m2tech young dac observations

[Zoidburg]

Iv just recently installed a new (to me) young dac into my system, and blimey it's a bit good sounding!

As a step up from the Arcam rdac I had been using its a huge enormous leap up in terms of detail. I really am hearing things iv never heard before and most of all to me it just sounds good. I mean "just play one more song and then another and another" good :lol:

Iv yet to even try it with its dedicated power supply so maybe I will be smiling even more soon.:D

[Gazjam]

Yup, it's a good-un.
Been enjoying one with linear psu for a few years now and I think I'd need to spend significant wonga to get something noticeably better.
Asked about this a few months back actually here on AOS.

Good upgrade with a linear power supply, it loses that last bit of upper treble zing and there's also a cap mod (simple swap) I'd strongly recommend which opens the dac right up even more.

[clap]

Yup, it's a good-un.
Been enjoying one with linear psu for a few years now and I think I'd need to spend significant wonga to get something noticeably better.
Asked about this a few months back actually here on AOS.

Good upgrade with a linear power supply, it loses that last bit of upper treble zing and there's also a cap mod (simple swap) I'd strongly recommend which opens the dac right up even more.

Agreed. What's the cap mod and how do you do it please?

[Zoidburg]

Id be interested in knowing what the cap mod works consisted of as well pls Gaz.

Iv now had the dedicated power supply up and running but as usual have not had enough time to really give it a proper listen due to being away all weekend but will report back on it in due course 9might even try a little A & B comparison)

cheers

Ben

[Gazjam]

Sorry guys been off forum for a wee bit, post details tomorrow.

[Zoidburg]

Hi Gaz,

Any more details on the cap mod yet? What does it involve, is it a noticeable jump in performance and how easy is it to do?

cheers,


Ben

[Gazjam]

Sorry for the delay getting back to y'all.

There's a big electrolytic capacitor doing decoupling duties on the input of the power supply just some Chinese junk capacitor.
Replace that with a lower impedance cap (I used the Panasonic FM 1000uf 25v cap recce'd by Simon SQ who designed my linear PSU for the Young) and the improvement was great.
Basically the new cap provides a more open window to everything really.
Like taking a stranglehold away..the dac flows better.
Well worth the work..and it is work, as the Young board is all surface mount.
Get someone whos an electronics wizz to do the work if you dont have the proper kit.

But yeah, swapping out the much lower impedance cap really boosts the performance of the Young.

LOCATION OF CAP
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq61/gazjamster/oold_1.jpg (http://s434.photobucket.com/user/gazjamster/media/oold_1.jpg.html)

[orbscure]

Thanks for that Gaz... if these are the same capacitors here (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1000uf-25v-105c-Panasonic-Size-20mmx12-5mm-EEUFM1E102-Low-ESR-Long-Life-x5pcs-/301136558373), I'll order them and am happy to post one out to other Young DAC owners who wish to try the upgrade... PM me if anybody is interested :)

[sq225917]

The Fm or FC ones are the best to use, don't forget they are tall so you'll need to bend the legs to fit them. Also the tracks are pretty light so it's one for experienced soldereds only. Youll likely end up soldering the new cap to the board, rather than through it.

If you want a good simple psu for it ask Les at Avondale, he can build you a cracker with a TPR regulator set for 16v-18v. The limit for voltage on the input is the switching reg just after the cap you'll swap.

[sq225917]

Oops double podt

[Gazjam]

Wot Si says...

Les's PSU is a take on Simons original, which with the new cap I'm running at 20V, significant over the 15V stock but improves things no end.
Wouldn't want to go much higher, 20V is enough folks.

So the cap mod to your Young, get a linear PSU (seriously) and sit back knowing you have many K's worth of Dac.
Heard mine directly compared to a Naim Dac and the dealers face was a picture...ended up putting and XPS on it to show its superiority..and it was different rather than better.
Honestly, went in with the cash to buy the Naim, came away happy with my Young.

[orbscure]

As way of an update, the caps discussed earlier in this thread in post 8 have arrived with me in the post today... so I have three spare if any Young owners want one - free - gratis - no charge :) First come, first served, so drop me a PM with your full postal address and I'll send them off next week... :)

[orbscure]

Three free caps have been posted, so I have one left if any M2Tech Young owners feel the need to try the modification discussed above... First come, first served ;)

[orbscure]

Now all gone... so those of you who've decided to go ahead and mod your Young DAC, once the work has been done, I'm sure I'll not be the only one interested in your findings :)

[brian2957]

I've heard the difference this modification made to Garys DAC . I'm sure you're in for a very pleasant surprise if you go down this route .:)

[Gazjam]

Whats your thoughts Pete so far?

I'd give the new cap 2 weeks constant run in before you say she's done, but improveements were apparent from the get-go, especially if you ramp up the PSU voltage to more than the standard 15V (the input voltage is determined by the DC coupling cap..the new one is up to 25V :))

I run mine at 20V.

With the Van De GRaff PSU...it'll change again.
Shame about the Palmer, but these things happen for a reason. :)

No issue with my own Young driver btw, been looking into the Server route as my main digital source the last few days (refitted the SotM usb card and linear psu feeding it...and the results are very interesting indeed.
USB is the best input for the Young Dac, just needed my new preamp to open up to show it as so.

