TRL Modified Sony DVP-NS900V SACD/CD Player Review
Looking for a reference quality digital source that is MUSICAL can be eXtremely challenging a digital source that you can enjoy all day long without becoming fatiguing? A common audiophile goal is to find a digital front end that sounds natural emotionally pulling you into the musical performance; one that doesnt sound analytical or digital characterized b having excessive soundstage compression and an edge or overly aggressive top end. Most of us want our digital playback to sound like a very good analog vinyl rig very open and natural sounding with a correct tonal balance and PRAT (pace, rhythm and timing) but perhaps with a bit more dynamic punch. After auditioning many digital sources in my system I am excited to say that I have found a very special SACD/CDP the Tube Research Labs (TRL) modified Sony DVP-NS900V that excels in dynamics, resolution, soundstage height, width and depth, 3-Dimensionality, air and overall musicality serving up a natural presentation with a neutral tonal balance IMO getting us much closer to analog. The best news is that the TRL/Sony is affordable and within reach of most all audiophiles and can be obtained with a little searching for approximately $1,150 ($750 for the TRL mod and $300 $400 on the used marketplace). I have had the opportunity to listen to some very fine sounding tweaked CDPs in my system modified players that included the following: APL modified Denon 3910 Reference Audio Mods modified Ah Tjoeb Reference Audio Mods modified Marantz SA-11S1 Reference Audio Mods modified Denon 3910 Reference Audio Mods modified Esoteric DV50 Reference Audio Mods modified Samsung As with any CDP each of the above players has its individual strengths and weaknesses where some players were not suited tonally for my system others didnt provide the utmost in transparency to make my VMPS RM40s completely disappear which is usually indicative of a soundstaging limitation (not throwing a huge, tall, wide and DEEP soundstage). I am a big fan of huge, open airy soundstages with exceptional depth (front to back image layering), but at the same time, I need life-like dynamics and instrument weight where there is also an immediacy or instrument-in-the-room quality to the presentation to make one believe they are listening to a live event in the comfort of home. And yes, depending on the recording, it is possible to have awesome soundstage depth, dynamic immediacy and exceptional transparency at the same time provided that the source, cabling and associated electronic components are resolving enough and can accurately transfer the low level information throughout the chain. Overall, after brief listening sessions with the above players (although I have had extended sessions with the modified transformer coupled Ah Tjoeb which I own), I was left with the impression that I was listening to a very good hi-fi system and they did not recreate the illusion of a live event. I was left wanting. The TRL/Sony is a whole different animal.
2006 CES Show I first learned about the TRL/Sony by calling Paul and Brian Weitzel of Tube Research Labs when we were looking for a reference quality digital source for our VMPS/Bruce Moore/Xtreme Cables/Xtreme AV 2006 CES listening room. He told me that they had just completed a new mod the Sony DVP-NS900V SACD player that had become their best sounding digital player to date beating their regarded TRL/Marantz SA-14 reference player. Brian agreed to loan me his own TRL/Sony and I received it 2 days before I was to drive out to Las Vegas for the CES. He mentioned that the mod was relatively new and still needed hours more for break-in. So I hooked it up and ran it 24/7 on repeat for the next 48 hours knowing that I still needed quite a bit more break-in time to sound optimal. Oh well, we would have to get as much time on it as we could once our room was set up. Suffice to say that our room sounded very well as it was standing room only for most of the show. We had many visitors and repeat visitors who just sat back and enjoyed the music! In addition, we had many reviewers stop buy (Dave and Carol Clark, Roger Gordon, Clement Perry, Frank Alles and Dick Olsher) that commented favorably in person about our overall sound and you can read their 2006 CES show report about our room by clicking on the following link: http://www.vmpseurope.com/r-CES06.htm To view a detailed list of Audio Components used in our 2006 CES room please click on the following link: http://www.xtremecables.com/PDFsXC/CES_2006_VMPS_Room_Audio_Component_List.pdf In addition, our room did have an analog playback system consisting of a very good sounding Michell Engineering Gyro SE MKII turntable with a Michell Techno arm and Sumiko Blackbird cartridge all going into the excellent Bruce Moore Phono Stage of their new Nomad Preamplifier. In most all direct A/B comparisons