Happy Easter to all!
I'd like to share my initial impression of Ka Jo's work on my Marantz DV 6001. This is an sacd/dvda/dvd-v player, 2nd from the bottom line which started at DV 5001. It was a competent and good player during its time but can't really compare with high end players (which I really can't afford). Those who are familiar with the "Marantz sound" can evoke memories of lovely mids though a bit recessed, a bit laid back highs and competent but not huge bass. This is true to mid priced Marantz gear but not to it's top sacd dedicated players that are beasts of their own. I asked for Ka Jo's help to tweak my player. He accepted but never promised anything, just the best that he can do. The player was handed to me at Trinoma this afternoon. I am optimistic and expecting an improvement but not dreaming of a miracle. We all knew Ka Jo is a practicing magician, but I'm uncertain if he's licensed by the government or his peers in the magic world.
I set up the player with the usual gang (6dj8 aikido preamp, modded B&K ex-442 power amp and modded LSA1 bookshelfs). Voila! The highs have huge improvement, The mids cleared as if a veil has been lifted and the bass improved too. The highs and mids now have come a little forward but not to the extent that it became forward sounding. The bass became bigger and the soundstage improved a lot, vertically and horizontally. No, it doesn't beat my Lexicon RT-10, cd-wise and sacd-wise. My Lexicon still has better details, smoother highs and bigger bass and slam and wider soundstage with sacd playback. Numerically, I felt 85 to 90% vis-a-vis 100% using the Lexicon. Cd playback compared to my modded Cayin cd-50 is about 90% vis-a-vis 100%, although I can speak frankly that the Cayin is bit more forward sounding. Hell, I spent a great deal more on the Cayin + mods compated to the Marantz!
But what is remarkable is that my statements (not conclusion) above were written after just four (4) hours of playing the newly-tweaked Marantz. (Please enlighten your poor friend Ka Jo if he can still hear improvements say after 100 to 200 hours of use). And the cost of the brand new Marantz (at purchase time) is about one-tenth of the MSRP of the Lexicon in it's heydays!
So, to sum up: my usual salute to you Jojo David Copperfield Dijamco, the magician of our times!
