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Post by MartinT on Feb 16, 2019 13:08:31 GMT
Mine is in and working initially with my touch for the shop system using Rogers LS3/5A's. I've just re-read this and my jaw is dropping. You're making comment on the LKS driving it from a Touch? You're using LS3/5A speakers? Is this a joke? From the man who ranks everything by price?
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 16, 2019 13:34:52 GMT
LOL.
It's not expensive enough for David's main system ...
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 16, 2019 13:35:47 GMT
Martin, what was your shortlist of DACs before settling on the LKS?
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Post by MartinT on Feb 16, 2019 13:53:57 GMT
Benchmark DAC3 Mytek Brooklyn Audio-GD R1 Gustard X22
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 21, 2019 17:18:48 GMT
The Brooklyn has lots of stuff on it I don't need.
Gustard X22 is an interesting one. Build quality and features look good - a pure DAC with volume control. Priced well under 1k. Did you come to any firm conclusion about it Martin?
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Post by MartinT on Feb 21, 2019 17:47:30 GMT
Yes, not that I judge purely on spec, but the X22 has a single 9038 implementation and the Brooklyn has an even older 9028 (the Sabres that I find too bright). Meanwhile, the LKS has dual mono 9038s and a discrete analogue output stage. There is just more latent performance for the money.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 24, 2019 17:43:43 GMT
There is a recommended crystal upgrade for the LKS in the Head-Fi forum, replacing the Crystek 575 femtoclock (82fs jitter) with the Crystek 950X femtoclock (40fs jitter). It's this one: www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/Crystek-Corporation/CCHD-950X-25-100000?qs=L4klnTtkofObrfUJUtC8ig==Several guys report that it takes the sound quality even further and reduces the LKS' susceptibility to vibrations. I would not be able to do it, unfortunately, as it has solder pads and requires a hot air gun and solder paste work for which I don't have the equipment. Even so, I might have the work done at some point.
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Post by mattspl on Feb 24, 2019 22:04:00 GMT
There is a recommended crystal upgrade for the LKS in the Head-Fi forum, replacing the Crystek 575 femtoclock (82fs jitter) with the Crystek 950X femtoclock (40fs jitter). It's this one: www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/Crystek-Corporation/CCHD-950X-25-100000?qs=L4klnTtkofObrfUJUtC8ig==Several guys report that it takes the sound quality even further and reduces the LKS' susceptibility to vibrations. I would not be able to do it, unfortunately, as it has solder pads and requires a hot air gun and solder paste work for which I don't have the equipment. Even so, I might have the work done at some point. Looks like an interesting modification, I’m sure you could find a place happy to do the job for you. I remember years ago(probably 20 years ago), I had a Nad cd player. I looked up tweaks at the time and found sticking a blob of blu tac on the clock was suggested to help reduce vibrations.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 25, 2019 6:20:33 GMT
I did a superclock upgrade in my previous DAC, a Caiman SEG, and it worked wonders for sound quality. Timing, tightness, flow, musicality were all improved. Previous to that, and a long time ago, I had an Audiocom superclock installed in my Sony SCD-1 and that also made a rewarding improvement.
What takes my breath away is that an 82fs jitter performance is already outstanding. How can a 40fs clock improve on that? Previous experience tells me it will!
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 25, 2019 10:59:52 GMT
I did a superclock upgrade in my previous DAC, a Caiman SEG, and it worked wonders for sound quality. Timing, tightness, flow, musicality were all improved. Previous to that, and a long time ago, I had an Audiocom superclock installed in my Sony SCD-1 and that also made a rewarding improvement. What takes my breath away is that an 82fs jitter performance is already outstanding. How can a 40fs clock improve on that? Previous experience tells me it will! Continual improvements on an already great sounding system have to end sometime. The big steps up recently defy logic How many more ? Will we ever be able to say we are just about there ?
