What are your experiences and views on Chaiman mk2?

[intothemusic]

Many people seems to be very happy with it. Would be interesting to hear some comparsions with products in the same and above range though.

Is the usb connection as good as the coaxial? Would only use it in a pc-system, maybe connect my tv.
How good is the headphone amplifier btw?

Thanks.

And finally, there seems to be alot of upgrades and tweaks, would I have to change or upgrade something if I bought a new one?

[CageyH]

You can get the Caiman delivered with the latest firmware chip already installed.
As for the other questions, I don't have the answers but somebody should be along in a while to help.

[mkrzych]

Many people seems to be very happy with it. Would be interesting to hear some comparsions with products in the same and above range though.

Is the usb connection as good as the coaxial? Would only use it in a pc-system, maybe connect my tv.
How good is the headphone amplifier btw?

Thanks.

And finally, there seems to be alot of upgrades and tweaks, would I have to change or upgrade something if I bought a new one?

Hello,
From my experience:

1. Regarding USB. It's rather simple implementation and I didn't use coaxial. I use optical and it is MUCH better than USB in my humble opinion. You can also connect a TV, I used also optical from my SmartTV to enjoy this: https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/home via their dedicated TV app.

2. Now headphone amp. It's quite good, but not so much powerfull - depends what cans are you trying to use and what level of sound you'd expect/listen to. My advise, DON'T mod anything, try the stock one FIRST! I have Beyers T90 and they sound marvelous driven by CMII powered from Anker Astro Pro 2nd Gen. There will be time for any mods in the future, it you don't like the sound. Make sure to get latest firmware for CMII.

[intothemusic]

You can get the Caiman delivered with the latest firmware chip already installed.
As for the other questions, I don't have the answers but somebody should be along in a while to help.

That is good to know. I do not now if I want/can install it myself. :)

[intothemusic]

Thank you Krzysztof!

Would be interesting to know more about the USB-connection. I do not have a digital output on my laptop so I maybe would have to buy some form of USB-SPDIF converter to make it work. The question is if it's worth it, do not know how much money you would have to pay and what kind of compromise that maybe would be.

I would use Philips X1 headphones with it. They are to my knowledge very easy to drive. So no problem there.

And I won't mod anything, that is why I'm asking now so I do not miss something out. :)

[StanleyB]

Thank you Krzysztof!

Would be interesting to know more about the USB-connection. I do not have a digital output on my laptop so I maybe would have to buy some form of USB-SPDIF converter to make it work. The question is if it's worth it, do not know how much money you would have to pay and what kind of compromise that maybe would be.

I would use Philips X1 headphones with it. They are to my knowledge very easy to drive. So no problem there.

And I won't mod anything, that is why I'm asking now so I do not miss something out. :)
The USB works fine for most people, but if you feel the need for even more performance from it, assuming you have the equipment to notice the difference, I sell a USB to SPDIF converter as well.

You don't have to do any modifications or upgrades to the Caiman. They are enhancements designed to add extra features and abilities to the stock unit if and when those upgrades have been proven to be of benefit and cost effective. Normally, manufacturers would release a new product instead of allowing customers to extend the life of their existing equipment. You are probably familiar with the twice yearly new models of phones released by manufacturers so that they can get you to dispose of your old phone and spend even more on a new one with one extra feature. I prefer to issue an upgrade if possible instead of asking customers to go and buy the latest DAC if they want that new feature.

[intothemusic]

The USB works fine for most people, but if you feel the need for even more performance from it, assuming you have the equipment to notice the difference, I sell a USB to SPDIF converter as well.

You don't have to do any modifications or upgrades to the Caiman. They are enhancements designed to add extra features and abilities to the stock unit if and when those upgrades have been proven to be of benefit and cost effective. Normally, manufacturers would release a new product instead of allowing customers to extend the life of their existing equipment. You are probably familiar with the twice yearly new models of phones released by manufacturers so that they can get you to dispose of your old phone and spend even more on a new one with one extra feature. I prefer to issue an upgrade if possible instead of asking customers to go and buy the latest DAC if they want that new feature.

First of all, thanks for your answer!

I do not fully understand what you mean though. What does "works fine" meen in actual performence. Is it asycron, can it handle most bitrates over USB?

The next part with "equipment to notice the difference" makes me also a bit uncertain. The differenses are so small between USB and SPDIF so I would need a high end setup to notice it? I'm just thinking of all those "source first" people that maybe has a source that cost 10 times as much as the speakers, they are seeing it the other way around. I personally want the source to have optimal settings so it can perform at its best.

