"the upgrade company" <component mods> - Page 24  

Originally Posted by Chu Gai

TUC's knowledge is to identify those parts that are comparatively non-critical and easily accessible for replacement. In that case, the cost of labor + parts I think is worthwhile to consider since he has not demonstrated any special knowledge or expertise in the field. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he has some other place do this work for him and then he takes the unit home, snaps a few ferrites on and starts applying foil tape.

Originally Posted by Chu Gai

...the cost of labor + parts I think is worthwhile to consider since he has not demonstrated any special knowledge or expertise in the field.

Originally Posted by Colm

Maybe you can sell it on eBay as an unknown early Picasso and recoup your money.

Originally Posted by Colm

How you can prove the results without appropriate before and after measurements is beyond me. If you can hear it, there is a way to measure it.

Originally Posted by rno63

I measure with the EMM CDSA SE which was out classed by my Upgrade Company Denon 5910ci which is now behind the Upgrade Company modded Oppo bdp-83. The stock Oppo could not hold a candle to the upgraded Denon and I had the stock Oppo here for a month. When it came back from TUC it surpassed the 5910 right out of the box. It is an incredible transformation to say the least. It is very tough to find someone complaining about the sonic gains they hear after a mod from them. You are going to get a couple of complaints but that is to be expected in business. I don't think it will become anything more than just a couple though.

Originally Posted by Colm

Focusing on the cost of parts and labor to perform the modifications is a waste of time. What you are really paying for is TUC's knowledge, which they claim to be a trade secret, of how to modify the equipment to get the results they claim. If you got the results claimed, you got your money's worth. If not, you were cheated. Simple as that.

Originally Posted by Colm

It is still irrelevant. You just don't get what you paid for then. What difference does it make if he puts in $.10 worth of parts or $500 worth if it doesn't do what you paid for? Would you feel any different when you got your gear back?

Originally Posted by classba

To be very honest. You sound just like Dave S with the way you talk and even down to the words used. Good luck to you if you are very happy with the service but there is no need to talk down to people and force your personal opinions down someone's throat. Please say " hello" to dave for me next time he exchange E-mails with you telling you what to write here.

Originally Posted by welwynnick

I agree with this, and I believe it's what TUC are all about. I don't care how much it costs them to do the mods, its the end result that counts.

If it costs them $100 to make my $1000 unit sound like a $10000 unit, that's fine by me. What I'm really buying is the application of the knowledge that knows what parts to use where, and what to leave alone.

Nick

Originally Posted by Chu Gai

Probably a sock that your dryer ate.

Originally Posted by RUR

So let's sum up....

We have a modification company which makes scarcely believable claims about performance enhancement, not only won't tell us what it does, but prohibits customers from sharing photos, doesn't provide pre/post mod measurements, behaves abominably in public internet postings, and apparently has a profit margin large enough that they're able to publicly brag about getting rich. We have some evidence of questionable workmanship and no contrary evidence (see prohibition of owner photos, above). We have zero customers who've performed a pre/post direct comparison at all, under any conditions - forget about level-matched double blind.

What am I missing?

Originally Posted by RUR

So let's sum up....

We have a modification company which makes scarcely believable claims about performance enhancement, not only won't tell us what it does, but prohibits customers from sharing photos, doesn't provide pre/post mod measurements, behaves abominably in public internet postings, and apparently has a profit margin large enough that they're able to publicly brag about getting rich. We have some evidence of questionable workmanship and no contrary evidence (see prohibition of owner photos, above). We have zero customers who've performed a pre/post direct comparison at all, under any conditions - forget about level-matched double blind.

What am I missing?

Originally Posted by welwynnick

I agree with this, and I believe it's what TUC are all about. I don't care how much it costs them to do the mods, its the end result that counts.

If it costs them $100 to make my $1000 unit sound like a $10000 unit, that's fine by me. What I'm really buying is the application of the knowledge that knows what parts to use where, and what to leave alone.

Nick

Originally Posted by thezaks

Hi RUR,

Good summary - your list definitely captures all of the negatives.

1) I did a pre/post comparison against my Arcam DV27A. While these were SBT subjective comparisons, I've opened the invitation for anyone in the Phoenix, AZ area who would like to do measurements and/or DBT.
2) I'm happy with my improvement and have never been coerced by TUC to make comments or write a review.
3) rno63 mentioned a pre/post comparison of the oppo to the Denon 5910ci
4) Zero irate customers who have posted a complaint with the BBB. Boggles the mind, given the amount of negative posts in this thread. I've brought this up a couple of times, yet, the number of complaints remains at zero.

Dave

Originally Posted by welwynnick


If it costs them $100 to make my $1000 unit sound like a $10000 unit, that's fine by me.

Originally Posted by classba

How do you know if I'm not doing it my way but thanks for the concern.

Thanks for your comment, and I entirely agree that I do not know if you are doing it your way, because I don't think you have posted anything indicating that. My point, however, was regarding complaints to the BBB, for which there is not any so far. I'm hoping that if someone finally submits a complaint to the BBB, that they will let us know. At that point, I will no longer have to bring this up

Originally Posted by arnyk

I see your point.

I did audio component mods for maybe 3 decades.

I stopped over 2 decades ago because the equipment was coming out of the factories was just too good.

The bad news is that they probably make your $1,000 unit sound no better than a $80-1,000 unit, depending on whether it is a simple optical player ($80) or something more complex like a surround decoder.

In this day it takes more than so-called passive component upgrades, aluminum foil, and blue paint to improve sound quality.

If you check around nobody has published actual verifiable DBT results justifying the basic concept of component upgrades for consumer electronic gear.

Not only are all the easy effective upgrades already in place, but so are all the tough ones and even some that would be impossible, after the equipment is built.

Originally Posted by Gizmologist

I used to do mods/upgrades to high end and mid fi stuff as well a few years ago. What we did was to match output transistors (tubes before that) adjust bias voltages somewhat closer to spec, replace 10%tolerance resistors with 1%, change out volume controls from cheap quality to higher grade and physically smoother operation, and sometimes install a higher capacitance electrolytics in the PS section.

Surprisingly enough, we found some manufacturers using cheap generic replacement grade pots like the old IRC/Clarostat SnapTrol series and replaced them with Ohmite (before Bourns). The biggest difference was in the smoothness of operation as the better grade pots had a smoother bearing surface for the shaft and the shank and shaft were damped with a think silicone gel. The resistance tolerances on the Ohmite pots were much tighter too.

All these upgrades were not so much for detectable differences in sound but for user satisfaction and bragging rights. Much the same as the TUC stuff.

One big difference is that we returned all the original parts, provided a written list of what we changed and why. We would also willingly demonstrate the before.after performance when a client brought in a piece of gear for rework.

Originally Posted by arnyk

I stopped over 2 decades ago because the equipment was coming out of the factories was just too good.

The bad news is that they probably make your $1,000 unit sound no better than a $80-1,000 unit, depending on whether it is a simple optical player ($80) or something more complex like a surround decoder.

Originally Posted by mcnarus

.
Sure. Then you can start bringing up the fact that nobody's reported the guy to the FTC. Or to the consumer protection office of the Michigan Attorney General. Or to the Pope.

Originally Posted by Gizmologist

All these upgrades were not so much for detectable differences in sound but for user satisfaction and bragging rights. Much the same as the TUC stuff.

.

Originally Posted by thezaks

This is why I continue to offer my upgraded player (in the Phoenix, AZ area) to be measured and/or involved in DBT.

Dave