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JVC K2 Interface CDP Mods?

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Posted on March 23, 1999 at 17:23:59
Greg


 
I have both of the JVC K2 CD player's (TN1010, and TN1050) and have heard that they sound incredible with certain mods.

Any sources for MODS?

 

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Re: JVC K2 Interface CDP Mods?, posted on March 24, 1999 at 09:21:32
Allan


 
Hi Greg
I don't have any mods, but i too am a big fan of the '1050. I own an older (1993) XL-Z1050 (20 bit PEM DD) with the K2 interface and would also be interested in any mods. I've had a couple of CAL products in house for demos and I actually preferred the JVC to both models of CAL's. I don't remember which models they were, one was a tubed DAC with seperate transport (2500.00) and the other was a 1-bit something or other integrated SS (750.00). I hooked the tubed version up to the JVC (using the JVC as a transport) and liked it better than the original CAL setup - but not as much as the good 'ol 1050 on it's own. The sound of the JVC is a bit laid back but what I like about it the most is the balance of the range of frequencies - there's no over-playing of any particular range. The overall sound is best described as "mellow" but there's absolutely no sacrifice of detail (how'd they do that???!!!).

BTW - Two months ago, Sound City (mid-fi mall) had a special close out on the XL-Z1050's for $300 a pop. They even had the original stereophile review of the CDP at their site to read up on - it was a good review. I paid $800 for mine in '93 so I thought I'd buy one for a backup. i was too late - they were gone in a day.

 

Re: JVC K2 Interface CDP Mods?, posted on March 24, 1999 at 18:03:02
Greg


 
Allan:

YES! I bought one of the 90 units they had at Sound City. I bought it to replace my aging 1010 which does not sound quite as detailed as the 1050. Apparently JVC found these in one of their warehouses in Japan. These were not B stock or refurbs. It's brand new and shows a manufacture date of Nov. 94 - probably one of the last production runs. This sounds incredible.

In any event, I found a contact for a company called Paradox that does extensive mods and are highly recommended. They recommend a $500 JVC DVD player for mods but will work on just about anything. My biggest concern with modding this player is NOT screwing up the sound.

Paradox phone number: 760-245-8435

Good Luck.

 

Re: JVC K2 Interface CDP Mods?, posted on March 24, 1999 at 22:35:21
Allan


 
So you're the guy that got the last one 5 minutes before I could get the plastic out (grin). I know what you mean about doing any mods to it - it's a fine unit all on its own. I'm getting concerned that age will eventually catch up to mine and that would be the best time to explore some tweaks. If you're wondering about durability, mine has been running steadily since '93 - every day, many thousands of cd's have been run thru it and it still sounds just like it did when it came out of the box. It may be the one thing JVC really did right! thanks for the Paradox lead.

 

Re: JVC K2 CD player mods, posted on March 25, 1999 at 11:09:17
petew


 
Me too! I bought a 1010 back 3/92 at a refirgerator store (silo). It was a demo/closeout without box but had a demo CD in the drawer. Paid 250 for it. They also had an XP-A1010TN digital acoustic processor (6-channel ambience for music/cinema) for 330. I recognized it right away from J Gordon Holt's Class A list. I found these pieces a week after I ordered the JVC XL-Z1050 player for $500 new. Unfortunately when I got the 1050 I was so in love with it I sold the 1010 at my cost to a dum girl. I told her it was a special machine and she should never sell it, that I would buy it back for the same price when she got tired of it. Well, it's gone, so is she.

But I still have the 1050, use it every day, and I even bought another last year for $300. I've tried it as a transport with EAD DSP-7000 III with stunning results. In fact, I prefer the sound of the JVC over the McCormack SST-1 transport (Class B), which is now demoted to the video system. I agree, that even as a stand-alone player, the JVC is extraordinary through the midrange.

Jon Risch uses a JVC and posted his tweeks a few weeks ago on the AR site. It was something about filling the machine with sandbags, both inside and out. I think you'll find that this is a popular model among audiophiles-in-the-know (those who listen, anyway). I've seen a few aftermarket moders posted somewhere else, I can't remember where. The problem is, is it worth the risk? (I'm not putting sand inside my CD player Jon, you must be alittle too tightly wound-up. But I do love your input. Some people can't tell when their leg is being pulled.)

It's sad that JVC gave up on the "digifine" line. I missed a chance to get their excellent (class A) fm tuner. By the time I called they were all sold and the line discontinued. And their DAT deck. I also have two JVC VHS decks that I paid around $1000 (each) for back in the 80's. They're wonderful machines that I've used every day since I bought them.

I'll post her if I can find those tweeker phone numbers. E-mail me will you?

 

Re: JVC K2 Interface CDP Mods?, posted on March 26, 1999 at 07:56:18
Richard


 
Recently had a Marantz cd-67SE in house to compare to my trusty old 1050. IMHO, the 1050 blew it away, albeit the fact that the Marantz was a considerably more detailed machine....just detailed in the wrong way. Rather etched, with a flabby bottom end and a discontinuous nature to the musical spectrum. The 1050 simply gave a better portrayal of the musical event(pace, balance, emotion)which is what we're all after anyway, right?


2cents

 

Right!, posted on March 26, 1999 at 11:49:16
Allan


 
Balanced - that describes what I've always liked so much about this cdp. It doesn't seem to try to "interpret" the cd by emphasizing certain frequency ranges. It just plays what it's been given.

 

here's two phone numbers: thanks to Dan Lini, posted on March 29, 1999 at 09:45:56
petew


 
Stan Warren 541-344-3696
Terrence Robinson 760-245-8435 (Paradox)

found on AR's cd player review post: thanks to Dan Lini

 

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