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Thread: Xiang Sheng valve output modifications

  1. #1
    Join Date: Oct 2012

    Location: The Black Country

    Posts: 6,089
    I'm Alan.

    Default Xiang Sheng valve output modifications

    I've had the Xiang Sheng DAC-01A for a while now and was never struck with the quality of the 'tube' output, preferring the 'normal' output.
    However even though the DAC is of commendable quality at its price point, the normal output does have that little bit of digital glare.

    On investigation of the valve output/buffer stage I found that both input and output coupling capacitors were of Polyester dielectric, a definite no-no in my book, plus the valve was run at quite a low anode (plate) voltage, so certainly not in the best linear portion of the characteristic curves.

    Also, just to provides that sods law element, the valve pin out was like nothing else, a 6N3P. So a little more complicated modification than I would have hoped for.
    First off I replaced the output capacitors with some decent polypropylene's but that didn't make much of a difference on its own.

    The valve socket is on a vertical daughter board so that had to come out and an alternative provided that could offer the different pinout.
    The heater and HT power supplies were simplified in order to provide a greater voltage. The valve chosen was a PCC88.

    The input capacitors were also changed for some polyprops, the yellow ones in the picture.



    The end result was a healthy 90V across the valve plus a much cleaner 'tube' output without the digital glare of the normal output.

    Result
    I love Hendrix for so many reasons. He was so much more than just a blues guitarist - he played damn well any kind of guitar he wanted. In fact I'm not sure if he even played the guitar - he played music. - Stevie Ray Vaughan

  2. #2
    Join Date: Feb 2013

    Location: W Lothian

    Posts: 99,005
    I'm Grant.

    Default

    nice mod alan. i run both outputs into 4 speakers. cant say ive noticed the valve to be that bad although i prefer the ss, which goes to the main speakers. the tube goes to my little active ones on top for extention of the full range driver purposes
    Regards,
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  3. #3
    Bigman80 Guest

    Default

    Well done matey

  4. #4
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Bristol

    Posts: 6,843
    I'm Justin.

    Default

    I just ordered one to play with/mod.

    Plus some bad boy valves. Believe it or not some Western Electric and Sylvania Gold pins. Will get the soldering iron out too I expect.

    Western Electric Xiang. Has to be cool. Or crap. One of the two.

  5. #5
    Join Date: Apr 2016

    Location: London

    Posts: 377
    I'm Richard.

    Default

    Hi Alan, interesting stuff. I know there are at least 3 different versions of the 01A.
    Was your Xiang Sheng the one with the Cirrus chip & upgraded TE7022 daughter board?

  6. #6
    Join Date: Oct 2012

    Location: The Black Country

    Posts: 6,089
    I'm Alan.

    Default

    I believe so.

  7. #7
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Bristol

    Posts: 6,843
    I'm Justin.

    Default

    I went for what looks like an older one. More boxes to play with. And a French DAC 3 too.

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XiangShen...EAAOSw5cNYSBOc

  8. #8
    Join Date: Feb 2011

    Location: England

    Posts: 290
    I'm James.

    Default

    What was the HT before the mod?

    Jim.

  9. #9
    Join Date: Oct 2012

    Location: The Black Country

    Posts: 6,089
    I'm Alan.

    Default

    Originally there is a simple shunt regulator on the board limiting the HT to +77V.
    The valve then sees 65 volts anode to cathode.

    With simplification the HT is raised to +118V, then with a change of cathode resistance the valve sees 88V anode to cathode, could be made slightly more.

    Around 90V is ideal for an ECC88 or PCC88.

  10. #10
    Join Date: Apr 2017

    Location: Bristol

    Posts: 339
    I'm Tony.

    Default

    Nice mod!

    I bought one of these recently and it arrived with a very healthy channel imbalance across all outputs!

    Tried to get a schematic but no joy at all. I don't suppose you have one?

    Anyway, working blind my tech friend changed the LF353 opamp but no joy.

    All the resistors around the chip seemed fine But he was getting weird readings around the pins either to Ground or to themselves.

    Anyway, he bit the bullet and did a complete blanket change of all the electrolytic capacitors, some of very dubious make! He also removed the 8 pin socket which looked as though it could be contaminated, possibly chemicals from an electrolytic and thoroughly washed the board. Didn't have a spare 8 pin socket so made one from a 20 pin one.
    Caps replaced:-
    33 & C34 3.3uF 50V
    C37 & C38 47uF 25V
    C39 & C40 100uF 50V
    C43 & C44 3.3uF 50V
    C47 & C48 10uF 25V
    C81 & C82 10uF 25V
    Second board wash after fitting above and it now works, err well almost. The NORMAL outputs are spot on but the tube outputs have a small imbalance, the Left out is -1.2dB down. After 15 mins the imbalance drops to -0.8dB so maybe it is just the 6N3 valve? I going to try a 5670 GE..

    Anyway, the joys of buying from China!
    VPI Scout 1.1, Hana ML, Vanderveen MC10 SUT, WAD Phono3, Rpi3B+/Digione Signature, Xiang Sheng DAC-01, WAD KiT6550 and Reiver Edingdale SR

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