11-15-09 :  I did the first comparison in stereo with a stock SE versus my own standard 83 with the newly revised MBBM.  Both machines have been burned in for two days (playing in repeat), so the test is valid from that viewpoint.  I used a 24/96 disc and, of course, only one was plugged in at a time and in the exact same place/setup....nothing different.  This is what I heard:  The stock 83SE has a fairly low distortion, grain free sound.  However, it sounds dry (like a bunch of op amps) and uninvolving and the images are relatively small.  The standard MBBM unit sounds considerably more real and alive sounding, with bigger images and more palpable sound, instruments simply sound more real.  It does have a little grain in comparison.  However, no way would I want to listen to the SE....it is boring.  Saxophones and cymbals and piano sound pinched and again.....dry.  I was really enjoying listening with the MBBM unit but bored very quickly with the stock SE. 

I have no doubt the stock SE sounds better than the stock standard .  Personally, this means nothing to me, as I never listen to anything stock and since the MBBM is only $85....this is a no brainer.  If you are a conservative type, scared of mods, etc. then getting an SE certainly would not be a bad thing.  But to expect serious high end sound from this implementation is not real.  I have no doubt the Sony 5400 stock would kill the stock SE.....kill it.  Only when seriously modded will you be able to realize the potential of the ESS device. 

The stock standard Oppo has two steel leaded not good sounding coupling caps in series with the output, a bunch of zero ohm jumpers, an inductor in series with the output, filter cap and resistor to ground on the output, two opamps in the output stage, muting transistor, a bunch of surface mount ceramic caps in the output stage power supplies, etc.
The SE has no coupling caps in the signal path and that is also what the MBBM has.  The SE has nothing but film caps bypassing the output stage and that is also what this particular MBBM has.  The SE has the output board and power supply disconnected from ground except for one point.....again, this is what the MBBM does.  The SE has two 5532 op amps in series with the output and an inductor in series with the output and cap and resistor to ground right at the output .  The MBBM has only one 5532 op amp in series with the signal and a 50ohm resistor soldered directly from the output pins of this one 5532 directly to the top of the output jacks, bypassing lots of solder joints, etc....no inductor or cap/resistor to ground.  The SE has a relay for muting.  This particular MBBM has no muting at all.  The MBBM has three of the "Transport Magic" mods and other distortion lowering things and the SE does not.  The Transport Magic mods are seriously important, so it will be interesting to see how the SE improves with these mods.  

The reports of better sound via the SE over the standard are, I am certain true.  However, since the output stage on the SE is simpler and more pure and the power supply has only film caps for the output stage, "better power supply", etc. then the differences being heard cannot be attributed directly to the "better DAC chip".  By equalizing the standard's output stage and power supply bypasses to the SE level and doing some other MBBM mods, the standard MBBM is vastly superior to the stock SE.

The SE is $900.  The standard with MBBM is $585.  No contest here.  At this point MBBM standard rules.  What is so cool about the $85 MBBM is that not only does it give you better sound than an SE (via stereo out, how I listened) but also gives you better sound via the HDMI out and better picture too.  Simply an amazing value......which is why it is named as such.....Mind Blowing!!!  I am no longer giving away the MBBM.....Now, more than ever I realize how seriously great this $85 mod is.

11-22-09:   Yesterday, I did a few more mods to my standard Oppo 83 with MBBMs (I guess you could call it an MBBM+) and it now sounds even better, the grain is gone and now is truly mucho better than stock SE.  The stock SE is simply not very real or pure sounding, the images are diffuse compared to the MBBM where you can clearly hear the piano player making his grooving noises in his own space....the stock SE has a diffused and compressed sound (weird, eh...the sound is both compressed and veiled but the images are not precise....sort of spacey/noisy).  Remember, I not only have the MBBM+ jobbie here to compare but also the all out jobbie....I know what great sound is!....this is not.

After that I did all the same exact mods to the SE and A/Bed again.  Now, we are finally getting somewhere!!!!....and then I did one more mod to the SE to equalize it more with my standard unit, and now it indeed sounds a little better overall.  Not much, but a little. The images are now precise, the veiling is diminished, all instruments sound more real, the sound is bigger, more open and fun.   It has a little more extension on the top and slightly more detail than the standard with the same mods.  It is impossible at this point to say this is the DAC chip or other power supply differences. 

