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My STR-V444ES Mod Thread |
sonyeslover
Premium Member
Rank: Sonyphile
Joined: Jul 13, 2007
Posts: 502
From: Montreal
 |  Posted: 2011-09-16 13:35
I thought I would start a thread documenting my mods to my STR-V444ES that I've had since new. Although an older model, it just seems to do everything well, so rather than upgrading to a newer model, I decided to modify what I have. This receiver has survived many changes in my system, including all the ES components I've had, I like it that much.
Here are the list of mods so far:
New hospital grade AC plug.
New Audio Note Silver Plated Binding posts.
Takman resistors in various places in the signal path.
Elna Silmic II Signal Path caps.
Film bypass of signal path electrolytics.
Audio path opamps upgraded (OPA627, AD823, LM4562).
Clean up wiring.
Adjust Bias on front channels (from 4mv to 8mv)
Still to do:
More binding post for the rest of the channels.
Power supply upgrade with additional capacitance.
Damping of case.
It was somewhat difficult to work on this receiver. I had to retrofit the binding posts and work with surface mount components, but it wasn't too bad, just teadious. So far I am liking what I am hearing, very clean and detailed, so I think I will keep her around another 10 years!
Pics below.
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www.flickr.com/photos/mastercontrolmedia/
[ This message was edited by: sonyeslover on 2011-09-16 13:37 ]
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sonyeslover
Premium Member
Rank: Sonyphile
Joined: Jul 13, 2007
Posts: 502
From: Montreal
|  Posted: 2011-09-16 19:36
Tonight I added an extra set of wires to speaker "B" to biwire my speakers. Sound is very good! It seemed to help. Now I will finish the upgrade on my crossovers and complete the mods that I mentioned above and I should be all set for a while, I hope....
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Maxxwire
Moderator
Premium Member
Rank: Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25735
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
 | Posted: 2011-09-16 19:52
sonyeslover- These are some great Mods you have planned for your V444ES and all of them are sure to be enhanced by your new V-Link. You made the right choice in Modding this classic Sony Receiver because the newer generation of Sony Receivers like this DA5600ES do not seem as accommodating for all the upgrades you have planned...
~Maxx~
 Sony H-9 MaxxPix
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scott1019
Rank: Sonyphile
Joined: Aug 07, 2010
Posts: 543
From: USA>>Ohio
 | Posted: 2011-09-16 21:03
Looks amazing! Its getting me motivated to do something similar to my V555ES. I was going to upgrade to a 7100/9000ES.
Keep us posted!
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Maxxwire
Moderator
Premium Member
Rank: Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25735
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2011-09-16 21:55
On 2011-09-16 13:35, sonyeslover wrote:
Here are the list of mods so far:
New hospital grade AC plug....
sonyeslover- What did you have in mind for a Hospital Grade AC Plug upgrade?
~Maxx~
 Sony H-9 MaxxPix
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sonyeslover
Premium Member
Rank: Sonyphile
Joined: Jul 13, 2007
Posts: 502
From: Montreal
| Posted: 2011-09-16 22:01
The plug in the photo is a Marinco, nothing fancy, but its an improvement over stock. I will order more parts this weekend for the power supply upgrade. So far so good!
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Maxxwire
Moderator
Premium Member
Rank: Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25735
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2011-09-16 22:35
sonyeslover- All of my LAT International AC-2 Silverfuse power cords came with Marinco AC Plugs and IEC's including the AC-2 Silverfuse power cord that I upgraded my Conrad-Johnson MV-52 Vacuum Tube Power Amp with and like you said it was nothing special, but it was an improvement over the 14 AWG lamp cord that this $1,900 power amp came with from the factory. I ended up upgrading the Marinco AC Plug and repeated that procedure a few more times until I found the AC Plug that has been a keeper for the last 4 years.