in our room that daythe analog rig was slightly more open and a bit smoother but the TRL/Sony player held its own and was a bit more dynamic. In the end, one wasnt disappointed at all with the analog and digital presentations and could easily be pulled into the music by either setup. And it wasnt just me or the audio reviewers who were impressed with the TRL/Sonys performance as all of our CES room co-exhibitors Brian Cheney of VMPS Audio, Bob Bergner of Bruce Moore Audio Designs and myself of Xtreme Cables and Xtreme AV all purchased a TRL modified Sony DVP-NS900V for our own reference systems and so did Positive Feedback reviewer John Beavers! And over the past few weeks three local audiophiles came over to the house at different times to audition my cables, QuickSilver GOLD and reference system and each of them commented that it doesnt get much better than what they were experiencing. And during the beginning of a listening session one person even asked where is your turntable? To which I responded the source is not analog but digital and this TRL modified Sony is the closest thing I have found to vinyl all for less than $1,200!!! And to think some people feel you need digital rigs in the $10k $20k ranges to get this type of sound. I now know better.

Listening Evaluation & Material I am a believer in using only very well recorded material when I do critical listening and evaluation to see how close to live a system and recording can get. From the following list you can see that I really am into Hawaiian surfer singer/songwriter, guitarist Jack Johnson and would recommend it to anyone looking for EXCEPTIONAL recordings; fresh, uplifting melodic music; and clever lyrics and each of his CDs is packed with so many amazing songs!!! IMO, Jack Johnson is one of the most talented singer/songwriters to arrive on the scene in years and it is hard to find such exceptional recordings. Please keep in mind that I am not by any means a professional reviewer but I have a vast amount of experience developing reference grade audio cables and the universally loved QuickSilver GOLD Contact Enhancer. That being said, I do believe that I have an accurate and revealing system very good ears and an elevated reference point enough to know what is bad, good, great and realistic sound. Jack Johnson Brushfire Fairytales: I like to listen to Track 5, Flake to listen to Tommy Jordans steel drum hits in the opening 18 seconds. What is amazing is the TRL/Sonys ability to throw an expansive soundstage with exceptional front-to-back image layering. Also noteworthy is the dynamics of the snare hits throughout. Track 11, F-Stop Blues, is a wonderful song to hear male vocals as the TRL/Sony makes it sound so real so lifelike. And Track 13, Its All Understood is one of my favorites showing how tight and articulate the snare hits sound with also such a pure and natural piano. Also, prepare to be blown away when you listen to Track 8 The News. Jack Johnson On and On: The recording quality is amazing and is one of my favorite Jack Johnson recordings!!! Track 16 titled Symbol in My Driveway brings the ocean surf into your listening room demonstrating once again the TRL/Sons ability to throw a huge expansive soundstage with amazing front-to-back image layering. Prepare to get wet!!! I also use Track 12 titled Cookie Jar for the interesting guitar strum-work throughout and I have never heard decay coming off of a Tom drum that sounds so real. And the reverb and decay sounds awesome as well. Jack Johnson In Between Dreams: I like to listen to Track 3, Banana Pancakes, to evaluate soundstage openness and soundstage depth. In the opening 20 seconds the music is layered over a background of rain hitting the pavement so natural and real that I feel Im getting wet!!! With the TRL/Sony be sure to wear your galoshes when listening to this cut! Patricia Barber Modern Cool: While there are many great cuts on this CD, I like to use track Number 7, Autumn Leaves, as a reference that allows me to evaluate how holographic and 3-Dimensional a CDP can be. All I can say is that with the TRL/Sony, the stand-up bass solo of this track was presented in a manner that was spookily real the air around the musician the sound of the creaking wood the finger work on the neck and strings the difficult breathing of bassist Michael Arnopol. All I can say is that the TRL/Sony did the most holographic and convincing job of any player I have ever heard bringing Michael Arnopol into my living room! Diana Krall Live in Paris: Of course no evaluation would be complete without listening to some sultry female vocals, and exceptional tickling of the ivories, such as that displayed on Diana Kralls popular Live in Paris audiophile recording. Audiophiles know that piano is one of the most difficult instruments to get right with all of the complex harmonic overtones, note decays, sustain pedals, etc.

