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Post by MartinT on Oct 29, 2019 11:49:55 GMT
I never had so much musicality and enjoyment with music, even when I had very fancy cd transports like Flatfish from 47Labs and Naim CDS, etc. Those drivers and cd players were superior, but had not the same level of musicality I have here. So often I have heard systems sound precise and accurate but soulless. Getting the musicality from a system is much harder but very satisfying when you can achieve it. By the way, the Tokins I have used are rated for 5V only. |
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Post by chouman on Oct 30, 2019 18:41:51 GMT
My new DAC. Waiting for parts. Kaisei allover and panasonics in digital, as suggested by Flux. This one will be quickly made. The clock mod will be done in a few weeks, with a modifiied tentlabs board.  |
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Post by chouman on Oct 30, 2019 19:24:02 GMT
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Post by chouman on Oct 30, 2019 21:24:50 GMT
I am not a technician, I wish I was, but I know many litle things and understand a litle bit about logic.
Looking to the wolfson dac 8804 datasheet we can figured out where are the line output pins. Signal lines!
Then, it's easy to understand that 47R in a resistor in the signal path, connected directly to the positive pole of the rca line output. 47C is connected to the negative side of the same rca.
It seams to me that replacing R47 by a very good resistor such as the Vishay Nacked Foil would be a huge upgrade.
Every time I put this resistor in the signal path it is WHAOU!!
I don't know if replacing the cap that is in the negative side is important. I think it's not, because it is not in the signal path.
Please tell me if I'm right.
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Post by chouman on Oct 30, 2019 21:30:41 GMT
 Why do I have two stars now?
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Post by Slinger on Oct 30, 2019 21:32:14 GMT
Why do I have two stars now? The more posts you make, the more stars you get. |
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Post by chouman on Oct 30, 2019 21:45:32 GMT
 OK... 
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Post by chouman on Oct 31, 2019 11:19:39 GMT
Hi! I would like to know if someone knows about some product to apply aftre cleaning the boards.
I use KONTAKT LR spray to clean the resin after soldering, but I need something tp apply after this, because the board gets to dry. I don't know, some resin, or cream, to give some sweetness to the surface. Can someone help please? Thanks, merci!
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Post by chouman on Nov 1, 2019 13:51:53 GMT
Look at the position those caps are in, what are they actually doing in the circuit at that point this should help you decide. Having maxed out a fair few of these things including seg's with very unique power supplies I would seriously consider either having a go at designing a dac based around tats Wolfson chipset yourself and have space to engineer in some quality ground planes, supply rails and ar better layout also throw in some RF control, different casework and you will end up with what you are trying to achieve but with a far more desirable result imho. However for the cost its a fair price. Or you could look at the Topping D70 a very decent under £450 unit that can really be made to sing rather nicely. Clocks tentlabs are very respectable Hi Tony, I think that the next dac project will be around a ladder network dac designed as a current output device, from METRUM Acoustics. It's been a long time since I look at it... Follwed by a miniature tube output stage. Or nutube.
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Post by chouman on Nov 9, 2019 12:01:55 GMT
HI,
I bought an Audio-GD TXCO to instal in the Seg. It happens that it must be fed with 3.3 volts!! Can someone please give me a link for a 5V TXCO? Thank you.
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Post by chouman on Dec 9, 2019 14:22:52 GMT
Hi again! I can say now that the mods in Caiman SEG are finished. There are stil some experiences to make, but just to figure out if certain caps are better than others, in a specific place, around the dac chip. Other than that, I did not try yet the supercaps on C87 and C88 positions. IT will be done when they will arrive from China. Next posts are about some pictures and comments about the sound improvements. The only important thing that is still missing is the new Dorado; I'll have to wait until Stanley makes them available.
Anyway, the results surpassed my expectations.
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Post by chouman on Dec 9, 2019 14:38:15 GMT
General view  |
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Post by chouman on Dec 9, 2019 14:47:03 GMT
Here you can see the clock installation. It is an Audio GD clock, fed by 3,3 volts stolen from one reg on the board. I used solid silver wire. I like it. The signal caps are the new Amtrans , very litle and very good. Resistors caps are Vishay Nacked Foil, as usual. This is a HUGE upgrade. Lots of information and "finesse". It opens a wide window to the music.
I used a Nacked Foil in the clock output. I did not try to figure out if a "normal" resistor is as good as this one, here in this place. I decided to install it without comparing, because this is a very important place. Some important information is going through this resistor. It will not hurt.
This clock upgrade is very interesting. Subtle, but a big one. It opened the space, the precision of the sounds in space, (may be I should say focus).
I noticed a much better "deepness". Things are in the right place. This is very pleasant. With quiet instrumental music, it invites me to dream. It's beautiful.
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Post by chouman on Dec 9, 2019 15:02:23 GMT
I ordered some panasonic caps to solder in the spdif area, near the clock. I will try them later, they have not arrived yet, from China.
While waiting, I used some Audio Note kaisei and some Elna Silmic. For my surprise, they sound really good here. Better than Panas in this place? I don't know. We'll see it later, when the panas will arrive. I would be surprised if the Panas sound better, but I have to try to be sure.  |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 9, 2019 15:05:39 GMT
Elna Silmics are good capacitors, perhaps not the most detailed but they have a very compelling sound.
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Post by chouman on Dec 9, 2019 15:13:09 GMT
Needless to say that all those Kaisei in the psu are a very good upgrade. I soldered some litle Silmic underneath the board, in parallel with the Kaisei. This way I can have that immmediacy from the Silmics, the sensation of "being there" mixed with the creamy sound of Kaisei, among other things that these amazing caps do. It is not the first time that I mix Kaisei and Silmic and have very good and interesting resuslts. I can have that tactile sound in the living room and in the same time, a very deep soundstage, depending of the situation. That's a lot of dynamics, subjectively speaking. Music is fast in a wide scene. Is this clear for you?
I will try some 1F supercaps in parallel with C87 and C88. Can't wait.
You can see the red cable that gives 3,3V to the clock. The lithe sms caps near the chip, near the clock have been removed, of course. They are C37 and C38.
Later I will put some "glue" to fix the clock and absorb the vibrations.
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Post by chouman on Dec 9, 2019 15:19:21 GMT
Stanley made me understand that changing the XTAL-1, near the firmware is pointless, so didn't touch it.
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Post by chouman on Dec 9, 2019 15:21:30 GMT
New Alps pots have been soldered. This is a nice touch for me. This gives some transparency.
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Post by chouman on Dec 9, 2019 15:26:25 GMT
I allways wanted to have some Cardas plugs. I don't know if it makes a difference, sonically.
If it doesn't, I like them and I am happy to have them here. This project deserves some fancy "shoes". Mechanically they are very good and the contact has a very good feeling. "Tight but not dry", like if there is some oil...but tight! Do you know what I mean? 
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Post by chouman on Dec 9, 2019 15:37:08 GMT
Now I want to talk about external PSU and External USB. We must not forget that this is a very affordable dac. For the price, the usb input is excellent, very musical. After trying the Hecate Armature and the Matrix Spdif-2, my choice went to the Matrix with external psu. The Matrix works very well with the 5V from the computer, but with the external psu it gives better results. I am used to the Amanero board, from Domenico, with very good external psu and the internal reg cutted. I have to say that the Hecate Armature is much better. The Hecate works best without external psu, but the matrix gives a less "impressive" sound, much better and much relaxed. With the external psu combined with the Matrix, there is no fatigue at all. Timing is better, there is silence and a big sound stage with lots of presence and PRATT.
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OK... 