From all the excellent quality power cord upgrades of yours we've seen you so meticulously perform you are obviously quite knowledgeable of the important role AC Plugs serve and I am very interested to find out what AC Plug you decide on for this V444ES Mod.
~Maxx~
 Sony H-9 MaxxPix
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David_S
Rank: Sonyphile
Joined: Aug 03, 2004
Posts: 761
From: BC, Canada
 | Posted: 2011-09-16 23:01
Excellent job, especially on the binding posts!
The gut shot Maxx posted of the 5600ES really does show how much easier some of the older receivers are to work on.
-----------------
TA- E77ES E80ES E1000ESD N77ES F555ES
RM- AV3000 AX1400 (2)AX4000
SDP-EP9ES, ST-S730ES
STR- DA4ES DA3100ES (2)DA5700ES (2)GX10ES
DVP- (3)NS999ES NS3100ES CX777ES
CDP-X303ES, CDP-M555ES
MDS-JA20ES, TC-K717ES, DTC-690
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sonyeslover
Premium Member
Rank: Sonyphile
Joined: Jul 13, 2007
Posts: 502
From: Montreal
| Posted: 2011-09-16 23:33
On 2011-09-16 23:01, David_S wrote:
Excellent job, especially on the binding posts!
Thanks. Those binding posts were a chore, I really wanted to keep it as stock looking as possible and make sure the speaker board all fit back together, it worked out well and it certainly looks nicer too! Those stock posts were very cheap looking and flimsy.
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www.flickr.com/photos/mastercontrolmedia/
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RickeyM
Premium Member
Rank: Sony King
Joined: Sep 09, 2004
Posts: 1408
From: Baltimore, Maryland
 | Posted: 2011-09-18 00:48
I like how those binding posts fit in there. Did you have to modify the stock piece to accept the new posts?
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sonyeslover
Premium Member
Rank: Sonyphile
Joined: Jul 13, 2007
Posts: 502
From: Montreal
| Posted: 2011-09-18 01:04
On 2011-09-18 00:48, RickeyM wrote:
I like how those binding posts fit in there. Did you have to modify the stock piece to accept the new posts?
Yes, once I removed the old metal contacts and post, I had to enlarge the hole so that the new post could slide in and then secured in the back via a nut. Not a perfect solution but darn close. Looks really good and almost stock. I am quite pleased how it turned out.
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www.flickr.com/photos/mastercontrolmedia/
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sonyeslover
Premium Member
Rank: Sonyphile
Joined: Jul 13, 2007
Posts: 502
From: Montreal
| Posted: 2011-09-20 15:13
I should be getting my damping material and "booster" power supply caps (6800uf 80v Nichicon KG) tomorrow and will start the upgrading on Thurday. I will post pics once I dig in. :-)
[ This message was edited by: sonyeslover on 2011-09-20 15:14 ]
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sonyeslover
Premium Member
Rank: Sonyphile
Joined: Jul 13, 2007
Posts: 502
From: Montreal
| Posted: 2011-09-21 18:28
I got some more parts in, so you know what I will be doing tomorrow! Got the Gold Tune power supply booster caps, soundcoat damping and some more binding posts for my speakers, which I am also upgrading...I may even try an electronic crossover...
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www.flickr.com/photos/mastercontrolmedia/
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SonyCIS
Rank: Sony Aficionado
Joined: Apr 19, 2005
Posts: 135
From:
 | Posted: 2011-09-21 19:27
nice job... keep the mods up,, isnt it just dandy when you hear the "new" version
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sonyeslover
Premium Member
Rank: Sonyphile
Joined: Jul 13, 2007
Posts: 502
From: Montreal
| Posted: 2011-09-21 21:58
On 2011-09-21 19:27, SonyCIS wrote:
nice job... keep the mods up,, isnt it just dandy when you hear the "new" version
Thanks, it is a lot of fun and I really like the sound so far. I will post more pics soon.
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www.flickr.com/photos/mastercontrolmedia/
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