The DEC685 started skipping on some discs, some of my favorite discs and some newly arrived discs and it started getting annoying enough that I took it out.  For a while I was using it in the bedroom as a dvd and cd source, and it didn't exhibit the same problem!  So now it sits lonely.  I could put it back in and see what is up, but the Blu-Ray player is doing such a good job that I'm not doing so.  I don't need another DEC695. . . I need to sell something more than buy somethng!  I have a DEC685 amd a very nice NAD just being stored right now.

I'm going to have these modifications done to the ZCD and if it doesn't thrash the Blu-Ray after those are added, I'll probably put it up for sale. . . . I've just got too much of a "love/hate" thing going.  Partly it's there's a bit of warmth with the Blu-Ray I haven't yet gotten from the ZCD, partly the ZCD is just so unforgiving that only handfuls of discs sound exceptional, and I'm not a "listen to handfuls of discs" sort of guy; I listen to about fifty different discs a week. The Blu-Ray is a great machine, its' no longer the flagship (Sony released a new one this year that looks amazing) but it's quite a feat of engineering, a computer with transports really.

Indeed. . . I have a collection of that, even stuff that works that I just can't seem to part with.

Maybe one day I'll clean house!

Thanks, John.I've had the cover off, but didn't try to clean the lens.
Don

Further listening notes:  yes, this ability to vary the output of the player has transformed it in my system.  I can now dial it in just right, and it's clearly a giant-killer. Undoubtedly the tube regulation is a big factor in this, hard for me to tell as I was never able to get the right output for my system from the player before the tube regulation option was added.

I say order this player with all the options and expect to be very pleased.

I was looking at your posts on the ZCD. i HAVE AN IDEA THAT i'M SURE WOULD HELP OUT THE PLAYER. Purchase some Deflex panels
and glue them into every open space in the chassis of the ZCD.
I am sure this would bring the ZCD to another level of playback
and would relax its sound and give it more weight and transparency as well.
Just a thought I had tried it on my Toshiba dvd and in every way
it improved the player. I eventually will use this stuff inside a ZCD after I get all the mods done on one first.

I bought a factory new Tascam 160 mk2 this week and should be getting it end of next week to burn in for a month and then I'll send it out in May for all the mods to be done on the player. So I was watching your postings with interest and will be taking the plunge in May for all the mods done.
Ill get the detachable IEC, CLASS A OUTPUT, AND TUBE POWER SUPPLY WITH DUAL ATTENTUATORS.
But I need to wait and have this done begoinning May and will report my findings from my system has to how it sounds then.
Don C

Does anyone else have any impressions or reviews of the ZCD that they've sent back for the variable voltage and/or tube regulation option?  I bought mine almost a year go with only the IEC option (only one available at the time)

I've had all the mods done to my ZCD. The modifications do make a differrence. A positive difference.  Using a very good power cord also is a plus that mod allows.

Ultimately I prefer another player, my Sony ES Series SACD player.

Well, after nearly six months of just burning in in another room, I put the ZCD back in the system last night.

The "seasoning" certainly helped.

It now has the dynamism that I love about the Sony player and the tonal balance (if I back the output of this player way down) is pretty good. . . but still bright and forward for my tastes.

I'd say it is nearly the equal of the Sony player in all ways but the treble and the forwardness of the presentation.  The Sony is the best machine I've ever had, and cost more than the fully-modified ZCD, so it's no shame. I'm going to try to keep it in for a while and see if I can get used to it. . . I miss the Sony a little bit.  Especially because it plays SACD and sounds so wonderful with that format.