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Post by MartinT on Nov 16, 2015 8:35:06 GMT
I ordered these, which seem to meet the spec. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 16, 2015 11:57:47 GMT
I await Jimmy's arrival !
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Post by krzysztof on Nov 16, 2015 12:54:24 GMT
I ordered these, which seem to meet the spec. The same as me :-) |
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Post by stanleyb on Nov 16, 2015 13:24:36 GMT
I await Jimmy's arrival ! I suggest you call him. He is not a keen forum person. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2015 13:42:09 GMT
I await Jimmy's arrival ! I suggest you call him. He is not a keen forum person. If you do call him, can you let me know the cost of the upgrade please? |
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 16, 2015 13:51:48 GMT
Do we have enough information ?
And for the hard of knowing... what is it please ?
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Post by MartinT on Nov 16, 2015 14:12:26 GMT
Post #1, Mike.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 16, 2015 14:13:38 GMT
I'm hoping that my 100uF tantalums will turn up so that I can complete the last part of my mods. They're here, so part 3 rework coming up tonight. |
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Post by stanleyb on Nov 16, 2015 15:31:47 GMT
I'm hoping that my 100uF tantalums will turn up so that I can complete the last part of my mods. They're here, so part 3 rework coming up tonight. Better pick up a bottle of wine as well and grab a pizza if you eat that kind of stuff. It's going to be a long session of big grins. |
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Post by MartinT on Nov 16, 2015 16:00:51 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Nov 16, 2015 18:24:41 GMT
Part 3In went the final two capacitors, 100uF 4V tantalums in C43 and C49 positions. Again, I slightly over-soldered as it's impossible to see the joint underneath, so rather that than risk a dry joint. Here's the finished PCB (the camera is so unforgiving, it doesn't really look that bad to the naked eye).  I've just run a couple of tracks through it before reporting, as I'm going to put my feet up and play plenty more in a moment. There is even more added to the SQ that I reported in earlier parts. Dynamics are near-explosive, and really give my Ushers some air-moving duties now. However, that's where the hi-fi descriptions stop as the thing is so fluid, rhythmic and flowing that it's the closest thing to analogue sound I've yet heard from any stand-alone DAC. It makes great music, pure and simple. The mods are inexpensive but tricky to implement; however the resulting sound is a serious step up from the stock unit. Coupled with the SFWv4 firmware, this is a component that's going to make you whisper 'wow' again and again as you listen to CDs that don't sound digital. That's the best compliment I can give the Caiman-II. Oh, and it's not half bad from Sky HD and Blu-ray sourced material, in fact it's superb for quality recorded drama and live music shows.
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 16, 2015 21:05:13 GMT
I thought there had been changes It's the way I read 'em |
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Post by krzysztof on Nov 16, 2015 21:45:09 GMT
Part 3In went the final two capacitors, 100uF 4V tantalums in C43 and C49 positions. Again, I slightly over-soldered as it's impossible to see the joint underneath, so rather that than risk a dry joint. Here's the finished PCB (the camera is so unforgiving, it doesn't really look that bad to the naked eye). I've just run a couple of tracks through it before reporting, as I'm going to put my feet up and play plenty more in a moment. There is even more added to the SQ that I reported in earlier parts. Dynamics are near-explosive, and really give my Ushers some air-moving duties now. However, that's where the hi-fi descriptions stop as the thing is so fluid, rhythmic and flowing that it's the closest thing to analogue sound I've yet heard from any stand-alone DAC. It makes great music, pure and simple. The mods are inexpensive but tricky to implement; however the resulting sound is a serious step up from the stock unit. Coupled with the SFWv4 firmware, this is a component that's going to make you whisper 'wow' again and again as you listen to CDs that don't sound digital. That's the best compliment I can give the Caiman-II. Oh, and it's not half bad from Sky HD and Blu-ray sourced material, in fact it's superb for quality recorded drama and live music shows. Honest, but take your time to verify the mod further and listen to it a bit calmed ;-) What could be interesting is comparison to firmware 3 and 4 with the mod and how it improves them. Maybe it gives a lot only to firmware 4, where the DAC is running at it's full speed? Mine type B caps are on the way. listen in the silent environment ideally over cans with true high resolution 24/96 recording. |
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Post by MartinT on Nov 17, 2015 6:39:46 GMT
I did a lot more listening to it last night, Krzysztof, and it continued improving as the tantalums 'formed' (although I'm not sure if the forming process for electrolytics and tantalums is equivalent). I think leaving it on permanently helps, too.
It's highly unusual to be listening to CDs via my Blu-ray player and the Caiman-II when I have my lovely Ayre right next to them. Testament to the C-II's new SQ that I was more than happy to spend an evening listening in this way and not feel in any way short-changed. I certainly tried some hi-res DVD-As and SACDs this way, and the level of detail, transparency and 'boogie' factor just continued until I had to force myself to go to bed!
I will go on to say that a competent Blu-ray transport (especially one like my Pioneer that will output DVD-A and SACD via S/PDIF) coupled with a modded Caiman-II is a very viable way to access high end sound.
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Post by ChrisB on Nov 17, 2015 7:59:47 GMT
Take the output from the Ayre into the Caiman - see what that does!
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Post by MartinT on Nov 17, 2015 8:35:15 GMT
I've done that before, Chris, but will try it again now that the Caiman-II is greatly improved. One niggle is that the Ayre will not output digital at all when I play an SACD. Effectively, they are complying with the technical rules around SACD whereas Pioneer are not.
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Post by ChrisB on Nov 17, 2015 8:41:55 GMT
Understood, but to use the Ayre as a transport must be the very best way of measuring how the Caiman has moved on for you, when you can compare it to the fixed yardstick of the Ayre's own DAC.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 17, 2015 9:16:40 GMT
Yes, and it's pretty easy to switch between the two while listening (although I have to compensate by 6dB for the volume change between balanced and single-ended inputs). The Ayre sounds slightly better with its digital interface switched off, so another bit of compensation.
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Post by krzysztof on Nov 19, 2015 7:53:22 GMT
I did a lot more listening to it last night, Krzysztof, and it continued improving as the tantalums 'formed' (although I'm not sure if the forming process for electrolytics and tantalums is equivalent). I think leaving it on permanently helps, too. It's highly unusual to be listening to CDs via my Blu-ray player and the Caiman-II when I have my lovely Ayre right next to them. Testament to the C-II's new SQ that I was more than happy to spend an evening listening in this way and not feel in any way short-changed. I certainly tried some hi-res DVD-As and SACDs this way, and the level of detail, transparency and 'boogie' factor just continued until I had to force myself to go to bed! I will go on to say that a competent Blu-ray transport (especially one like my Pioneer that will output DVD-A and SACD via S/PDIF) coupled with a modded Caiman-II is a very viable way to access high end sound. Very nice and enjoy. When I find the time I will try this mod as well on my CMII. Hope Stan will provide SFW4 soon to be able to buy it from him. If you find additionally something nice or bad please report. Thanks again. |
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Post by tony on Nov 20, 2015 2:14:09 GMT
I think the Tirna route is my only viable option unless Stan has a mk3 round the corner.
Martin, thanks for the audio description -it has really got me thinking as the Caiman 2s performance I can happily live with as is.
Anybody on cans that can expand on the changes the mods make?
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