Printable View
Oh i agree with that :) I'm sure most audio engineers would laugh if i said i could make a 190W RMS (4ohm) single ended class A power amp with a quiescent dissipation of about 150W & 13Amp quiescent current :eyebrows:Quote:
Originally Posted by StanleyB
You just need to think out of the box :)
Eggsackerly!
Attachment 2840
Here is my Caiman.... With those lovely yellow ebay caps. I have managed to get the case to close. One Cap by the USB input, the other in the same position but nearer the front of the Caiman. You have to hook the caps under the case indents, but they don't get crushed and they sound great.
I am going to get a couple of 0.1uf caps just to see the difference they make, but for now I'm going to do some serious listening with this lovely setup.
Ade
Nicely done Ade. I picked up a pair of those caps too and I've been running them for the past week. So far they seem very good good. Nice and smooth but detailed with good sound stage. They're probably about the best I've tried so far but I've tried that many I'm starting to struggle to remember what some sounded like. I think I'm going to have to go back through them all now that they're all run in.Quote:
Originally Posted by apmusson
I also fancy trying adding extra bypass caps to mix and match the sound. Is there any reason I shouldn't try running a pair of high value (up to 47uF) caps in parallel with the Italian 10uF ones? I'm thinking this could allow me to get the best characteristics from a couple of different types of caps. Or is that just madness? :scratch:
Well I decided to try strapping a couple of different film caps together to see what difference it made to the sound. I bypassed a pair of Mundorf RXF 22uF with the Italian 10uF caps off ebay. I ended up with a massive bulk sticking out the the top of the poor little Caiman but it works (with the aid of some insulating tape for stability). :lol: I'll try and post a picture soon, it looks quite comical.
Anyway, at first I was a bit dissapointed with the results as I was hearing some harshness in the trebble but that died down after a day of running in. I'm now quite happy with the overall sound. I do seem to have got some traits from both. The Italians have provided the smoothness and the Mundorfs have added some air and lightness and some extra width to the stereo image. I also seem to be getting deeper bass now, probably due to the Mundorf's adding an extra 22uF. So my bass roll off frequency will be a fair bit lower than before.
So overall the experiment has been successful but I feel it could be improved upon. I've ordered some 0.05uF silver mica and 0.1uF teflon caps from ebay to try as bypass caps. They may take a while to come from Moscow though. :eyebrows:
Dave
I'd love to see the pictures... Somewhere in this capacitive collection there is audio perfection. :eyebrows: I love the 10uf ebay caps and am going to keep those as my base capacitance and try a few different values as bypass caps too.
Ade
Quote:
Originally Posted by HighFidelityGuy
As promised ;):Quote:
Originally Posted by apmusson
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48...Cs/Bigcaps.jpg
They protrude by about 3 inches at the moment. I could get them to fit better but it was just a quick experiment, so I'm not bothered about neatness.
I really want to try some higher end film caps but my current setup requires high value caps, so that means spending lots. I've heard the standard Mundorf Supremes are good value for money so I'm going to try the highest value of those I can get next month. I should have my silver mica and teflon bypass caps to play with by then too, so I'm looking forward to further experimentation.
I think one of the tricky things is going to be that what works for one person might not work for another due to different setups being used. So we're only going to be able to roughly guide each other based on what changes different caps make to the sound. Hopefully we'll all stumble across our own favourite caps soon. :)
Got around last night to fitting 0.1uF bypass caps onto the yellow ebay film cap?
Stan B had mentioned it as a good thing to do...in his usual understated way of course...
flippin 'eck!
:eek:
I noticed a difference right away, the mid and treble had "changed" somehow...it was a different kind of presentation?
More "texture" is how I would try to describe it?
Theres detail coming through I hadn't heard..really subtle stuff, for instance the WAY a guitar note is being strummed...sustain, harmonics, amplifier noise, all of that.
At first I thought I had lost a bit of bass depth - and I had - and there was less "impact", particulalrly with the big classical stuff.