Piano doesnt get much better than this and the TRL/Sony takes Diana Krall to a whole new level. Her sexy and often deep vocal performance, combined with the tight bass, drums and percussive musical delights is a feast for the ears. Prepare to be transformed to the small club in Paris (no French fries served here), as the ambient retrieval of this recording played on the TRL/Sony is so real it is scary. Diana Kralls solo of Joni Mitchells A Case of You, Track 11, is sure to send you body into goose bump city. Track 4, The Look of Love, is one of my all-time favorites as Dianas seductive and dynamic vocals, combined with her brilliant piano performance, and John Pisanos beautiful acoustical guitar work makes me a Burt Bacharach convert (at least for this song). And Track 12, Billy Joels Just the Way Your Are is a romantic delight as Dianas sexy voice and skilled piano playing interesting percussive treats with a beautiful tenor saxophone accompaniment and solo so natural, warm and full. I must admit that my spirit gets transformed and dreams of the days of courting my wife over 20 years ago and then I wake up to reality. At least I can still dream about it. And of course one must listen to Track 10, Fly Me to the Moon, and take in everything Dianas masterful vocals and piano playing; the accompanying drums, bass and guitar work in an exceptional recording that captures the ambience of the club. All I can say is that if you dont have this CD buy it today!!! The TRL/Sony is definitely an extraordinary top performing CDP that will do this recording justice and will make Diana come alive in your listening room (although I personally would prefer that she came alive in a different room of the house).
Jazz in the Pawnshop: I have the FIM XRCD version and use Track Number 1 on Disc 2 titled Lady Be Good for evaluation. The TRL/Sony provides such spectacular ambient retrieval and realism transporting you to the actual venue or club setting. The background conversation, coughs, phone call, and drink-making sounds are so real and in the correct dimensional perspective that you listening room gets transformed into a bar. The saxophone sounds dynamic and real with proper weight and not exceedingly bright or screechy. The xylophone solo is also a treat and the key strikes, impact and note decay sound correct as if someone was playing a xylophone in you home. In Conclusion The TRL/Sony DVP-NS900V is one exceptionally fine sounding MUSICAL player getting us much closer to analog. It is excels in most all of the audiophile categories resolution, neutrality, soundstaging, dynamics, transparency, instrument weight, ambience, image placement and separation, etc. Listening to your reference system will be a treat as it emotionally pulls you into the music allowing you to see past your stereo and enjoy the musicians performance. I strongly recommend this special player! And at $1,200 or less its a no-brainer!!! The bottom line if you find a Sony DVP-NS900V buy it!!! Then get it modified by the folks at TRL. You will not be disappointed. And if you find two please call me as I want another one. I am being serious here!!! I ended up purchasing Brian Weitzels personal TRL/Sony that we used in our CES room. and sent him another Sony DVP-NS900V so he could modify one for himself (I wouldnt give his loaner back to him). The only problem is that once I gave it a home in my system I became

so engrossed in the music wanting to listen to all of my reference CDs again and again that I didnt get back to work building cables for nearly 2 weeks!!! And it gets even better as Brian and Paul shared with me that they developed an upgraded AC and battery powered version of this Sony player (add another $750 mod cost for the battery version) which takes the player that I now love to a whole new level!!! I cant wait to hear it and am going to have mine upgraded soon. The only problem is that I hate to be without my musical TRL/Sony but Brian Weitzel assured me that he could turn it around in a week. Will keep you posted as to when I get my newly modified AC/Battery powered version and will definitely update this review over the next 4 weeks or so.
