Hi-Fi: Sony SCD-1 Modifications by Audiocom UK (Chapter 1)
This is a short review of the Sony SCD-1 SACD player modified with a customised Audiocom UK upgrade after discussion with them (specifically, the published DIY article less six super-regulators, with higher performance super-regulators for the S-TACT circuitry, mains PSU bypassing with REL-CAP RTX and REL-CAP RTX replacements for selected film decoupling).
Running-in was almost as painful as with the original player from new, with the now familiar dip in performance at between 100 and 200 hours of playback. The difference, however, was that the player was now starting from a higher baseline performance and was at least listenable during the break-in phase. Performance settled to its final level after about 400 hours.
Starting with CD playback, there are obvious improvements in several areas when compared with the original SCD-1, detailed as follows. Bass tightness and definition: similar extension but much tighter and with better definition compared with the original player (Shawn Colvin, Whole New You, track 6). Sibilance: much improved over the unmodified machine (a real weakness of the SCD-1, in my opinion) with more natural 's' sounds (Diana Krall, Stepping Out, track 2). Space and ambience: more obvious sound of the acoustic and space around instruments (Sheryl Crow, Tuesday Night Music Club, track 7). Vocal projection: as much 'up front' as the original (and the key reason why I prefer the SCD-1 to the Marantz SA-1), but with finer focus and greater dimensionality (Joan Armatrading, What's Inside, track 1). Vocal separation: this is the bête noire of CD, its treatment of massed choir tends toward a homogeneous sound rather than individual voices. While the SCD-1 helped create a sense of separate voices, each with different spacial positioning, the modified machine takes a further step in this direction, maintaining a grip on complex vocals and choral crescendos (Fauré Requiem, Shaw, Atlanta SO, Telarc). Dynamics: what the player does is to render almost everything I have played sound exciting, whether it was considered good in this respect or not. Some very flat CDs now sound respectable because of the detail and nuances brought out from the mix. Piano now sounds very real, like the percussion instrument it should be, with good leading edge attack, but also a strong sense of its interaction with and decay in the room (Radu Lupu, Great Pianists of the 20th Century, Beethoven Sonatas). Good live recordings sound amazingly vivid and real (Eric Clapton, Unplugged).
SACD playback is characterised by the already excellent presentation of the SCD-1, but with a quite stunning sense of space and depth (Jacintha, Autumn Leaves). Mine is a system in which depth has been more difficult to achieve due to the proximity of the speakers to the rear wall, however the upgraded player sounds as if I had brought the speakers another metre out into the room. Dynamics are even more impressive than CD playback, with palpable presence and focus (The Steve Davis Project, Quality of Silence). Vocal projection is uncanny, especially from old recordings where simple microphone techniques were used (Verdi Requiem, Ormandy, Philadelphia Orch, Sony).
My overall impression is of a very solid presentation, more so even than the best domestic analogue playback I've heard, clearly superior to any previous transport/DAC combination I've tried. The basic character of the SCD-1 has not been changed, there's just more of everything which was good in the original, a vindication indeed of Sony's superb basic design, particularly the transport. The quite amazing retrieval of detail is wrapped in a non-digital, non-glare presentation that makes me sit and listen to more, rather than switch off.
One operational note: the SCD-1 in its modified form objects to my favoured PowerPlant (mains regenerator) setting of PS2 (60Hz partial square multiwave), so I've now settled on a new preferred setting of SS1 (sequential frequency partial square multiwaves) at 230V.
The total cost for these modifications was £2290 including labour. The original SCD-1 cost me £3600, giving a total machine cost of £5890, comparing favourably with some very exotic CD-only players in the UK marketplace.
Audiocom can be reached here.
30 August 2001