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Post by mattspl on Feb 25, 2019 12:57:50 GMT
I did a superclock upgrade in my previous DAC, a Caiman SEG, and it worked wonders for sound quality. Timing, tightness, flow, musicality were all improved. Previous to that, and a long time ago, I had an Audiocom superclock installed in my Sony SCD-1 and that also made a rewarding improvement. What takes my breath away is that an 82fs jitter performance is already outstanding. How can a 40fs clock improve on that? Previous experience tells me it will! Continual improvements on an already great sounding system have to end sometime. The big steps up recently defy logic How many more ? Will we ever be able to say we are just about there ? I’ve come to admit it’s a passion for Hifi and sound quality, but also OCD and an addiction to chasing perfection. Everything I get my hands on from Hifi to cars I have to modify it or add to it in order to perfect it, never happy with the off the shelf stuff.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 25, 2019 13:05:43 GMT
I buy major components only very rarely and will not be buying again for quite some time.
However, there is nothing wrong with getting the best out of what I have, and that is what I am doing. It's open house, relatively inexpensive, and fun experimenting with cables, supports, mains treatments, mods etc.
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Post by The Brookmeister on Feb 25, 2019 20:37:30 GMT
Mine is in and working initially with my touch for the shop system using Rogers LS3/5A's. I've just re-read this and my jaw is dropping. You're making comment on the LKS driving it from a Touch? You're using LS3/5A speakers? Is this a joke? From the man who ranks everything by price? You are so funny dude, ITS WARMING UP, running the DAC in fella. Surely something you have heard of? LOL I leave it on all day and all night. When my new streamer arrives I will plumb it into the Soulution amplifiers for a proper comparison against the CAD DAC that I use as a reference. The X1 is the very latest cutting edge streamer with superb DAC built in so how close the LKS gets will be a very interesting experiment.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 25, 2019 20:45:23 GMT
Hah - that's more like it!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2019 21:00:09 GMT
Dave
You will find a good step up from Scott's dac mind you thought you would have had the solution dac on the end of it by now. That would make that combo almost listenable Dave 😇
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Post by MartinT on Mar 27, 2019 16:39:36 GMT
I've made a simple mod to my LKS as recommended on the Head-Fi forum: I removed the USB interface which is a daughter board to the main board. I won't be needing USB so anything that interferes with I2S performance and puts noise on the PSU lines is better gone.
I do detect a slight cleaning up of the musical lines so job well worth doing and very straightforward.
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Post by John on Mar 27, 2019 19:22:25 GMT
I was hoping to compare the SOtM when I was coming over but glad the mod works
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Post by The Brookmeister on Mar 27, 2019 20:43:35 GMT
I did a superclock upgrade in my previous DAC, a Caiman SEG, and it worked wonders for sound quality. Timing, tightness, flow, musicality were all improved. Previous to that, and a long time ago, I had an Audiocom superclock installed in my Sony SCD-1 and that also made a rewarding improvement. What takes my breath away is that an 82fs jitter performance is already outstanding. How can a 40fs clock improve on that? Previous experience tells me it will! Continual improvements on an already great sounding system have to end sometime. The big steps up recently defy logic How many more ? Will we ever be able to say we are just about there ? Many of us are there already dude.
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Post by The Brookmeister on Mar 27, 2019 20:44:34 GMT
I have done with my LKS DAC now if anyone wants to offer me a good price for it.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 3, 2019 17:15:54 GMT
There is a recommended crystal upgrade for the LKS in the Head-Fi forum, replacing the Crystek 575 femtoclock (82fs jitter) with the Crystek 950X femtoclock (40fs jitter). I used to do electronics servicing for my profession so I decided that having someone else do it is a cop-out. I have therefore ordered a hot air soldering gun and some solder paste. I did some surface mount work on the SEG but these Crystek clocks only have solder pads underside, so the difficulty escalates. It'll be an adventure! I've also ordered some copper foil shielding and will shield each of the two transformers separately.
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