But the detail was all there, much more so than before. Room ambience, mike noises...very distracting.
I left the Dac playing the telly overnight, I had noticed cap burn in before and whilst I hadnt expected anything (dont know why) with the wee 0.1uF caps I thought I'd give it a go anyway.
This morning the bass was back, big time.
A lot tighter and with more depth..the kind of bass you feel in your trouserlegs!
If you have done the passive mod..get some film caps.
If you have film caps...fit a bypass cap.
..dont ask why, just do it :)
Dave,Quote:
Originally Posted by HighFidelityGuy
I'm in the same boat as you, looking at better film caps.
I started a thread over on the 'Wam, some good links/responses from the guys over there.
http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread...LY-priced-type
Some said it would never work;). But I am accustomed to the theory getting in the way of tangible evidence:).Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazjam
Gazjam,Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazjam
Done the passive mod with those 10uf Italian film caps so.....
What brand/type of 0.1uf bypass cap did you use please?
Cheers
Frizup
Hi,Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazjam
I've just looked at the Hifiwigwam thread (but can't post) and I notice that Ansar Supersound get an honourable mention. I was wondering if you guys knew you can buy the top of the range Ansar SPA caps with solid silver leads direct from the manufacturers (they even take paypal). I emailed them for a quote and the prices pleasantly surprised me (less than 10GBP each inc p&p for 8uF). I'm a big fan of silver as I use solid silver interconnects and a silver wired passive pre so these fit in well and I love the smooth, articulate sound. To be honest I was rather underwhelmed by the Rubycon 47uF bipolars and I even reverted back to listening through the opamp but these Ansars are a whole new ballgame. (maybe not a fair comparison as I hadn't at that stage employed a linear PS but they do say don't put 'lytics in the signal path ;) )
Here's a link - http://www.suppression-devices.com/a...apacitors.html
Ian
Thanks for the links guys. :)
It's also good to know that the 0.1uF bypass caps seem to work well. I can't wait for mine to arrive now. :cool:
Good news Frizzup, a friend of mine can post a couple out for you to try. They are the same as the ones I'm using.Quote:
Originally Posted by Frizzup
Can organise it over PM.
Gaz.
Anyone swapped out the large input cap in the Caiman when using the output mod and also using a linear p.s?
I already have a Kendeil 10,000uf cap in my ps in front of double regulation and would like to try removing (or changing) the 16v cap in the Caiman.
Any thoughts?
Regards
Chris
Thats my next mod to the Dac, await this one with interest :)Quote:
Originally Posted by chrism
Couple of guys have done it, with improved results I think?
This subject came up in one of the linear supply threads a few months ago. For people running a high end linear supply based around something like the SuperTeddyReg the 10,000uF resevoir cap should be replaced with a smaller film or tant cap as this type of supply isn't designed to charge large caps. If the cable length between your supply and DAC is anything more than a few CM then you should use 10uF (some people have used 20uF). 1uF can be used if the cable is only a few CM, but that's unlikely unless you've put the supply in the same case as the DAC.Quote:
Originally Posted by chrism
I tried a 10uF film cap but didn't notice any difference in the sound. I don't think it's something that's likely to make much of an audible difference, it just makes sure that the supply isn't being strained. I ordered a few other caps to try out but never got round to it. Maybe one day. :)
EDIT: If you do swap the resevoir cap you may as well get one with a higher voltage rating to make sure that you don't damage it with 15-16V supply.
The reservoir caps in my DACs are before the regulators.
Thanks Stan,Quote:
Originally Posted by StanleyB
I already have a nice 10,000 uf cap in my PS and am looking to try taking out the one in the Caiman as I don't think that I need it now. A 10uf film cap has been suggested instead but I wonder if I need anything at all as the PS is very well regulated.
Regards
Chris
Hi Chris, it's always best to have something local to the circuit for decoupling purposes ;) Nothing like a nice low impedance near where the current is being drawn to prevent any oscillations :)Quote:
Originally Posted by chrism
Chris
Both I and MartinT have done this, see the photos about a million pages back in this or the power supply thread, I've lost track1
Cheers Andy
Hi Andy,
What was your opinion to the sound changes (if any) achieved and what cap did you end up with. I have one of those big yellow 10uf caps I could try as they are spare.