And about the mods and upgrades and so on. I do not know if I expressed myself unclear, but I have nothing against it. I think it is very good that you offer cheap nice upgrades for existing products, my hole thing is just that I do not want to install something like that myself.

[StanleyB]

I do not fully understand what you mean though. What does "works fine" meen in actual performence. Is it asycron, can it handle most bitrates over USB?

The next part with "equipment to notice the difference" makes me also a bit uncertain. The differenses are so small between USB and SPDIF so I would need a high end setup to notice it? I'm just thinking of all those "source first" people that maybe has a source that cost 10 times as much as the speakers, they are seeing it the other way around. I personally want the source to have optimal settings so it can perform at its best.
The USB is not async and it can handle anything that Windows can play back with its native drivers.

I have no idea if you would notice a difference with a high end setup. Most of us have quite modest systems in terms of our outlay. My own speakers cost me £535 delivered, but they are good enough for me to notice differences between recordings of the same track by the same artist in different bit and sample rates.
What are the other companies saying about their DAC with respect to these same questions of yours?

[intothemusic]

The USB is not async and it can handle anything that Windows can play back with its native drivers.

I have no idea if you would notice a difference with a high end setup. Most of us have quite modest systems in terms of our outlay. My own speakers cost me £535 delivered, but they are good enough for me to notice differences between recordings of the same track by the same artist in different bit and sample rates.
What are the other companies saying about their DAC with respect to these same questions of yours?

The way I understand it is Asynchronous to prefer, while I would't trust my laptop to send correct data. I've had exelent results with HRT Musicstreamer II+ that way for example with great dynamics and timing.

But I heard one of your older DAC:s with a CD-transport many years back, and it did very well in comparsion to a DAC that costed many times more. But for me it is a bit different now, because I do not use CD:s anymore. That is also why I'm interested in comparisons to more USB-based solutions like the Audioquest Dragonfly for example.

I'm not trying to be critical or anything, I would just appreciate to know how you where thinking when you constructed it. It seems to me like it is optimized to work with a CD-transport, nothing wrong with that if that's the case. Or do you simply prefer to use a USB to SPDIF converter to it?

[StanleyB]

The way I understand it is Asynchronous to prefer, while I would't trust my laptop to send correct data. I've had exelent results with HRT Musicstreamer II+ that way for example with great dynamics and timing.

But I heard one of your older DAC:s with a CD-transport many years back, and it did very well in comparsion to a DAC that costed many times more. But for me it is a bit different now, because I do not use CD:s anymore. That is also why I'm interested in comparisons to more USB-based solutions like the Audioquest Dragonfly for example.

I'm not trying to be critical or anything, I would just appreciate to know how you where thinking when you constructed it. It seems to me like it is optimized to work with a CD-transport, nothing wrong with that if that's the case. Or do you simply prefer to use a USB to SPDIF converter to it?

No problem. At least you know that the Caiman is not using async USB. I don't use a PC to send music via USB. I use a SB Touch instead to stream the music to my stereo. If you want a DAC with an async USB port then there are many to choose from.

[coolblue]

How about the switches inside the caiman dac ? What can we change with it ?

[mkrzych]

How about the switches inside the caiman dac ? What can we change with it ?

Do NOT touch them for the moment. Nothing you can change, those are for future purpose.

[coolblue]

Do NOT touch them for the moment. Nothing you can change, those are for future purpose.

Yes I know, but what is it for ?

[Stratmangler]

Yes I know, but what is it for ?

If we tell you we'll have to kill you!

[StanleyB]

The switches are there for conversion between hardware and software operation. But I figured out since drawing up the circuit that I can still implement software commands with the PCB set to hardware mode. I shall remove the switches at some stage since they are not needed. But don't play with them!

[coolblue]

The switches are there for conversion between hardware and software operation. But I figured out since drawing up the circuit that I can still implement software commands with the PCB set to hardware mode. I shall remove the switches at some stage since they are not needed. But don't play with them!

Thank you Stan for the answer. I was hoping to make adjustment for different headphones.

[robtweed]

Thought I'd add my thoughts about the Caiman II

I bought one a couple of weeks ago and immediately fell in love with the sound. So much so that it made me think the power amp I was using - the cheap but remarkably good Behringer A500 - was the weak link. So I finally succumbed to a long-term desire to use Naim amplification and bought a NAP 100 power amp. Unlike most Naim gear, this is actually relatively affordable, and has had great reviews since they first made it available. And boy can I see why - the sound I now get through my PMC TB2i speakers, courtesy of the Caiman II, is just jaw-droppingly good. I find myself just having to sit an listen to pieces of music that now sound quite extraordinarily different - for the better of course.

