Wadia modification

I have talked with Steve at Great Northen Sound (yesterday), I also have talked to many people that have sent high end gear to be modified. I will send my gear to him in a heart beat as soon as I have the $. Larry

Larry, I am also looking for Steve and would appreciate greatly, if you are speaking to Steve again, about my looking for him urgently. You see, I will be making a trip to the US in about 2 weeks time and would like to take the opportunity to send the CDp for modification. Please ask him to check his mails under sender: chRis ; subject: modification and if he (Steve) could be so kind to send me a reply.

I have done business with Great Northern Sound and Steve Huntley(spelling?). I purchased a modified Wadia 850 from him. I am VERY pleased with the performance of the 850. It is very musical and sounds like live music in my system (Linn Klout amp and Magnaplanar 3.6R speakers). Steve helped me with a small problem I had with the player (my fault, not the 850's or Steve's) and was very friendly and knowledgeable. Steve is great to deal with and know's his stuff. The quality of his work is tops. The Wadia 850 CD player I purchased from his is the best sounding player I have heard. I recommend him without reservation. His prices are not cheap, neither are his modifications ("sonic-improvement-wise"). I have yet to hear or read of a complaint about Great Northern Sound.

I am not sure if it is worth the trouble ie the modification of the Wadia 850 when there are already superior technologies waiting at the sidelines such as the upsamplers and oversamplers that sound so much better. Modifying the red book format would only give you give you a different sound, it doesn't guarantee more musicality.

I have had Steve Huntley modify 5 pieces of audio gear in the last year--three for me and two for my brother. The results have been nothing short of spectacular. This is especially true of his mod to my Wadia 830, which has been the largest single improvement in my system in recent memory. Furthermore, he is one of the more likeable and trustworthy individuals I have met in the audio business. Regarding some of the above comments, several things must be kept in mind. Steve is essentially a one man operation. He has been inundated with service requests for Wadia equipment. Prior to Wadia's demise, Steve usually would respond to e-mails the same day. Recently, some of mine have gone unanswered too. I finally called him yesterday, and he confirmed the issues I have mentioned, and apologised more than was necessary. As far as other CD formats are concerned, no one knows where this one is going to land, and the issue of available media must be given due consideration. If some are content to confine their listening to a dozen sonic spectaculars, so be it, but if I had a stock Wadia player, I would have Huntley modify it in a heartbeat. I remain truly amazed at how much better my 830 sounds, and it's been over 4 months. (It's so good I'm about ready to throw caution to the winds and go visit Carl Eber for a shootout with his RA 50...oops, just kidding Carl!)