Figures.  Now that I don't want to take the ZCD out, he offers enticing options!  Thanks Steve!

You're absolutely right Dennis!

I'm holding off for a bit though.  Spent too much money lately, have to break the trend. Would like to have an IEC connector added and try out the tube regulation though. In time, in time.

Yeah, right.

Mine will be going in eventually for the P/S upgrade.
Meanwhile, if anyone has an updated player and wants to share their impressions, feel free!.
Don

It is a voltage regulator tube, no filament.

I'm sending my ZCD back to have the variable output (that is now standard) added, the IEC connection added, and the tube regulation.  I really really need the variable output, where it is set now is way too high.

I have my Sony ES Blu-Ray as the cd source now (as well as video source) and in the place of the ZCD (on Herbie's Iso Cups, and Mapleshade maple platform on Isoblocks, with the PS Audio power cord I was using on the ZCD) it sounds fabulous.

You know what Don. . . I'm really becoming hesitant to send the ZCD back. . .the Blu-Ray player is really shining right now, the whole system seems great right now, in a way it never quite has with the ZCD. . . . I guess I'll send it back, but I really have had a hot and cold affair with the ZCD and I'm almost ready to just keep it out of the system!

Seems odd, but again I think I miss what I had with the DEC685, great audio and video in one machine!  A less complicated, more integrated system.

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.

I can confirm this! I discovered this by rolling in all the 12A**7 types.
12AV7 and even 12AT7 are really good in this player.

Lon is there a volume control option on your ZCD? What seems to be the audible issues? Please describe if you wish.

I read the thread nevermind.
I'll ponder this though.

Only issue I've had is distortion with some overly "hot"  mastered CD's. Just too much "peak" in the recordings and for some reason the ZCD has distortion with those but I feel that is the CD/player relationship. I wish there were another way to fix this but what I do is reburn the CD at a lower peak db and the burned disc plays fine. Not sure why this happens but am certain it is the tube stage that it is happening in. These overly "hot" CD's sound decent off of the stock outputs of the TASCAM/ZCD. Most CD's are fine and with a CSP 2 in with the ZCD the weight and control is so good it is quite astounding. I have not had the opportunity to compare many digital sources especially not a wide variety of CD players.

Chris and Lon,
I've never tried a 12AT7, but have been through a number of 12AU7's (Mullard CV4003, RCA Clear Top, Siemens) over the 16 or so months I've had the ZCD.
Lon, did you order a RCA? I've read there's a marked difference between RCA and GE/Sylvania.  I've watched your valiant struggle with the ZCD in the context of your system and preferences, and admire your tenacity. I would have long sold mine had it not meshed with me! But your postings highlight an invaluable point I wish I'd learned many years ago: amps, sources, cables, tubes, speakers, tweaks, design strategies, reviewer opinions, etc...nothing matters till one like it in ones own system, room and music collection!  Steve makes a point about everything starts with the source.  But in my experience amps, preamps, integrated amps, and speakers (before you even begin to factor in tube combinations and cables) make an equal impact...before you EVEN begin to factor in room dynamics and sound preferences!  Not to mention those pesty things sound engineers sometimes do with recordings.  Thanks for your honesty and consistency with your postings!

It's interesting that my first impression when my Select arrived, a good 7 years ago now, was 'this thing can't possibly sound like much, it looks thrown together"!
(it replaced an amp that was built like a tank, but sounded like one too!)
It's not always about the perceived "quality"
Don

In the interest of clarity I do indeed think the ZCD is a great sounding player and I have enjoyed it a lot. That said I think the "forward" presentation Lon describes is accurate and I can see where that could be a bit much for someone that finds their hearing a bit sensitive to treble. If tube rolling won't solve it then the circuit itself would probably need to be "tweaked" for a different tonal balance. Lon has always liked the original style 2 driver (tweeter & 8" radial) Decware radial speakers I have found these speakers to be a bit "relaxed" for my taste. I like a more forward but not too forward presentation. To much of a good thing is almost always bad and if the system you have put together tips the scales toward more of a particular thing then you have an imbalance. This is a tough one to cover without being in front of the system in question.

Yes, especially the ES "Elevated Standard" series.  Truly a nice machine. i personally believe it's "loss leader" priced.

It's no shame to the ZCD that I prefer the build on this machine and think that it makes a sonic difference.

Here's some info on this machine:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=1055...

http://www.sonyinsider.com/2008/08/27/sony-unexpectedly-releases-super-audio-cd-...

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/hi-fi-and-audio/cd-players-and-rec...

Slide show of someone receiving machine:
http://s632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/ghtoz/XA5400ES-Arrives/?albumview=slides...

Yes it is.  I paid less for it, 1200 dollars, which was a great deal.

It's a great machine, and I've really become fond of SACDs; SACD has helped me to explore classical music, and the sound can be considerably better than cd can provide.

It's kind of a curse for me. . . . Plus two discs skipped on the ZCD yesterday that don't skip on the Sony machines. ARGH.  

The 12AU7s work for me. Still don't have any 12AV7s in the house, there's hope.  

Audio is so subjective.  Everyone is so excited about the ZCD and I wish I were as excited.  But we all have different rooms, ears and brains, and recording collecdtions, etc.

That's true.  Knock on wood no skipping yet today (been playing cds since 5:30 a.m.)!

Hey lon, chris etc...  you should try a 5963.  I've got some RCA 5963's that seems to work for me.   I think they are industrial equivient to 12AV7???   I can't really remember, I'll have to research that again...

Jason