Refer All and Sundry to my "Modding my Oppo 203" post...
More games Afoot there.
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Refer All and Sundry to my "Modding my Oppo 203" post...
More games Afoot there.
Cracked open the case of my Dac again today.
Some more RFI treatment after doing some more reading up on it.
I'd already tried maxing out the digital section by adding Stillpoints ERS fabric to select chips,
a lot of trial and error, definitely a case of less is more.
After a lot of reading about RFI/EMI and its harm to digital circuitry I looked at the Dac's analogue board this morning?
There's two (digital related) areas on the board that were potentially electrically noisy, and wanted to to see if the Stillpoints stuff would make an improvement there.
1.
A 28 pin digital "switch" chip, that controls the interaction between the digital and analogue boards (tied in with controlling signals through the connecting ribbon cable)
2.
The corresponding Crystek Oscillator (clock signal generator)
I've taken the Dac as far as it will go with this ERS stuff I think?
sounding pretty great and a nice jump up from stock.
I wouldn't touch anywhere else on the analogue board, the Stillpoints stuff works primarily on digital circuits.
If you add too much it masks the upper freq's and dulls the sound. (as was when I initially used it on the Dac's output Transformer).
So two more mods to do then I'm done on the Dac front:
* Fit better specced, beefier Edcor XS440 transformers to the Analogue board, swapping out the stock TX's.
* Install a quality external regulated linear PSU to power the Analogue stage independently from the digital stage.
(Looking at a Farad Super3, Paul Hynes or the like.)
Meanwhile, enjoying the improvements today's shenanigans brought. :)
As usual,
took a couple of pics:
https://i.imgur.com/UxMvlAJ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ixSJfIh.jpg
another job tidily done gary.. your getting good at those things now.
That Stillpoints fabric looks interesting Gary. Where would you recommend trying it other than in a DAC?
Thanks Grant,
Its good fun and always a result when you can eek out more performance from your kit. :)
Jimbo,
Initially I was tempted to just try it everywhere,
TOTALLY the wrong approach.
Some things I found:
- Less is more, its easy to overdo it and kill the high end.
- Keep it away from anything analogue - digital circuits only.
- The amount of harm on digital components from RFI-/EMI (clocks and the like) seems to vary with frequency, the high end being more effected?
That's why sound gets muffled and loses air at the top end if you overdo the Stillpoints stuff.
- Keep it well away from toroidal transformers - kills the sound.
Where I've used it
As well as on my Dac (as shown) I've used it on my Oppo 203?
Again, anywhere near the transformer or analogue output stage and it deadens the sound.
Each HDMI socket has a dab of the Stillpoints stuff on top of the socket casing, and each HDMI cable I use has a loop taped around the connector.
Improved picture is very noticable.
I've done this will all my HDMI cables, inc. into PS5 and AppleTV - Upgrade your cables!
https://i.imgur.com/13Fso0x.jpg
I'm looking into where else its been used by other folks.
I'm sure on CD players it will work somewhere, not just (I think) on the digital output.
The oscillator and any other bits n bobs related to the clock might benefit.
Its very much a case of trying and seeing what works though, unfortunately.
The Stillpoints ios great stuff if your of the Tweaky mindset, and works great if not over used.
Highly recommended.
I would tidy up and re-file your LPs! :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazjam
Wash your mouth out Sir!
in alphabetical order by Artist
(yes, I'm that sad)
:D
Refile them so they are upright, and not at an angle where they will eventually become deformed. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Gazjam
Ah,
ok Boss, will do. :eek:
Might have a go with some of this magic fabric Gary. Which are the most critical areas to try first?
Done. :thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
https://i.imgur.com/lGTt6JZ_d.webp?m...fidelity=grand
what will you be using it on James?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo
I have a DAC and a DDC. I use a USB A - B cable from laptop to DDC and coax from DDC to DAC.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazjam
Id start James with anything related to the clock signal?
Does your kit have any kind of displays?
Chips on these are notoriously noisy.
Dac chip might be a good candidate too, depending on how its been implemented.
Avoid any regulators, capacitors, putting ERS fabric on these killed the high end.
I’d stay away from transformers too.
Worth giving it a go,
let us know how you get on!
