Caiman passive output mod revealed

[Ali Tait]

Clarity Caps can be bought from Hi-Fi Collective.

[Ali Tait]

Though I am using 0.47uF into 100k and it sounds fine.

[Clive]

Though I am using 0.47uF into 100k and it sounds fine.

Ali, I know you're aware this fairly approximate stuff anyway.

Your 0.47uF seems to give a -3db frequency of 7Hz with possible ringing occurring up to 70Hz. It may be the ringing only goes up to say 30Hz, which for most people would be totally acceptable. The values are really just a best guess starting point. Experimenting with capacitors you already have that aren't miles out in value is a good way to go.

Cheers,

Clive

[Ali Tait]

It's not used for critical listening anyway
Clive,just to play the Sky box through.Does sound very good doing this though.

[apmusson]

Wow.

I have been absent from the forum for a few months (distracted by holidays / work / kids - no excuse - i'm sorry) and have been enjoying my caiman (murata regs/ linear Maplin PSU / DAC and Opamp Board cap upgrades) very much. It was a bit of a shock to see this thread with so many posts in it from you guys.

Anyway I read every page of the thread and was very intrigued by the positive comments on this mod by nearly everyone so yesterday I ordered some Nichelon KZ caps to try it for myself. They arrived about 2 hours ago, I fitted them, plugged my Caiman in and stuck a CD playing on repeat. I know I should be waiting before listening etc etc but I had to have a sneak peak.

Wow. The Caiman is an amazing DAC in stock form (performing well above its price point), it improves with the regs, DAC caps and linear PSU. It has jumped again with this mod. I think that it may be the one that provides the biggest improvement???

Ade

[Ali Tait]

Yep,agreed,it really lifts the performance IMO.

[MartinT]

Now that I've put 48+ hours on them I gave the ClarityCap 1uF coupling caps a proper listen. I used my Sony Blu-ray player as a CD transport with co-ax into the Caiman, comparing with my Ayre C-5xe MP universal player. This is a massively unfair comparison!

The Caiman does very well indeed, especially in the midrange where it almost has the fine detail and transparency of the Ayre and in the treble where it has a similar level of non-harshness. Only in the bass is it a little light in comparison, although the ClarityCaps are better at bass resolution than the Rubycons, if not weight. Overall, this combination transport and DAC at around £500 punches well above its weight and is not at all embarrassed. I'm not about to sell my Ayre but I could certainly live with the sound the Caiman makes. For Sky HD and Blu-ray duties it is superb.

I may buy a pair of 2.2uF ClarityCaps and see if I can fit them in the case. I will probably solder them in rather than use the sockets in the end. That could be my final configuration.

[StanleyB]

That could be my final configuration.

Are those your famous last words?

[MartinT]

Are those your famous last words?

I just know I'll regret typing that

[OLED]

Is that your final statement Martin?