[orbscure]

I've not modded my Young yet Gaz... although I'm none to shabby with a soldering iron, I have a couple of local leads to follow up who'll do it for me... besides, there will be another four AoS members doing the same with their Young's, so it'll be interesting to see how they get on :)

[orbscure]

Well... I was up at sparrows fart today, so I took the bull by the horns and replaced the cap myself. It was an easy job, taking no more than 20 minutes from start to finish (yes, making sure + & - were the right way around) and my Young is now on working test as I type... so it'll be interesting to see how it opens up after a couple of weeks use :)

[Gazjam]

Cool. :)

Couple of weeks should do it Pete.
Be interested to hear how the new power supply shapes up too.

[orbscure]

Cheers Gaz... there may also be four other independent reports from AoS members undertaking the same modification... so a comparison of notes may well prove of interest, not only to us, but to others who might be considering the Young DAC as an option:)

[Stratmangler]

I bought some caps and performed the mod on my M2Tech Evo DAC (the Young's smaller sibling).
The effort was worth it.
I'm quite taken back at the improvement in resolution.

Thanks for the heads up :cool:

[orbscure]

I've been running my Young DAC with the new cap for just over a week now and the improvement in soundstage is very good indeed. However, I've not only had to add a Van der Graaf PSU, I've also added a full set of Brian's Klotz cables, so the improvement might be the sum total of all three links in the chain... but whatever it is, I'm throughly enjoying the results :)

[Stratmangler]

Over the intervening time since my last post in this thread my DAC's sound has changed subtly, tonally shifting emphasis and gradually returning to a tonal balance I'm familiar with.
And all I've done is changed a power input reservoir capacitor.
The resolution has improved, and with it comes greater musical involvement.
Bit parts of the mix have greater significance than before, yet they are not exaggerated and demanding attention.

All I've done is to replace a power input reservoir capacitor, so the headf**k factor is quite large, as there's no change to the signal path.

I don't know what's going on, but I really like what I hear, and on that alone I recommend this upgrade.

Cheers Gaz, and thanks for the heads up :cool:

[haujobbz]

I am currently in the process of upgrading my oppo 95 dac to a young dsd and palmer psu as I find the treble on the sabre dacs artificial allmost like a DSP effect on the sound ? Would there be a significant improvment in resolution and musicality ? Thanks



Over the intervening time since my last post in this thread my DAC's sound has changed subtly, tonally shifting emphasis and gradually returning to a tonal balance I'm familiar with.
And all I've done is changed a power input reservoir capacitor.
The resolution has improved, and with it comes greater musical involvement.
Bit parts of the mix have greater significance than before, yet they are not exaggerated and demanding attention.

All I've done is to replace a power input reservoir capacitor, so the headf**k factor is quite large, as there's no change to the signal path.

I don't know what's going on, but I really like what I hear, and on that alone I recommend this upgrade.

Cheers Gaz, and thanks for the heads up :cool:

I'm tempted to do the cap mod but may have pay someone to do it as I don't want to screw it up :)

[Gazjam]

Never got on with the Sabre Dacs, heard a few n my system over a large price range and the Young always shone as being the most musical and, well, effortless.
It just plays music and gets out the way in a non hifi way.

I'd say it would be a noticeable upgrade, especially with the cap mod and linear psu.

[Stratmangler]

I am currently in the process of upgrading my oppo 95 dac to a young dsd and palmer psu as I find the treble on the sabre dacs artificial allmost like a DSP effect on the sound ? Would there be a significant improvment in resolution and musicality ? Thanks




I'm tempted to do the cap mod but may have pay someone to do it as I don't want to screw it up :)

I'd just leave the DAC as standard and enjoy it as it is for the time being.
The mod would always be there for later.
What Gaz says about a decent linear PSU is a given - you need to have one. The Palmer may be better still.

[337alant]

I have also been running the M2Tech young Dac for the last couple of years and I must say its superb.
Shortly after getting the dac I carried out the internal cap mod that SQ did and found the same improvement.
I realised that the walwart was holding back the full potential of the DAC so I built my own power supply using an Avondale TPR2 reg, this took it to a whole new level and I havn't though about changing it since, See pic below.
I do also own a Saber Dac and there is not much in it but the Young is more musicaly entertaining IMHO.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8517/8556711131_74956611bd_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/e38o7g)Young Dac power supply (https://flic.kr/p/e38o7g) by Alan Towell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Alan

[sq225917]

Nice little psu there. I do think the Young offers remarkable value as a second hand buy these days.

[Søren]

I have been using the Squeeze Upgrade PS for quite a long time, with quite good results. It took care of the dirty highs completely, and is warmer and more "musical", than the supplied switchmode type.

But still a bit unsatisfied with a slightly slow and soft bass, and a lack of air, i decided to try the cap mod. I decided for a Nichicon KA audio grade type, which is a drop in replacement for the original. Same size and specs. Nichicon ranks it at the same level as their "Fine Gold" types, which is ranked just below their top of the line Muse type.
And it did the trick. Bass is now tight and punchy, and a huge improvement overall. Highly recommended.

[clap]

I got the mod done to the capacitor of my Young dac a few months ago. Pete kindly gave me one of his spare capacitors. The sound does seem to be a lot smoother now. I don't find any treble harshness now. I would describe the sound as being very open. A worthwhile upgrade.