I am a huge Denon addict with a decent collection of Denon cd players from DCD-1000 all the way up to DCD-2560.

This player is just below the big brother DCD-3560 which I also own. I have been modding the internal parts and they are much improved from the stock parts. The frequency spectrum is wider meaning the low and high frequency is more present. The overall noise level seems lower because the background noise is quieter and you can concentrate more on the music. It will never be like a true analog of a tube amp and vynil but it is certainly a step closer.

1. Replace the opamps with audiophile grade Burr-Brown OPA-2134. If room allows, I put the super duper dual singles OPA-627 but with a price tag of $15 a piece, I have to be careful. I have used IC sockets so I can try different opamps in the future
2. Replace all capacitors with either Panasonic FC like series or the much audiophile grade Elna Silmic or Silmic II or yet the Black Gates.
3. I usually replace both belts A and B. I call them fat/short that goes under the tray and the long/skinny just below the tray.
4. I completely clean the oil/grease and replace with new plastic gear grease made by Dow Corning and the metal sliding parts for the tray and importantly the laser tracks with Teflon light oil.
5. RCA jacks have been cleaned with Deoxit and conditioned with Deoxit Gold for many more years.
6. The laser area have been carefully cleaned and the eye with qtip and purefied distilled water.

Here are some pictures for those who want to try.

wsjoe

I'm impressed by your great work,,,,congratulations! Those beautiful Denon CDPs certainly deserve this kind of attention and affection....

All the best

I am a huge Denon addict with a decent collection of Denon cd players from DCD-1000 all the way up to DCD-2560.

This player is just below the big brother DCD-3560 which I also own. I have been modding the internal parts and they are much improved from the stock parts. The frequency spectrum is wider meaning the low and high frequency is more present. The overall noise level seems lower because the background noise is quieter and you can concentrate more on the music. It will never be like a true analog of a tube amp and vynil but it is certainly a step closer.

1. Replace the opamps with audiophile grade Burr-Brown OPA-2134. If room allows, I put the super duper dual singles OPA-627 but with a price tag of $15 a piece, I have to be careful. I have used IC sockets so I can try different opamps in the future
2. Replace all capacitors with either Panasonic FC like series or the much audiophile grade Elna Silmic or Silmic II or yet the Black Gates.
3. I usually replace both belts A and B. I call them fat/short that goes under the tray and the long/skinny just below the tray.
4. I completely clean the oil/grease and replace with new plastic gear grease made by Dow Corning and the metal sliding parts for the tray and importantly the laser tracks with Teflon light oil.
5. RCA jacks have been cleaned with Deoxit and conditioned with Deoxit Gold for many more years.
6. The laser area have been carefully cleaned and the eye with qtip and purefied distilled water.

Here are some pictures for those who want to try.

wsjoe

I have a 2560 that will not read a disc..... I suspect a bad laser...But I would really have no idea how to tell for sure. Any idea as to where I can get one??? Also How much would it cost to have you do the mod described above?? You can pm me if you wish...

Modding these are not difficult. Anybody with a soldering iron should be able to do it. A cheap desoldering pump or iron from Radio Shack for $20 is what I started using. Or you can use desoldering wicks/braids as well.

Now I use a fancier $500 desoldering station that speeds up things very quickly.

Laser replacement is a different issue. You must be a good pair of steady hands. The instruction telll you that you must have grounding straps and all to keep from static buildup. I do follow all those instructions since I have a setup in my shop already.

Those lasers are no longer available. If someone knows let me know. I found some abroad but they are too expensive. I think almost $200.

wsjoe

Guiller,

Thanks.

Any luck with your Denon that was giving you problem?

I just modded my DCD-3560 after a long time of ignoring it.
I just put the opamps first with 8x Burr-Brown OPA-627 and 4x OPA-2134 (here the 627 would not fit!). As you know the 627 are singles and have to use a Brown-Dog adapter to put two 627s. It is over $200 just on opamps and adapters.

The sound was AMAZINGLY different. It is as if someone cranked up the TREBLE and BASS knobs a good 50% up. I used to have my Pilot SM-245 amp with the pots at about 70%, but had to bring them back to middle neutra.

The lows are alot more accurate, the highers are crispers, and the middle is quiet meaning the voice can be heard clearer. It has a typical Denon soundstage of slightly forward and definitely not shy like Yamaha or Nakamichi. I am not saying shy is bad at all but a CDP taste.

I will put either Elna Silmic II or Black Gate capacitors later on.

Later this week, I will post some pictures.

wsjoe

Very nice work. Have you ever modded your Denon DAP preamps?

Duffinator,
Thanks.
I will get to them in the next few months. I got two of them. I wasn't too impressed with the stock sound.

The other day I modded the opamps of my DCD-3560 with Burr-Brown OPA-627 and OPA-2134. Truely great sound. I will write a thread on it soon.

wsjoe

Any luck with your Denon that was giving you problem?


Thanks for asking: I keep my fingers crossed. An excellent tech I know found the problem in the servo PCB and it should be ready for next week! I see that your upgrading work is great and tempting to imitate! Perhaps one day I will decide to follow your steps...

All the best

Duffinator,
Thanks.
I will get to them in the next few months. I got two of them. I wasn't too impressed with the stock sound.

The other day I modded the opamps of my DCD-3560 with Burr-Brown OPA-627 and OPA-2134. Truely great sound. I will write a thread on it soon.

wsjoe

I notice you do not change the jitter clock in your mods...Are the ones used by denon back then still comparable to what is available now?? Just curious as I am considering buying a dcd 3560 and doing some mods. Mike

Augy,

I haven't changed anything around the clock as this is a sensitive area and requires quite a bit of digital controls knowledge. You would think that simply replacing with a more deterministic (accurate) clock would solve all the problems, but that is just the beginning. Even with a better clock, you can potentially introduce unexpected jitter that may not be removed from the current design.

I think replacing the clock on this and including the 3560 is not the best improving area.

I am sure there could potentially be some improvement with a better clock system, and something I may do in the distant future, but not anytime soon. I'd rather pay and get better machine that has a better clock or maybe a nice SACD player like Sony SCD-1 or Marants SA-11S2.

I just finished replacing all the opamps with Burr-Brown OPA-627 and four OPA-2134 (the 627 didn't fit here) on my DCD-3560. I was blown away because the high end Denons like the 2560, 3520 and 3560 in the stock mode is pretty good, but not impressive. Their sound is a bit muffled and closed. This simple mod opened the throttle alot and the frequency spectrum or the bandwidth is wider. I am sure a few black gate capacitors will make it even better.

You should try to get a spare laser KSS-151A because as of January this year, it is now in the unobtanium land. I used to be able to get them from many online stores but they are all dried up now. Same thing with the belt. Get a couple of sets because these don't last more than 5 years.

wsjoe
wsjoe

Augy,

IYou should try to get a spare laser KSS-151A because as of January this year, it is now in the unobtanium land. I used to be able to get them from many online stores but they are all dried up now. Same thing with the belt. Get a couple of sets because these don't last more than 5 years.

wsjoe
wsjoe

I weas actually considering you for the mods ...If I do get a 3560 I will seek out a laser and belts...

I will pm you about the KSS-151A.

wsjoe