the air. I took it out of the box and let it come up to room temp and then plugged it into an outlet for a little longer and spun a disc. Once it was warm I put it on the shelf by the Denon. The Denon was playing this whole time as well. I then unhooked all cabling from the Denon and put it on the Oppo and went through all of the settings. Now I was ready to throw in a disc. The Denon was playing Dixie Chicks on HDCD so of course this is what I was going to put in the Oppo. I wanted this disc because of the female vocals and is recorded well. Their voices on some songs are very peaky in the upper midrange and the stock Oppo absolutely fell apart at moderate volumes (70db at listening position). Same thing on the higher notes on a piano. The stock Oppo would just really ping and harden. Well, when I hit play I was not expecting too much at first because it has only been in the house for a couple of hours. When the first note played there was a bigger sense of liveliness that was more revealing than the Denon 5910. Within the first 10 seconds my skin crawled and chills went up my spine. The vocals were very immediate and big and the hardened glare was completely gone which was so prevalent in the stock Oppo and to a similar degree on the stock EMM Labs CDSA. The Oppo was playing bigger and more forceful than the Denon and EMM and the detail retrieval was already better. The soundstage had great layering. Then it really hit me when I put on few tracks with heavy bass and percussion: The bass had massively changed and the music became tremendously more involving.
I am absolutely stunned by the transformation over the stock Oppo. Your upgraded 83 just crushed the already superb performance of my Upgrade Co. upgraded 5910Ci sitting right next to it.
Now that I've had my Upgrade Co. Oppo 83 for a month, all I can say is how do you do it? Not that I really care how, but it is amazing what you've achieved out of an Oppo. I know that my Denon 5910Ci has a two year old Signature Edition upgrade, but it bettered the stock fully burned in $11,500 EMM LABS CDSA SE I demo'd in my system right next to it for days. I have no idea what digital at any price could rival your upgraded Oppo 83, and personally I don't really care. The fact that you can transform a budget player to this magnitude is beyond me and must say it is worth much more than the Signature Edition upgrade investment..
All of the money I've spent on cabling and the new speakers I bought have not come close to the performance leap I got out of this Signature Edition upgraded Oppo 83.
Paul Canady, Nevada This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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September 2009
A/V Computer "Signature Edition" upgrade w/CD, SACD, Blu-ray, HD-DVD playback capabilities:
After talking on three occasions with David Schulte about my system I made the commitment to send in my dedicated A/V computer to the Upgrade Company for the Signature Edition modification. He told me that he had achieved substantial improvements through replacement of the wiring and addition of shielding. Being a former member for twenty-two years of a major symphony orchestra I consider myself discriminating when it comes to instrumental and vocal timbre, so I must admit a small part of me wondered if I had made the right decision. The long and short of it is...did I ever!!
From the very beginning I was able to pick up on nuances I had never noticed before, particularly in the area of percussion instruments. Each drum head had its own character and level of resonance; and yet something was not quite right with the whole picture. It was as though the system was trying to find its voice, but was not successful in doing so. The bass, while much more present than before the modifications, was not always well-defined. Certain frequencies throughout the spectrum would assert themselves in ways that seemed out of balance at times.
This all changed dramatically after about fifty hours of break-in and continued to improve long afterward (as David said it would). The sound in my room took on more flesh and muscle with each new selection on the hard drive, and it did not matter whether I was listening to the Tales of Narnia soundtracks, the Dale Warland Singers, James Taylor in live concert, or Christopher Parkening and Jubilant Sykes revealing their gifts in intimate ensemble in a recording studio. One could always sense the characteristics of the venue in which the recording was made, and the ability to have "the best seat in the house", receiving all the detail I could ever process without getting bleeding ears, is something that draws me back again and again to the music room.
For those of you that are sitting on the fence trying to decide if Signature Edition upgrades are for you please trust David Schulte and you will be rewarded with countless hours of enjoyment from your components. If the pursuit of musical realism without listening fatigue is your primary goal, then you should seriously consider the Upgrade Company as the first step in getting out of the “Gear of the Month Club".
Thank you, David, for your passion for music and your standard of excellence!