TRL/Sony DVP-NS900V Modification Information: Tube Research Labs Brian Weitzel or Paul Weitzel Phone: (509) 263-9177 Website: tuberesearchlabs.com Email: trl98848@yahoo.com
Brian Kyles Xtreme Audio Reference System Components: Digital Source: TRL modified Sony DVP-NS900V SACD/CDP Preamp: Atma-Sphere MP3 with all current updates Amplifiers: Atma-Sphere MA1 Mk II.3 Silver Edition OTL Monoblock Amplifiers Speakers: VMPS RM-40s tricked out with all the VMPS options plus Xtreme Cables hook-up wire and Cryo treatment the best RM40s Brian Cheney has ever built! Power Conditioning: Richard Gray Power Company 400 in parallel on one AC circuit AC Receptacles: Oyaide SWO-GX Cryo Treated Gold Plated Receptacles Accessories: Xtreme AVs QuickSilver GOLD Audio & Video Contact Enhancer an essential for all cable connections, fuses and tube pins; Ultra Systems Silver Filament Ceramic Fuses; and Xtreme AVs Maple Cable Supports. Isolation: Acoustic Dreams Dead Balls on the TRL/Sony. Black Diamond Racing Cones under the Preamp and Amplifiers. Audio Cables: Xtreme Cables throughout! X5 Gold/Silver Hybrid RCA IC set from TRL/Sony SACD to Preamp; X2 Copper/Silver Hybrid XLR IC set from Preamps to Amps; X4 9.25 AWG Copper/Silver Speaker Cables; X2 11.75 AWG Copper/Silver Hybrid Speaker Cables; X2 Silver/Copper Hybrid 9.75 AWG Front-End Power Cable on the TRL/Sony SACD/CDP; X3 Copper/Silver Hybrid 10.0 AWG Universal Power Cable on Preamp; X4 Copper/Silver Hybrid 8.5 AWG Back-End Power Cables on Amplifiers and RGPC 400. If in the Southern California area we invite fellow audiophiles to come over and listen to this extraordinary TRL/Sony in my VMPS/Atma-Sphere/Xtreme Cables/QuickSilver GOLD system. Prepare to be amazed. Enjoy the Music and Video!!! Brian Kyle Xtreme Cables Xtreme AV QuickSilver & QuickSilver GOLD Dana Point, CA 92629 949.488.7662

CES 2006 THE SHOW St. Tropez Room 1303
VMPS Bruce Moore Xtreme Cables Xtreme AV
Listening Room Audio Component List
Friday, February 03, 2006 Subject: Audio Components used in our 2006 CES VMPS Audio Bruce Moore Audio Designs Xtreme Cables Xtreme AV Listening Room Dear Fellow Audiophiles, First, let me thank everyone for taking the time to stop by our room and listen to our 2006 CES reference audio system. Our primary goal was to put together an affordable, reasonably priced audio reference system while at the same time showcase some of our exciting new technologies. We were Xtremely pleased with the overall natural and realistic musical presentation we achieved considering the room parameters we had to work with. I hope you felt the same. Here is a list of Audio Components used in our CES St. Tropez Room 1303 listening room along with a brief description when necessary. LOUDSPEAKERS: Debuting the new VMPS Audio Constant Directivity Waveguide technology expanding the sweet spot to most of the room!!! The RM30-C Speakers were all wired with the proprietary Xtreme Cables internal hook-up wire for optimal tonal balance and maximum openness! VMPS RM30-C Planars with new Constant Directivity Waveguides ($3,500 List $4,500 as shown with FST, capacitor and Xtreme Cables hook-up wire upgrades) VMPS Original Subwoofers (x2) with 1,000 WPC Amplifier ($949 each) Contact: Name: Company: Phone: Email: Website: Brian Cheney VMPS Audio 510.222.4276 vmpsaudio@aol.com www.vmpsaudio.com
