I got yours OK, but the Rubycons from HFG didn't make it. Your caps are now happily fitted in my modded TC-7510, where they provide an excellent service:).
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I got yours OK, but the Rubycons from HFG didn't make it. Your caps are now happily fitted in my modded TC-7510, where they provide an excellent service:).
Balls, sorry to hear that Stan. :( They weren't Rubycon though, just some equivalents I had spare. I'll see if I have any more and I'll send you them if I do.Quote:
Originally Posted by StanleyB
I prefer Rubycons if anyone has 2 pieces spare. I want to do a direct comparison between the passive and active output so that I can eliminate any potential pseudo acoustic effects.
I might ask Jimmy at Tirna for a couple since he has 3K of them...
This is a "bypass opamp" mod, yes ?
I've only just caught up with the mods to the Caiman and I've gone in my own direction. The Murata regs look good but I can't justify the cost so I've made do with LT1086 and the Teddy 'Gyrator' made up onto strip board and squeezed into the available space. For the output caps I've not gone with the recommendations and stuck with what I like IE BlackGates. I was happy before the changes but I'm even happier now, the sound has swung more to where my TDA1541 sits, its grown some midrange fullness and importantly revealed a new level of detail retrieval.
The regs seem to have eliminated a HF noise observed on the 'scope and also reduced the switching noise by about 20db, I'm now very tempted to build a simple linear pretracking supply to see if it improves further....
Care to share the knowledge with the rest of us :)? A wider choice of upgrade options is bound to go down well.Quote:
Originally Posted by NRG
I'm not sure there's a whole lot to share Stan!
I used the Teddy Gyrator cct and a LT1086-5 and a -12, they just squeezed under the lid. I added some small clip on heat sinks which made fitting even more fiddly. As the pinouts of the LT series are different to the standard 7805/10 I had to juggle the GND and OUT pins...not elegant but it worked. Some not so stellar pics below.
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...r/DSCF5060.jpg
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...r/DSCF5062.jpg
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...r/DSCF5063.jpg
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...r/DSCF5064.jpg
Nicely done, Neal.
Just to add another I knocked up a little adjustable shunt reg which I'm trying for the output stage
The one for the digital is an Audiocom super reg1
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/P1060334.jpg
I don't know what others think Neal, but I think that you have done a brilliant job there. Very much in the true spirit of 'more for less' as far as cost is concerned.Quote:
Originally Posted by NRG
Indeed,lovely job Neal.
Ok done the 12k resistor mod as well as the wire shortcut. The 12k resistor makes the bass seismic and a little too much for my room and speakers - sorry Stan.
I will leave it as is for a few weeks to settle down a bit but I think that the original resistors may need to go back in.
Regards
I just can't find which Rubycon cap it is, i know it's bipolar, 16v and 47 uF.. Does anyone know the type?
And the Wima caps are MKP's?
I just use the Caiman as Stan sent it to me, and I am very happy with it.
I do wonder what all you modders gain.
What do we gain? Better sound and a more enjoyable listening experience!
With the regulator change and cap mod I've found the tonal balance has moved to more like my TDA1541, which is a positive change for me. I'm using black gates so the tonal change isn't at all unexpected as I also use these with the 1541, however, what was unexpected was the level of detail retrieval that is now available, the Caimens separation and layering is so much better than before. I'm hearing new things on material that I thought I knew very well as if a mask has been lifted from the sound, TBH I didn't think this would have been possible as it was very good before hand....
What you don't have you don't miss heh Brian?Quote:
Originally Posted by Labarum
I think the performance leap in comparison to the cost is substantial;well worth it to me.
Give it a try and see for yourself what all of the hype is about :eyebrows:Quote:
Originally Posted by Labarum
+1 :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Covenant
so tirna can do these extra resistor and signal path mods can they? ... hmm i wonder how my pre amp would be with the extra dynamic range... i suspect it would cope fine... my room on the other hand might not like more bass.... .... how is anyone else getting on with that set of mods?
....thats pretty nice of him ehQuote:
3. Minor Optional Upgrades free with any of above
These include changing a pair of resistor on the audio board to 10k or 12k Ohms. This upgrade is recomended by Stan Beresford to increase the gain and dynamic range of the fixed/variable amplifier outputs.
paid up and ready to go ... just gtta get it in the post... gonna take a punt on this 12k resistor and bits of wire mod... anything else i should ask for whilst its there do we think?