Lewis Rosove, WI Unversity of Wisconsin Professor Music
July 2009
Carlos,
I completely understand your concerns…
I carefully researched the work that all the modifiers were doing and The Upgrade Company was clearly the only one that had the right approach for me…no need to try to re-engineer the unit like others try to do.
I have been in “High-End” audio for over 30 years and worked in the industry as a retailer and a distributor. I have seriously auditioned, serviced and/or sold: Mark Levinson, McIntosh, Linn, Naim, Quad, Theta, Stax, Denon, Sumiko, Ayre, Sequerra, Rega, SME, Mitchell, Thorens, Marantz, Sony, Yamaha, Klipsch, JBL, Nakamichi, Ortophon, Magnepan, Luxman, Onkyo, Parasound/Halo, Krell, Vandersteen, Threshold, Nelson Pass Labs, Wilson Audio, Audio Research, Bryston, Conrad Johnson, B&W, PS Audio, Roland, Canton, Gale, Thiel, PSB, Snell, Dyna-Audio, KEF, Revel, Pioneer, Rogers, Lexicon, ProAc, Avalon, Focal, AKG, Sennheiser, Grado, Headroom, Etomotic Research, Velodyne, Acoustic Zen, Audioquest, DH Labs, Cardas, Spendor,… and those are just the ones I can remember…
The Denon 3910-SE in question made my Levinson/Theta combo it replaced sound broken.
I can tell you with 100% confidence that when you put one of Dave’s mods in your system (not matter how good you may think the rest of your components are…) the superb performance of any SE Digital Player from the Upgrade Company will stand-out and you will immediately notice where you have real weak links in your system. For me those weak links were a Levinson Digital Transport, a Theta D/A converter, a BIG Levinson power amp, expensive A/Q cables…
My current system is Magnepan MG 20’s, (2) Vandersteen 2Wq Subs, Parasound Halo JC-1’s, Parasound Halo JC-2, McIntosh MVP-871-SE, Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II’s IC’s, Cardas Golden Reference Blacks SC’s, Exact Power EP15A , PS Audio Outlets, PA Audio Noise Traps and Cardas Wood Blocks. I have listened to many systems and some way more expensive than what I have… and I still find my system to be superior in definition, superior in frequency response and tonal range, much lower in distortion and absolutely transformational in its’ three dimensional presentation…
In addition, Dave makes a total commitment to you when you are one of his customers… Where can you find that in audio today? Where can yon find that in any business today? Do yourself a BIG FAVOR… You have found what you are looking for… So get to know Dave and get one of The Upgrade Company's "Signature Edition" mods…!!!
Good Luck,
PS - The 6’ long true ribbon tweeters in the MG-20’s or 20.1’s are much more revealing, lower in distortion and more accurate than any dynamic tweeters ever made… And that is how I critically listen to and evaluate equipment and recordings… And in my room… anyone, including my wife and friends, can tell how good Dave’s mods really are… it’s very, very simple for me…
Doug R. Florida
May 2008
Dear David,
Thank you so much for SE Upgrade work that you have done to my Toshiba SD-9200 player. Not even close to the break in period you had recommended, it is way better than my Jolida tubed CD player I have. I'm loving it. Now I am wishful to upgrade my Eastern Mini-Max pre-amp if you can give me a quote.
Again Thank you so much. Wonderful job.
Regards,
Glen O. Hawaii
December 2008
Name: Dan Thomason
Subject: Signature Upgrade on Simaudio Moon lp 5.3
Dear Dave,
I just wanted to write in to say what an outstanding job you've done on my LP 5.3 phono preamp. Now that it's got a few more hours of break-in time, what I'm hearing is reminiscent of some of the absolutely best-sounding analog front ends I've heard, not a Signature Scout with a good cartridge. (Dynavector XX2MKII). I must say, I'm not surprised, since my entire system is beyond belief, to me, for what it is.
I'll list the upgrades:
- Marantz DV8300
- Musical Fidelity A3/24 DAC
- Genesis Digital Time Lens
- Aragon 3002 power amp
- and now, Simaudio Moon LP 5.3
All this drives a pair of Dynaudio Contour 5.4's, and I'll add that I'm using a passive pre, a Sonic Euphoria.