Regards
Chris
Hi ChrisQuote:
Originally Posted by chrism
I put in a Mundorf which I got from PartsConnexions as it just fits in the gap. I cannot say what part this plays in the overall improvements as I did a lot of up grades at the same time. It just makes sense not to have a very large cap across an already very large cap in the external power supply!
Cheers Andy
ps I think MartinT did this mod separately so he might have a better answer for you.
:stalks::stalks::stalks:
im upto page 7 of this thread can someone be kind enough to shorthand me to this page before i go blind :lolsign:
We don't do shorthand:ner:.Quote:
Originally Posted by sparky68
lol ok back to page 7 it is then :lol:
you manage to post my caiman today Stan ?
Mark
We don't discuss unrelated business in the Drawing Board either;).Quote:
Originally Posted by sparky68
Thanks Andy,
Decided to go for it and swapped out the Hitano 10,000uf cap for one of those yellow polyester 10uf's I had going spare. My linear PS has a 10,000uf Kendeil in it before the regs and I figured 20,000uf smoothing is a little OTT.
I begged a couple of EAO MKC1862 10uf's from Les W of Avondale for the passive mod previously hence why the yellows were redundant.
I will give it a few days left on and have a listen.
Regards
Chris
Have used the Italian 10uF capacitors on my 7520 with Wolfson DAC, and was hoping for a recommendation on the best type and value (0.1uF?) of by-pass capacitor.
Have loved the discussions and mods suggested for the Beresord so thanks to all the innovators and experimenters amongst you. Got the Silmic and regulators to replace as well and I fancy building a PSU.
I like it!Quote:
Originally Posted by chrism
Certainly cleaner sounding now that the Hitano cap has gone and replaced by the big yellow 10uf. Sounds much more bouncy and alive so I suspect that the 2 No. 10,000uf caps were deadening things a bit.
I will have a look at taking the doide out and wire linking next as I don't really need it now that my PS has double regulation.
Next step is to take out the Murata's and feed 5v and 12v dedicated supplies straight into the Caiman (my PS has already been built with 2 No. traffos in it).
Regards
Chris
Hi, I put a couple of 10uF Panasonic film caps in place of the 10,000uF reservoir cap. I did detect a slightly improved level of fine detail. My cable from the SuperTeddy PSU is only about 20cm long. There is a photo way back in these pages.
EDIT: there's a photo here http://theartofsound.net/forum/showp...&postcount=789
Hi Chris,Quote:
Originally Posted by chrism
Glad to here on another small improvement. I am planning to put in two high quality RCA sockets and dedicated earth wires back to power input rail I can then connect the output caps straight into the RCA's.
Cheers Andy
hey guys
wanting to do the passive mod but need some advise on caps please,
My preamp (booklet) says
Input and sensitivity for 775mV output
phono MC :250uV
Phono MM :3.5mV
CD :150mV
Tuner :150mV
AUX :150mV
Tape :150mV
RIAA Equalization :30Hz to 20kHz +/- 0.5dB
OUTPUT
via phono connectors
output impedance less than 100 Ohms
Bandwidth 10Hz - 50kHz +/- 3dB
which ones do you recommend please ?
at the moment ive swapped the opamp for the LME49720HA DUAL OPAMP which imo is fantastic as my setup is very bass'y this one lightens it up a bit instead of music sounding like a movie soundtrack.
MONOBLOKS says Input And Sensitivity 1.4V
cheers
Mark
CD input ;)
que ? :)
Sorry, it's capacitor values you want innit :doh:
If film caps go for a minimum of 2.2uf, better off with 10uf but it's finding them & ones that'll fit :lol: I'm sure someone linked to some decent 10uf film caps on here at a reasonable price ;)
thanks Mark, yeh ive seen lots of different ones in the thread but was just wandering if with the impedance of my preamp i should consider a particular one, sorry but im not so clued up on this and after 90 odd pages im still spinning.
