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Different SCD-1/777ES Mod

65.3.251.171

Posted by jhietbrink on August 12, 2001 at 16:25:13

If you’ve looked over the SCD-1/777ES power supplies, you know that they are very large, ambitiously designed and implemented with reasonably good quality parts. And yet, the SCD-1/777ES sounds a bit retrained – even after being broken in. A common remedy is to replace varying numbers of the perfectly respectable Elna and Nichicon power supply caps with Black Gates. However, there is at least one other approach.

The SCD-1/777 has a Sony designed power line filter rather than the more common line filters manufactured by Corcom, Delta and others. Although these filters can clean up the power being entering the component, their primary purpose in digital components is to prevent high frequency noise from leaving the component into the wiring system -- as required by FCC Rules.

If you look carefully at the AC Board, you will notice the that the filter is nicely designed in that it separately filters the power headed to the digital and analog transformers – helping to prevent digital noise from entering analog circuits within the player. (This is a feature other manufacturers should adopt.) You will also notice that the digital and analog sides of the filter use dual ferrite core inductors (common mode line chokes) that are wound with a very fine wire -- indicating a low amperage rating.

On a hunch that the inductor pair for the analog circuits was at least one of the culprits in the polite dynamics, I removed it and installed jumpers in its place. I didn’t replace any of the ceramic disc caps on the AC board with film caps, but that would also improve the sound.

While I had the AC Board loose, I decided to improve the earth ground. As implemented by Sony, the board is grounded through the steel back panel. (Yes, it’s steel and so is the inner bottom plate.). The earth ground wire is attached to the back panel with a screw some distance away. So I bent up the ground tab on the board, soldered on a 14 gauge stranded copper wire and ran it directly to the chassis earth ground screw – creating a star ground – at least as far as the AC Board is concerned.

So what have been the results of this experiment? Significantly improved dynamics and better frequency extension at the both ends of the range, more detail retrieval and better soundstaging – way more than I was expecting. Generally, I find the presentation to be more musical and a little less “pretty” and I’m VERY happy with it. Of course this is in my system and your results may vary. Is there any downside? With SACDs there seems to be none. With some CDs, increased treble extension can be a mixed blessing. I’m once again very grateful for my Audio Desk CD lathe and Aurex mat.

Aside from this one change, my 777ES is a stock machine. I’m using an Electraglide Reference power cord and a slightly modified (better caps) Chang Lightspeed power conditioner.

If you’ve made a similar mod, or other changes to the AC Board, I’d be very interested to hear about you experiences.

And a couple of other notes:

Modding the SCD-1/777ES is for experienced – and brave tweakers only.

If you’re not knowledgeable about AC power, don’t attempt this mod. Errors can result in a premature shortening of human and equipment life.

If you don’t know how to open the lid – get instructions first.

Be careful not to let the inside lock washer drop into the unit when removing the chassis ground screw. I decided to leave the washer out on reassembly.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Sonic Craft

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