Actually you can measure the improvement with a PS Audio Power Plant.

www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_7_4/dvd-benchmark-meridian-800-dvd-player-10-2000.html

You will see an AP measurement with the 800 plugged into the wall and then plugged into the Power Plant.

I suspect the newer 800 will perform much better having gone to SMT, as the 596 looks a little better on the same test.

Chris Stepens, formely of UE, has made mention of power supply mods to the 800 series. He is a special guest over at the AVS forum this week. Some great stuff there.

Some DVD players have little effect while others have a huge improvement with the P300 as measured with an AP. The Panasonic RV 80 is like night and day. We will post the results of another 19 DVD players starting shortly, this will include the 596. We are just putting the finishing touches on our DVD-A article.

I like the exact power and the equi=tech products.

I tried similar test with an RGPC and I could not see, hear, or measure any difference with it. However, others have reported good results with it.

Stacey Spears
Co-Creator, Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark, Blu-ray Edition and Lighthouses of the Pacific Northwest.