11-27-09:    I removed more of the output stage on the SE to equalize the playing field more and also did one of my esoteric mods that no one else does and the sound of the SE improved noticeably.  My sense is that it now probably sounds as good as what Nuforce is doing and I can do this mod for $195.  It is clearly better than the MBBM+ mod to the standard.....it is now pulling away.  Very clean sounding. 

11-28-09:   I continue to work on the SE (basic mod level) and it continues to get better.  Right now I am addresssing the analog power supplies and some simple mods are making noticeable improvements.  I am actually enjoying the machine.  It does not sound as transparent as an all out modded standard, but I can tell that with more mods I am going to be salivating! 
Just did one more mod to the output stage....yikes!!!...this thing just gets better and better.  No way the Nuforce thing sounds this good.......and I can do this for $195!  more to come!!!!!   Again, just listened after it was on for an hour....my, my, my!!!!!  This sounds nothing like the stock unit......way frickin better.  Dynamics, realism, transparency, imaging, fun......at a whole nuther level.  I'm diggin it......and it still has an op amp output stage!!! 

12-01-09 :     Just got in the Nuforce edition.  They only touch the output board, nothing else.  Looks like maybe $50 parts max in their mostly parts swapping mod.  About 2 hours labor.   For $400 we usually give almost $200 worth of parts and 4 hours labor.  I understand a company like Nuforce cannot operate this way.  They have tons of overhead.  So, there pricing is fair.  I can just do lots better for the money as my overhead is way, way less and I have no dealers....hence no dealer markup.  

12-09-09:   Changed the regulation on the modded SEs 3.3V Analog supply to the 2 channel ESS DAC chip.  Way, way better sound.  The stock regulation and power supply caps are simply hideous.  Nuforce just changes one part in this very important power supply.  And the part they change is not needed so the player sounds better without it!!!  The Basic mod plus this power supply mod have me really grooving!!   $295 for this mod combo.  Our highly modified discrete regulator plus all polypropylene caps (no electrolytics) power supply simply takes the SE to a whole nuther level.  Simply way more real.......did I say real....yes, I am dancing....yes, it sounds GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!  Next up it is our dual mono output stage....then the Jensen cap and then we will play with both clocks......this thing is getting me excited!

12-28-09:  As stated above I had a Nuforce modded SE here (it was already burned in when I received it and the customer liked stock it very much).  The customer had wanted the full all out mod done and hopefully by Christmas.  Since I did not have it ready for him I simply removed the Nuforce mod and put my $295 mod (described in the last paragraph) in the machine and sent it to him.  Got an email yesterday from him (remember he already had the stock Nuforce at his home so what he is saying is in relationship to that):

" You hit a home run!!! The stereo out is "UNBELIEVABLE.".    I listened to "Companion" Patricia Barber SACD and after the 3rd song the fuzziness and ringing began disappearing and then I could increase the volume, it was then I was blown away.  The live 5 band jazz combo leaped into the room as well as the audience.  The music was palpable with an incredibly huge soundstage with unbelievable detail and NO harshness.  The music is smooth without edge and rounded notes providing warmth but not at all mushy or bloomy.  I'm in love and now doing the Teflon tweak to all my outlets......I cannot wait to play more discs.  etc. etc."

However, what is clear to me is that if you have a limited budget (under $1000 total) and don't plan on doing mods down the road then the SE is not a good deal.  Mucho better to get the standard and have mods done.  For instance, you could get the standard mod alone and for $700 have a much better sounding machine via analog, digital and HDMI and better pic.  Add the basic 2 channel super output stage and the OFC jacks and for less than $1000 including the player you have way, way better sound than the stock SE and of course, you also get the better sound via HDMI/digital out and slightly better pic.   Obviously, the SE is for those that are interested in analog out sound.  If you are using the Oppo via HDMI or digital out for sound then the SE version is totally unnecessary.

The Nuforce SE edition does not make any sense at all unless you are a conservative type and cannot deal with us "modders" or do not believe in tweaking.  The $400 Nuforce "mod", because that is exactly what it is, does not sound anywhere near as good my $295 mod to the SE (see the customers comments two paragraphs above) nor even as good as the $85 MBBM mod.  If you get the Nuforce edition you probably do not want any other mods, because everything that Nuforce does I or any other modder would remove.  They are just parts swapping, removing a few mutlichannel coupling caps, removing some muting circuits and redoing some filters.  If anyone wants more info on exactly what Nuforce has done you can call me. However, we are naturally open to modding the Nuforce or any other "modded" version of the SE or standard.  We could even do mods where we don't touch the Nuforce output board and just do all the other things we do.  Most anything is possible for those that dream.