Thanks for the recommendations Gary. I will start with the clock and DAC chips first. Will let you know how it goes.:cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazjam
A good day for headphones
:thumbsup:
Fed up with a 3m cable trailing across my floor watching at night.
Got these for movie n TV watching using the AppleTV over Bluetooth.
Need to take a piss during a movie, no problem!
The earbuds are for work and music on the move.
Wearing glasses, a mask and headphones got a bit annoying... Too many layers!
Both really well reviewed, and sound great apparently.
Cool.
https://i.imgur.com/K1iHaux.jpeg
I Like Sony gear so I would presume these will sound pretty decent?
I have the WH XM3, they are excellent mate, you won't be disappointed.
not heard the 4's but heard good things; ive heard the mk3... ive a set of the 900's and they are very good, although i think i prefer my new bose 45's to them.
Good to hear some hands on experience of them, Cheers guys.
Yeah, did a bit of digging around the internet and these kept coming up as go-to's... so I did.
What Hifi winners don't you know :lol:
Today's Dac upgrade.
Still trying to eek out the maximum from my Directstream dac.
Already done firmware upgrades, RFI treatment, custom footers and power cable upgrades, this is the final word on fuses with it.
https://i.imgur.com/KWJpnc3.jpg
Swapping out from an SR Orange for this,
which is being transplanted into the Audiolab CD transport.
Have a Hifi Tuning Supreme 3 silver in the Audiolab already, that's getting bumped down into the Primare Phono stage.
So a 3-in-one kinda deal on fuse upgrades.
:thumbsup:
I've found the SR's get consistently better sounding as you go up the range (though felt the Blue was a bit "hifi" sounding?), so expecting better sound with the Purple over the Orange.
By all accounts from what Ive read its significant.
See how it goes.
(yes, they make a difference, all else being equal)
:mental:
Cool.
you must be over the worst of covid if you're back to tweaking :D
Ha!Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
More about keeping my sanity during it…
welcome to my world;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazjam
good your no worse at least.
Cheers Grant.
Keeps us out of Trouble :)
Purple fuse is next level good.
Big step up over the Orange.
More to come too as it runs in. (Owned most SR fuses, speaking here from own experience)
Less of a choke point I guess, letting the balanced mains better to its thing with the Dac.
*Sigh*
Ah well, another few to get then, and call this madness done.
Watch out for billy bargains here on Orange Fuses when I’m up to putting an Ad up.
More Purple in the house,
This time a 2A for the BHK Preamp.
https://i.imgur.com/5CrKN7m.jpeg
The Meridian power amp will be getting a 5A one next.
Thats the amps and Dac as good as they can be.
On the fence about the Audiolab CD Transport?
Have an SR Orange in (transplanted from the Dac) and not convinced I can hear any improvement over the £40 Hifi Tuning Supreme 3 silver I had in there before.
Maybe hit the sensible stopping point with the Audiolab.
Got a tube of Deoxit to go round all the connections, including the fuses.
Another wee bump in the right direction I guess.
If SR brings out a 'yellow polkadot' fuse next year, Count me out.
Gotta stop somewhere.
:eek:
Just need one for yourself now.:D
Ha! :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ali Tait
It's ok Ali,
I run hardwired and fuseless.
Don't burn out.:lol:
Another Purple in the house,
this time a 5A for the Meridian 557 power amp.
Thats Pre and Power amps done, as well as the Dac.
These things are (imo) component level upgrades.
Not always the case, the SR Blues I never got on with.
What I know now is I'm getting the best from my PS Audio/Meridian gear as well as all the benefits the balanced mains brings.
Clean power matters more than you might think.
All "choke points" eliminated.
Daft money of course for (on paper) just "fuses"
reality though;
off the scale VFM for the audio improvement you get for what you pay.
From experience,
They take a few weeks to loosen up and fully do their thing,
As always will sit back and enjoy it when it all shakes out.
Cool.
:thumbsup:
https://i.imgur.com/0C2tEaP.jpg
Minor wee tweak,
Still out to eliminate noise in the electronics as much as possible.
My Preamp has lots of unused inputs,
Thought Id cover the RCA jacks with sonething that might reject any noise coming in through the unused input jacks.
Couple extra for the unused rca sockets on the dac too.
Dont want to use shorting plugs (they have own problems) so alternative is these Oyaide rca caps.