This system, in spite of its modest components, is a tremendous performer. I have no desire to change anything. Audio satisfaction, a seemingly rare commodity, is at hand, and here to stay.
Thanks David, for all you've done, and all the free advice!
Dan Thomason, Oregon
Hi Dave,
Sorry for the delay in responding.
Please feel free to include the following on your website:
My Audio Note 3.1x balanced Dac came back to me a few days ago, following my upgraded Spectral SDR-3000 transport a few weeks earlier. Both were upgraded to Signature Edition.
The transformation of the upgraded machines is really remarkable. The most striking improvement at first was the quality of timbres: because of the vastly increased level of detail, timbres are much more natural, with a more "concrete" presentation. The dynamic range seems larger than before, with increased resolution of finer details throughout. The background is cleaner, and the separation between instruments better than ever. After a few days of breaking-in, stage depth seems to increase.
There is no trace of harshness or hardness in spite of the increased extension in frequencies.
All in all, I am very satisfied with the results. I look forward to further improvements as the machines get broken-in, but right out of the box, the Signature Edition upgrades were nothing short of spectacular.
Joel Durand
*UPDATE*
Hi Dave,
Well, it wasn't all that hard after all: the sound has indeed quite improved, probably not exactly at the 300 hour-mark, but definitely since I got the dac back. There is now just as much detail and transparency as before, but the whole perspective has been enlarged: further back, further on the sides, just really really spacious; the sense of space is quite phenomenal. I believe there is also a bit more extension in the high register. Musicians are locked-in in position, stable and very clearly separated. Lovely, really.
Thanks again!
Joel
December 2008
Hi Dave:
I am so glad I followed your suggestions. Your are a real gem in the Audiophile hobby: honest, credible, and genuine in your advice. In a hobby full of companies trying to rip us off, charging mega bucks for cables, tweaks, snake oil, isolation platforms and etc. YOU ARE THE REAL DEAL! I will never ever purchase gear without you adding your magic to it again. I was initially in the market to purchase a separate preamp and amp to replace my DK Design MK II Integrated Amplifier. Hearing some very expensive separates in my home caused this "upgraditis". When listening to my stock DK Design MK II Integrated Amplifier, something was missing. My system sounded good, but was lifeless and could not convey the soul of an artist. Listening sessions began to turn into a science project (Dissecting problems). But I am so glad I stumbled upon you by way of Audiogon and Google. After reading many excellent customer reviews, I decided to give you a call.
To make a long story short: Only thing I can say is WOW!! This amp is truly amazing now. You have transformed my system to something really special. My wife, who is not an audiophile, hears a huge improvement, stating "Oh yeah... it is way clearer". I will not bore you with audiophile jargon to explain what I am hearing because I'd like to get back to listening. Only thing I can say is "live in concert" in my house @ 8:00 PM sharp, the first act, Jonathan Butler "Surrender", next Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" . We (My wife and I) can finally enjoy our music time. Matter of fact, I find she is listening more than me now!
Thanks again,
Ron Barriere
New Orleans, LA
PS - I tried posting comments on Audiogon several times, but none of my posts were let through by Audiogon. I may have to take another approach. They are not letting us modification customers always express our views.
Name: Tony Elsworth, Spain
Subject: BAT VKD5-SE CD player
Message: Hi Dave,received CD yesterday.What can I say? The wait has truly been worth it. Straight out of the box this is,without doubt,the best player I have ever owned or heard,end of story. Thank you for your time and expertise.
Regards,Tony
May 2007
The Upgrade Company
Dear Dave:
I recently got back my Consonance CD-120 which I sent to you for modification. I mainly heard about your company from other very satisfied customers on Audiogon. I must say at first I was skeptical as to what improvement you could make to this CD player. Well… from top to bottom this player far exceeded my expectations. There is much more detail in the midrange and treble. The bass is tighter and more controlled. I am experiencing a much blacker background and much more air between the instruments. It was well worth my investment. I've owned the more expensive players that don;t sound like this at all.
The expensive $20,000+ EMM LABS CDSD-SE & DCC2-SE combo I A-B compared my modest upgraded CD-120 with in my opinion doesn’t sound nearly as good.