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS/AMPLIFICATION: The Bruce Moore Audio components are all ultra-wide bandwidth designs and incorporate point-topoint wiring using several models of Xtreme Cables internal hook-up wire in the inputs and critical signal path allowing the user to achieve optimal system synergy tonal balance and maximum openness! Bruce Moore Audio Designs Nomad Phono Preamplifier ($6,500 with Phono stage; $4,500 Line Stage) Bruce Moore Audio Designs 225 WPC KT-88 Monoblock Amplifiers ($15,000 a pair) Contact: Name: Company: Phone: Email: Website: Robert Bergner Bruce Moore Audio Designs (Distributed by R.B. Audio) 925.918.3714 bergner33@yahoo.com www.rbaudio.com or www.rbhomecinema.com
XTREME CABLES: Xtreme Cables unique natural unbleached cotton dielectric and jacketed reference grade audio cables with proprietary Black Hole Noise Reduction technology allows for unimpeded energy transfer and low level signal information retrieval for the most dynamic, open and natural musical presentation possible. Xtreme Cables/Xtreme AV QuickSilver GOLD Audio & Video Contact Enhancer ($159/Kit) Xtreme Cables X5 Gold/Silver Hybrid Interconnect between CDP/SACD and Preamp ($825 for 1-m pair) Xtreme Cables X3 Copper/Silver Hybrid Interconnect between Preamp and Amps ($646 for 1-m pair) Xtreme Cables X2 Copper/Silver Hybrid Interconnect between Preamp and Subwoofers ($646 for 1-m pair) Xtreme Cables X4 9.25 AWG Copper/Silver Hybrid Speaker Cables ($1,500 for a 6-ft set) Xtreme Cables X4 8.5 AWG Copper/Silver Hybrid Power Cables (x3) for each Amp and APS Power Conditioner ($1,500 for a 6-ft length) Xtreme Cables XAWG Copper/Silver Hybrid Power Cables (x4) for Preamp, SACD/CDP and Subwoofers ($1,100 for a 6-ft length) Contact: Name: Company: Phone: Email: Website: Brian K. Kyle Xtreme Cables LLC and Xtreme AV LLC 949.488.7662 xtremecables@cox.net or xtremeav@cox.net www.xtremecables.com
DIGITAL SOURCE: Tube Research Labs (TRL) modified Sony DVP-NS900V SACD/DVD Player (~$1,000 - $1,150). Sony DVP-NS900V Street Price: Modification Price: Contact: Name: Company: Phone: Website: ANALOG SOURCE: Michell Engineering Gyro SE MKII Turntable ($2,150) Michell Tecno Arm ($1,100) Sumiko Blackbird Cartridge ($799) EQUIPMENT RACKS/STANDS: Grand Prix Audio Monaco Amp Stands ($2,500 for two amp stands) Lovan Equipment Rack ACCESSORIES: Xtreme Cables/Xtreme AV QuickSilver GOLD Audio & Video Contact Enhancer ($159/Kit) Xtreme AV Maple Cable Supports ($120/Set of Eight) Acoustic Dreams Dead Balls Isolation Devices for CDP and Preamp ($200/Set of 3) APS Purepower 1050 1650-Watt Power Conditioner ($2,500) ~$250 - $400 used (this is a non-current model) $750 Brian or Paul Weitzel Tube Research Labs 509.787.5405 www.tuberesearchlabs.com

Feel free to call any of us if you have questions or need additional information.

Sincerely,

Brian K. Kyle Xtreme Cables LLC & Xtreme AV LLC 949.488.7662 Brian Cheney VMPS Audio 510.222.4276 Bob Bergner Bruce Moore Audio Designs & RB Audio 925.918.3714