Denon DVD-3910 SE upgrade- Follow-Up:

Peter Camperos

DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AS I DID

I want to tell you what happened on my way to upgrading to a modified player. In the past I had started with a decent cd player the AH TJOEB 4000. I liked it but did not love the sound. Even after tube rolling it still didn't move me or make me stay up for hours listening to music. Next I tried and had in my system a REGA SATURN cd player for about 8 mos. The player produced sound that was better (more detail, micro dynamics) but it had no soul to the music reproduction. IMHO the audio player plus the rest of the equipment should move me and make me get lost in the music. I was really tired of trying to see which digital source will work in my system.

After spending countless hours reading this and that about modified audio equipment I thought this may be the way to go and began my search for a modified CD/DVD player. I found out there are many companies claiming to modify players, some had good reviews from fellow A'goners and other publications and some not so good. I narrowed my choices to three main competitors. I relied on word of mouth and customer satisfaction of audio products that they claimed could be modified.

I saw an ad in A-gon for a "Hot Rod" modified version of a Denon 3910 player. After again talking to a few supposedly satisfied customers I proceeded to purchase their modded 3910. After speaking a few times to the owner he ordered me his new version of the 3910. He said it would be done in a matter of a few days. Naturally i said let's proceed and I waited patiently for when he was to send me out the 3910. I tried calling him after a week and didn't receive a phone call or an email back. When he finally called back he said it wasn't ready and would take a few more weeks. I hesitantly agreed and waited patiently for my player. It finally was ready after 6 weeks!! After receiving the player I hooked it up and it turned out to be defective! Needless to say I was not happy I of course returned the player at my own expense for repair. It took the owner approx 2 weeks before telling me that there was indeed a problem; they forgot to install supposedly some important resistors in the player. All along as I do nightly I was still searching and conversing on Agon and somehow stumbled on the UPGRADE COMPANY. I was especially impressed with all the positive customer reviews…and David Shulte's concepts about modifying audio equipment.

At this point I was not impressed with my current experience with the other company and decided what the heck and contacted Dave Shulte. I was pleasantly surprised to get hold of David so quickly (unlike the other company) David took the time and asked what I was looking for and I explained the problem I was encountering with the other company. David knew who this other company was and told me and he said that his upgrades are so much more superior to theirs and you will really be moved by the sound of his mods. I thought to myself what a bold statement from a confident man he must know his stuff. David always makes the effort to know what his competitors are doing for their modifications. David also told me again the sound will be so much more superior and the quality of his parts will leave all others in the dust. Again a bold statement but guess what I liked that confidence in a company! David told me to return the current player and get my money back and he would build me a better 3910 and send it out asap.

Fast forward and less than a week I received his new version of the Denon 3910. When i received it and plugged it in there was no comparison in sound quality and workmanship. The player was more heavier in weight than the previous company. Oh and this is very important to me the relentless pursuit of customer satisfaction. A prime example was after I had the player for only a few days David called me up and told me he had discovered a mod to his already wonderful sounding 3910 player and it would dramatically increase the enjoyment of my 3910. I told him that I was very happy with the sound and this was only having a few hours of break in. he kept insisting that I need to get this mod done on the 3910. I of course gave in and sent back the player and within a week I received the 3910 and plugged it back into my system. Damn if he wasn't right again! There was now a very immediate improvement in the sound and a change for the better. What were the immediate changes how about more solid bass, sweeter midrange and effortless highs all of this with maybe no more than 10 hrs of break in. To say that I was pleased with the results was an understatement.

I wanted to wait a few months to post this review because I wanted to properly let the 3910 burn in especially the Blackgates.

Here is what you can expect. Nice sound around 200 hrs. Jump to 400 hrs and you start to see this players potential. At 800 hrs you will first hand witness the beautiful sound of this player. You may ask what you will be rewarded with read on... The balance of musicality and neutrality of this player is truly shocking. There is a harmonic rightness to the midrange and upper bass that literally had my jaw drop. Never have I experienced this before with a player. I have listened to Meridians, Esoterics, Aero, and even the Modwright modded Denon 3910. David's version beats them all IMHO. For once I was listening to music and not equipment. This in itself is no small feat but I truly believe David has nailed it firmly. To see if i was just imagining this euphoria I had a few of my audiophile friends over for a listen. Most of these guys had very excellent systems and preferred vinyl over cds. Well after a few hrs of listening they really grew to like the sound of this 3910 player. They all agreed that they were very impressed with the music reproduction the player was conveying into my room.
So what have I learned from all this.. Not all modification companies are the same, not all modified players are the same. Futhermore, not all customer service is the same. If you want to purchase an incredible sounding player like the 3910, want and expect first rate customer service along with the constant pursuit of excellence in the company and the product you need only call David Shulte.

Like I found out the hard way and like so many satisfied clients before me I am pleased I did make the right choice. I firmly believe you will not be disappointed and you will enjoy the end result.

Peter Camperos
Pasadena, CA