Now, if you are very serious and want really great sound, then the SE is showing itself to be the base unit to use to do serious mods on.   

The stereo out sonic rating scale below is my latest estimation based on what I have heard so far....I am sure it will be controversial.  I will, I am sure, change the rating #s etc. as I tune in exactly to the differences.  A 5 rating is equivalent to an average current $500 CD player.  Since CD players have gotten so much better over the years a $500 CD player today would equal any of the old Sony SACD players like the SCD-1, XA777ES, 555ES, etc.  Those players have been eclipsed a long time ago and do not represent at all what is possible even at a $1000  price point today.   A $1000 Benchmark DAC running off the digital output of any of those old player would be at least a 7.  The new Sony XA5400ES is another story.  According to what I have read it certainly would be at least a 7.5 as well.  A 10 would be the absolute perfect disc player (not possible since we are always making it better).  I would say 9.5 is the latest State of the Art at any price.  A 9 would be way out there....think multi-thousand $ serious machines.  Starting at around 8 the sound is getting seriously tweak and the numbers get harder to reach.  Every tenth is a noticeable serious improvement.  My goal with the Oppo is to take it as high as possible: to a 9.?   I may already be there.

Analog Stereo Out Sonic Rating scale:  
Stock Oppo 83    5 out of 10    Cost is $500  (The Oppo does sooooo much more for $500 than a CD player!!!)
Stock Oppo 83SE   6 out of 10    Cost is $900
83SE Nuforce edition   7.1 out of 10  Cost is $1300
83SE with $225 Basic mod    7.8 out of 10    Cost is $1125
83 SE with $225 Basic mod and $100 DAC regulator mod    8.1 out of 10   Cost is $1225
83 with Basic mod, super analog output stage and OFC jacks    8.0 out of 10    Cost is $990
83SE with Basic mod, super reg for DAC, super analog output stage and OFC jacks.  8.7 out of 10    Cost is $1485
83SE with Basic mod, super dual mono output stage and DAC/super regs/OFC jacks  9? of 10  Cost is $1660 
83 with all out everything mod to 2 channel    9? out of 10    Cost is $1700+
83SE with all out everything mod to 2 channel    9+++? out of 10    Cost is $2100?+

More to come.

All the above prices are for the machine stock or the machine plus the mods.  You have to subtract the price of the machine to know what the mod price is.  We do not sell the Oppo machines, you need to have one sent here .

Remember, all my mods from MBBM on up improve the HDMI sound, the digital out sound and the picture. 

For those that can solder, a simple 10 minute easy to do mod will/could get you a seriously good improvement (about 35% of the MBBM mod). However, since this removes two veiled parts, the stock unit will simply reveal more of its STOCK self.  One person on AVS forum did the mod and found better dynamics and speed but found the sound irritating so removed the jumpers.  Another person, Steve, did the mod for his multichannel system and his comments are below the pic.  He took the pic that is on the page....thanks Steve. You have to get the stock Oppo 83 has distortions in various parts that are removed by all the other mods I do.  The "rest" of the MBBM mod removes distortions and makes the sound more warm and less hard.  Sorry, I cannot give you those mods.  So, some people will like this mod and some won't depending on the synergy in your system.  By the way, the sonic signature of the solder you use will affect the sound (believe it or not).  If you use a bright sounding solder like Siltech then you will add that signature to the mod.  If you use a dull solder like Marigo or Acer Racing solder, you will get that affect.  This mod is simply the very tip of the iceberg of what I do.  Maybe? 5% of what is possible.

Simply remove the cover and you will see the underside of the audio board staring at you. Below is a pic of the underside of the Oppo 83 board (non SE version).  All the coupling caps in all the output stages are bypassed by jumpering the cap leads with large solder blobs as shown below.  The standard 83 has two coupling caps in series with the signal in the stereo outs and one coupling cap in the multichannel outs.  So the sonic improvement will be more noticeable using the two channel outs.   The 83SE has no coupling caps in the stereo outs and one coupling cap in the multi-channel outs.  All caps can be eliminated.  The best cap is none!!!  We now have a pic of the bottom of the SE board that shows you where to jumper the multichannel coupling caps (bottom of page).  And those that are worried about "voiding your warrantee".....this mod can be removed without leaving a trace......no one ever has to know you did something to your machine......good grief, we would not want anyone to know we modded it for better sound.  Better keep it a secret!   he he.

Here is a pic of the SE board showing the multichannel output caps jumpered.  Pretty easy!!!