So I'd like, if I may, to heartily recommend the combination of gear I now use. The detail, clarity and overall sound provided by the Caiman II is just remarkable. Stan you've blown the doors off with this DAC!

One little trick I figured out though regarding the Naim amp if anyone else wants to try one with their Caiman II. Because the ground on its RCA connectors floats, when I first plugged in the Caiman II I got a very audible earth hum. Naim don't provide an earthing point on the amp.....well actually I discovered they do. The NAP 100 is primarily designed with their own DAC in mind, which in true Naim fashion, you connect via a 4-pin DIN cable which they provide with the amp. This *is* earthed (and is how their DAC gets earthed), and some tests showed that if I connected the earth point on the Caiman II to the outer shell of the DIN socket on the amp, it cured the hum. So - I cannibalised the DIN cable, cut one of the plugs off, and soldered a wire to its outer casing, the other end of which is connected to the DAC - bingo, problem solved and the start of an incredible DAC/Power Amp combination. Hope that's a handy tip for some.

Thanks again Stan for your amazing work!

[robtweed]

For those of you wanting to try out your Caiman II with battery power, but not wanting to fork out £50 or so for the rechargeable battery pack option usually recommended here, at least until you've convinced yourself that the sonic difference is worth the outlay, here's a cheap and cheerful, but effective battery power solution, that I've put together for my own use which will cost less that a tenner.

Get a battery holder for 8 X AA batteries and a PP3 clip, eg:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/8-aa-battery-box-rk44x

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/pp3-snap-battery-clip-hf28f

Then get a suitable plug that fits the Caiman II's power socket that can be easily attached to the PP3 clip, eg:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-of-12v-2-1mm-CCTV-Power-Connector-Adapter-for-RG59-2-Cable-Jack-Socket/170741936666?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D32957%26meid%3D99a2b536588044e3b59b4625002d 8d7b%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D181 312916297&clk_rvr_id=902881578728&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

Put 8 X AA batteries into the box and bingo, away you go!

I've not tested long enough to see how much life I get from a set of 8 AAs, but of course you could always get rechargeable ones

For AAs, I always get Duracell Procells which you can get very cheaply, eg:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duracell-AA-Procell-alkaline-battery/dp/B000SHR3NW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1443442673&sr=8-5&keywords=procell+aa

I haven't tried any proper A/B comparisons between battery v mains power, but I do have to admit the Caiman II sounds bloody good when powered by battery!

Anyway hope some of you find this helpful

Rob

[mkrzych]

For those of you wanting to try out your Caiman II with battery power, but not wanting to fork out £50 or so for the rechargeable battery pack option usually recommended here, at least until you've convinced yourself that the sonic difference is worth the outlay, here's a cheap and cheerful, but effective battery power solution, that I've put together for my own use which will cost less that a tenner.

Get a battery holder for 8 X AA batteries and a PP3 clip, eg:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/8-aa-battery-box-rk44x

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/pp3-snap-battery-clip-hf28f

Then get a suitable plug that fits the Caiman II's power socket that can be easily attached to the PP3 clip, eg:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-of-12v-2-1mm-CCTV-Power-Connector-Adapter-for-RG59-2-Cable-Jack-Socket/170741936666?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D32957%26meid%3D99a2b536588044e3b59b4625002d 8d7b%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D181 312916297&clk_rvr_id=902881578728&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

Put 8 X AA batteries into the box and bingo, away you go!

I've not tested long enough to see how much life I get from a set of 8 AAs, but of course you could always get rechargeable ones

For AAs, I always get Duracell Procells which you can get very cheaply, eg:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duracell-AA-Procell-alkaline-battery/dp/B000SHR3NW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1443442673&sr=8-5&keywords=procell+aa

I haven't tried any proper A/B comparisons between battery v mains power, but I do have to admit the Caiman II sounds bloody good when powered by battery!

Anyway hope some of you find this helpful

Rob

Very helpful and nice explained. Indeed, I've found CMII sound better on battery as well. I have Anker Astro Pro 2ng Gen. It's noticeable with soundstage depth and timbre on piano solos etc.

[coolblue]

If we change the fuse inside the dac, do we get any improvement on sound ? If yes , which of the 2Amps fuse should we choose ? Slow or Fast blow fuse ?