So if i go for 2.2uf which voltage please ?
Mark
Actually you haven't specified the input impedance of any of the inputs :eyebrows: Not your fault as you probably don't have that information, we'll assume it's pretty standard at about 47,000K ohm ;)
The higher the voltage capacitor that you fit the less distortion there will be is all i can say in reality :) You should be able to find 2.2uf 400V caps that will fit, but if you go for 10uf then you will probably be restricted to 100-150V or so.
In reality the distortion will be miniscule as we are talking about a signal of less than 2V RMS & it'll only manifest itself near the cutoff frequency which will likely be less than 10Hz anyway ;)
If it was me i'd go for the biggest (highest voltage rating) 10uf caps i could find as this will lower the -3Db frequency which shifts the distortion lower, but it'll reduce the phase shift caused by the capacitor in the audio band, specifically in the lower bass registers..
Try bypassing it with a 100nf (0.1uf) even higher quality capacitor like a silvered mica or polystyrene for even better results ;)
That's just what i'd do though :cool: Others might not be of the same opinion..
You won't fit them in the case, trust me ;) They'll be humungous :eyebrows:
Take your pick
Metalised Polyester (MKT) is a reasonable film capacitor, if you bypass them with something better but smaller you should be laughing :)
I've just received the 2.2uF Auricaps I ordered about a month ago. I'll be replacing the 1.6Uf Clarity caps currently in my Caiman with these on the weekend. Wonder if they'll sound any better?
On a similar note, my other amp has input impedance of 25K, so requires a higher capacitance. Can anybody suggest poly caps that would fit inside the Caiman that would be at least 4.7uF?
let us know how the Auricaps work out for you, Bernie. I love mine but give them a week of running-in.
I have just removed the 2 x 2200uF smoothing caps from my 7510 to make room for the 8uF Ansar SPA output caps as I've been running with the lid off for a few weeks. Despite not putting anything in place of the smoothing caps there has been a noticeable improvement in midrange clarity (and I can now get the lid on :) )Quote:
Originally Posted by chrism
Ian
A few weeks ago I got around to installing Murta regs. It was a bit of a tortuous exercise, as I'd cut off the 12v reg's pins too close to the board and they were a pig and a half to get out :brickwall:, did the wire link replacement of R1. Anyway here's the pic.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Z3EJ2JsDjZY/TN...PassiveMod.jpg
As you can see I melted the line socket. :rolleyes:
Nice one, Graham. If you decide to settle on those coupling caps you may want to desolder the multi-way socket and solder the caps in place as I have done. This keeps the muting relay in circuit.
Help, I'm getting lost in this thread ... Can you tell me what this wire link is or point me to the right post ... Thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by Graybags
-
cz
This is my Caiman with Obbligato Premium 15uF/250V (bypassed with Vishay MKP1837 0.1uF).
The new capacitor are huge, for this reason (+ a linear PSU) I make a new case for the dac.
http://www.avclub.gr/forum/attachmen...1&d=1290186437
It's the resistor behind the Murata 5V regulator. If you haven't fitted a Murata regulator then you have nothing to worry about.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_cz
...ah, thanks Stan. So much mods around here ...
Cheers, cz
Well, I've been listening to the 2.2 uF Auricaps in my Caiman and can say that I'm not sure if I like them more than the 1.6uF ClarityCaps. I agree that there is better bass weight and plenty of clarity across the board but they sound a bit too bright in my system. I'm thinking they may be exaggerating the harshness I sometimes here from the tweeters in my speakers. Maybe they need a bit more running in.
Overall, I think I'd probably stick with the ClarityCaps for the time being. Maybe the Auricaps will sound better after I've installed the Silmic II caps, Murata regulators and linear PSU. I've received the bits and pieces and hope to install them this weekend.
I'm also waiting on delivery of a Gator board so will be trying that as well when it arrives.