Hamish
I spoke with Jimmy yesterday and my Caiman goes off on Monday. ;)
He said the resistor upgrade is free because:
(1) Resistors are 'buttons' cost wise.
(2) They are easily changed while he is doing other mods.
I am holding off for the moment until I know what effect the original mods are going to have on the overall sound.
Your turn!!
Garry :lolsign:
I've just gone for the lot... I'm fairly certain my pre amp isn't going to have a problem with the extra gain and dynamic range ...
I guess it will be a nice big jump in quality too and if I really don't like it ... Well it be a lesson learned that I shouldn't be so impetuous eh :)
just got back from the post office now... It will be with tirna by Tuesday :)
just gotta do without the usefulness of a caiman for a while now :(... What are tirnas tirnaround times like?
Dr Jim reckoned get it to him by Tuesday it could be back for the weekend depending upon his workload. He will be inundated soon so ye did right getting it to him pronto as the waiting times could get longer! ;)
So I guess you will have yours back by next weekend and perhaps il have mine the following weekend... Interesting... By thy time I intend to have had the dynamik psu fitted inside my majik so I should be getting my self a tidy little set of upgrades :)
No I think yours could be back at the same time providing things have not got too busy during the week. As he explained the operation doesn't take too long it is just very 'fiddly' as he put it and he likes to test before and after the mods. So fingers cost you could be burnin in next weekend!!!
G
Sweeetness! If that is the case il leave it running for a week in my office with constant music through it ... Then hopefuly if it's nicely burned in il be able to take it to the place I'm getting my majik 'dynamiked' and put it up against some monster "high end stuff" like the naim dac and klimax ds!! That should be good fun :)
just gotta try and get my hands on one of these more posh psu's now... Anyone fancy building me somthing? :)
Anthony's yer man for a PSU upgrade.
No one knows a part number for the Rubycon and Wima caps?
I dunno which part it is that tirna have thousands of but if your trying to get the bits to do mods your self I'd give them a ring!
That was of course my first port of call... He's busy though int heQuote:
Originally Posted by Steve Toy
Since i live in Holland, i'm likely to get parts with such a low cost locally. I'm trying to look for photo's of the mod in which the Rubycons are visible in high-res, but without result.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hamish
Tirna asks 80 pound for just the parts.. I can buy the Murata's at 19 euro a piece, and the rubycons are (i guess) something like 1 euro a piece. That makes 45 euro against the 96 euro at Tirna.
If someone wants to look on his capacitors, then i'm a very happy guy.:)
(or a Farnell item number..)
HifidelityGuy (Dave) is your man for this....
He ordered the Rubicons and the Mutara's for the original Group buy on here.
Calling out to anyone who has the Wire/12K Resistor Mod done on their Dacs...?
I've upgraded mine to the Rubicon/Wilma/Mutara/Elna caps stage, and I love the clarity and micro-detail Im getting now...huge 3D soundstage too.
New mods always catch my eye though, and from what I've read the latest Wire/12K resistor mod adds to the bass and increases dynamic range....
Just the Dab for me in my system...although I would not want it at the expense of the clarity I now have with the Elna Slimic II's in place?
I'd really appreciate any comments from anyone who's had the latest mod done, with regard to the new mods effect on the overall sound of the Dac; particulalrly with regard to soundstaging and clarity.
Does increased dynamic range and bass = less openness in the soundstage with less clarity?
Always welcome more "thwack n thump" with my rock music :)....but still want to keep it sounding open and airy for classical! :)
I know Stan said he recommended the latest mod only for those using their Dac as a Pre into a Poweramp...but has anyone tried it with an integrated like mine?
I Just wonder how much of a problem it would be really...
(I have the spec sheet on my amp if any figures are required? ;))
Thanks!
OK chaps, its embarrassing (to me) question time - my "mod your Caiman beyond recognition" project was delayed for a couple of months from reading about it and ordering parts to now.
Getting ready to "do the business" I dug out all the parts that have arrived piecemeal from various parts of the globe and find I have a couple that I cannot recall why I have them :doh:
Amongst the bits I bought a pair of THS4032 opamps and adaptors, that is fine, but I also have a pair of 220pf polystyrene caps that I cannot remember why I bought.
I have trawled back through the whole thread (over a couple of days) and did not find (might have missed it) any reference to them - might they have been suggested for bypassing these opamps ? if so which pins to connect ?
I would be most grateful of any pointers here.
@jasper - the Rubycon caps you want are 47uf 16v non-polar, sorry do not know a part no, alternatively Nichicon Muse non-polar of the same specification can substitute. Normal polarised 'lytics will not do.