Keep up the great work!
Regards,
Doug Brink
June 2005
Dear David,
You recently upgraded my Melos dac/transport and after a week of listening I wanted to get back with you about my experience. Granted, I do not profess to have "golden ears", but I am blown away. First and foremost is the naturalness and emotional involvement of the music. I listen primarily to jazz and blues and not only I am hearing more of the music, but the inner detail and huge sound stage is amazing. And what I did hear before, I am hearing as if for the first time. There is an effortlessness about the music, and there is more "there", to use an overused notion. This results in significant reduction in listener fatigue. I am totally drawn into the music. The musicians and instruments have so much space and air around them which allows low level detail to be heard as never before. Gone is a brightness and digital glare that on some recordings was to the point of being irritating. Bad recordings now sound so much better, while good recordings are amazing! When I was inquiring about your service I mentioned that I had auditioned several highly praised players in the $2500-5000 range, and all I can say is my "old Melos" absolutely blows them away. My wife who has some musical training, was stunned from the first note. She not only echo's my listening experience, but added that the rhythm and pace is spot on and the speakers disappear like never before. You said I would not be disappointed and you could not have been more right. Thank you and I hope to do future business with you. FYI- System is Spectral DMA-150 Series II amp/Spectral DMC-12 pre/with phono, VPI Aries/JMW arm/BenzMicro Woodbody M2, Melos dac/transport, Thiel 3.6's with MIT/Spectral interconnects/speaker cable and Cardas digital cable, Synergistic Research power cables amp/dac/transport, MIT/Spectral Z Cord II power cable on preamp.
Robert H.
Muncie, IN
February 2006
Audible Illusions L-2 Preamp Upgrade
After playing the Purist Audio System Enhancer for a few hours, I sat down last night and spun a few Redbook CDs..
And here's my initial assessment....SWEEEEEEEET!!!!
I'm sure it will only get better from here. The top end and bottom end improvements are nothing short of stunning. Even the midrange, which got me hooked with the Maggies had made a leap as well. This is the first time I've heard the Maggies produce this kind of bass. I've heard Jennifer Warne's "Blue Raincoat" LP played on a truly high-end analog system and after that experience, I get disappointed whenever I listen to its Redbook CD version....that got all changed last night. Not sure if you've listened to the Eagle's "Hotel California", it's intro has some really good bass... again, it was stunning! "
Thank you,
Ben L., California
August 2005
Henry Diller on his Krell 300CD and 300i Upgrade:
The upgrades were tremendous and saved me thousands I was going to sink into a Gryphon. I am very satisfied with the increased performance and the customer service was fantastic. Thank you very much.
David,
I was able to get the Ikemi plugged in and running with the burn in CD at around 2:00 Friday afternoon, and got back to hook it up to the amp around 8:00 last night.
First impression: Incredible
It is organic. I can't think of a better word to describe the sound. It is smooth, yet extremely detailed.
No smearing at all, very well balanced from top to bottom, and voices, oh the voices!! They hang eerily in the air from a jet black background. I have never heard the human voice sound so texturally right, so intimate, so REAL!
It is as if I can reach out and touch the singer. I am absolutely blown away. I can in no way detect my speakers existence from my listening position. No right or left just music.
The transport is smooth and quiet and I actually find the Ikemi very attractive. It looks much better in person than in the pics I have seen.
Thank you so much for suggesting this unit and for the modifications that you have performed. With only a few hours on it, the organic presence in general and on human voice in particular the Ikemi already blows away by a large margin every player I have ever heard, even over 2 other tubed modified players I owned.
P.S. - As I am typing this my 17 year old son who plays jazz and blues piano in his own band is playing right out side my office door, so I have the real thing right here for reference. The Ikemi has taken my system much closer to live music. Thank you.
All the best,
Russ Garrett
Russ has since purchased an Upgrade Co. Signature Edition uprgaded Oppo 83SE Bluray Universal player
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The Upgrade Company
1222 Walkabout Lane
Harbor Springs, MI 49740
1+231.242.0946
Sales@upgradecompany.com