Not just plastic covers, have a coating thats meant to help block any potential noise.
Made from Sendust, which was used to coat tape heads back in the day.
Couple of quid each, didnt break the bank.
Will it make a difference?
Some say yay, some say no.
If it helps protect the sockets then thats good enough for me.
Cheeky wee Rega badge too for my TT black custom platform
https://i.imgur.com/39yeJNf.jpeg
Naa...
Kills the top end and 'air' in the sound.
Ah well.
Not so much then.
Rega badge looks cool in place, so a result there. :)
Due to an 'Unforced error' playing records coming back after a night out,
(Great idea eh? :doh:)
My Rega cart is back at Rega HQ for a full rebuild.
As learned lessons go, not the cheapest, but value wise pretty great.
Shout out to Rega customer service.
H'anyway,
Carts gonna be away for a few weeks, so in the meantime fitted one of these.
Dynavector DV-20 X2 low output moving coil.
https://i.imgur.com/t8AhHtq.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/fOHVyVg.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/OySkaCN.jpeg
Not quite the Apheta 3, but still pretty great.
Been months since I played the Blackstuff, happy to be back!
deary...:doh: naughty boy :D
I know.. I know...
It's not a bad cartridge to be slumming it with.
The trick is to get used to operating a turntable when drunk.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
Expensive thing to get used to. If I 'had people over', I only played records early on. As soon as things started getting messy, switched to CD. My party tunes on CD number a couple of hundred, I can only think of four on vinyl.
Bummer Gaz, vinyl can be an expensive pastime. After swearing off MC’s after trashing my Gullwing, I went and bought a Kiseki Blue…
I have accidentially damaged a couple of cartridges over the years. One a Grace F9E/14E hybrid (https://theartofsound.net/forum/show...ghlight=pissed) where I snapped the boron cantilever, and the second: a 'nuded' EMT TSD15 where I managed to break one of the lead out wires from the coil!
Bummer indeed, fortunately Gary you have a replacement cartridge of suitable quality to tide you over.
Thanks Guys.
Aye,
lesson learned...stay away from the naughty naughty when tipsy whipsy.
Could be worse,
could have been a Gullwing like Ali's...
Think I'd have thrown myself out the window if that happened to me!
I did think about it lol.
The words from the dealer should have been ringing in my ears "whatever you do, only use the mounting bolts supplied" as he loaned me his Demo Ortofon MC3000mk2.
So of course, I knew better, thats why I had steel allen head bolts for cartridges even those with ceramic bodies !
So allen key in hand I applied that final bit of pressure. What followed seemed like a distant clap of thunder but alas no, it was the sound of the ceramic mounting lug departing from the cartridge body !
Thank goodness for household accidental damage insurance.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3670b0adcf.jpg
Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
sure he was chuffed :doh: still we all make errors. glad u had insurance.
Well that was about 30 years ago and we still spend about an hour on the phone when we call each other!! He's no longer a retailer, he's now a designer manufacturer and distributor. So I think he's got over it ! Nevertheless a valuable lesson learned always "listen to" or read the instructions.
Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
I too have damaged a cartridge that was loaned to me - though it wasn't quite as expensive as your MC3000. And the loaner and I are still friends. :)
I suspect in these days of scams and fraudsters plaguing the Internet and social media very few dealers loan out equipment and certainly not without a hefty deposit or card pre-authorisation !
Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
My local dealer - now long gone - would not loan equipment out, even if you offered to deposit the full asking price in cash, pick the equipment up just before he closed on Saturday and bring it back the second he opened on Monday morning. And that was back when the internet was in its infancy and the term 'social media' did not exist.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rush2112
If there's no trust, then there's no business.
never been a local dealer here tnk.. you'd need to go to a city, and you being outwith city by a fair bit would likely cause them to say no.. our nearest would have been falkirk i guess then edinburgh where you would have a few
There was once a dealer I knew who would not sell you anything unless you had heard the item(s) in question in your own system at home. You would deposit the asking price on a Friday and take the goods away to listen to over the weekend. If you liked the item(s), all well and good, you would get a recipt and guarantee. If you didn't get on with the item(s), you would return on the Monday with them and your deposit would be refunded.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
The arrangement applied to used as well as new items.