I remember one of the mods on the 7510 was to upgrade the cap across the fb resistor in the output stage (220pf Wima) not sure what its for in the 7520 or Caiman
Those are for MLC8 and MLC9 on the audio PCB. The are either side of the headphone opamp. I have tried values of between 100pF to 270pF.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony G
Thanks Leo and Stan for the prompt responses.
I was beginning to wonder if they belonged to another project.
Have added the info to my "mod notes".
Would anyone have the the actual Nichicon and Elna manufacturer PN's for the capacitors which they've used?Quote:
Originally Posted by Getgaff
I thought I read that the caps need to be non polarized but the Elna's are not listed as such:
http://www.elna.co.jp/en/capacitor/a.../pdf/rfs_e.pdf
The Rubycon's are the only non-polarized ones, the Elna's are standard polarized ones.
Thanks for the clarification. Been reading so many Caiman threads I am losing track as to which ones are what. Now I just need to find the Wima PN mentioned for the capacitor in this thread.......Quote:
Originally Posted by Carson
And i've found a discrete opamp that has to work in the Caiman due to the very generous supply voltage of 5-15v dc.. The Dexa-73728, available at Parts Connexion. Maybe this is a good alternative to the Burson equivalents..?!
Would something like this work as a dedicated 15vdc linear power supply or can I make/find something better state side?
http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/dual-...15vdc1amp.aspx
http://www.solahd.com/products/power...silverline.htm
If funds allow, get THIS ONE. Set it to 15.6V~15.8V on the LCD display and double check the output voltage with a multimeter.
The noise figures are even better than a similar linear PSU that I use in the workshop.
It will work, but i think you won't notice any difference compared to the Caiman power supply.Quote:
Originally Posted by fmzip
If you want to try something that maybe is better than the standard supply, you may want to look at the following to make a powersupply (in correct order)
-A FUSE, properly rated
-a simple EMI-RFI filter (optional, while you're at it: add a zener diode to protect the circuit for powerspikes)
-a toroidal powersupply
-bridge rectifier
-buffer elco(s) (i don't believe in audio-class caps for powersupply buffers, but suit yourself)
-to stabilize the output voltage (and if you want to go hi-end): a 15 volt Murata or NewClassD regulator) (i think this step is pretty useless, as in the caiman has it's own regs for 12 and 5 volts..)
Notes:
-Do not supersize anything (especially the trafo and buffer elco's), it will have no effect other than a weight gain of your PS, a 10% oversize is enough for both)
-Please, please seek some help if you haven't done this before. You are working with potentially dangerous voltages, especially if you try to touch a loaded elco or take a live wire as ground etc..)
-I want to help you with the calculations once you've decided to build one yoursef
-ground properly
-add some additional components to make the PSU more sophisticated, like a switch, elco resistor etc..
Thanks for the tips guys.
As I do not have the Caiman, I do not have the stock power supply. What I am doing is modding my TC-7520 unit with the Murata Power regs, caps, dac etc. Just had the Wolfson soldered in a few minutes ago! :) Once I get the regs, I will need a power supply...
I certainly don't mind building a power supply. All I would need is a list of parts and a simple schematic. I have a PCB assembly shop at my disposal to help with the assembly, testing etc. Can you help me with creating a parts list?
What I was really trying to do is weigh the costs of ordering/ delivering a Caiman PS to the states and seeing what I could do for the same amount of dollars versus time and effort....
Saw this one for around $45:
http://cgi.ebay.com/SOLA-REGULATED-P...item230354f3d1
Maybe I will take Stan's advice and order the other. Would be nice to have a variable PS at my disposal for little projects as well :)
This 5 AMP one would work as well, correct?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mastech-Variable...item588839ccd8
Stan, looks like the Mastech Power supplies you pointed out come in a 2 and 3 AMP model
http://www.kitsusa.net/phpstore/html...2AMP-1232.html
Shouldn't 2 Amps is sufficient?
Or this one?
http://cgi.ebay.com/MASTECH-HY1803D-...item2eac3d0af9
The 2 amps version is fine.
I thought I should say a big thank you to Jimmy Dripps at Tirna Electronics for his great work on my 7520 fitting the Elna caps. Combined with a TeddyReg power supply it sounds superb.
Jimmy did the resistor mod and shortcut mod F.O.C-what a gent!
How much is this power supply you are referring to and where did you get it?