ESS ES9008/9018 Sabre dac

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16-09-2010, 14:44
Dan Giovanni

Yes, mine came a few weeks ago - I ordered it as soon as it became available. I've heard from Jensen, and it seems I don't need the coupling caps, so that's one less thing to worry about. Hopefully it sounds as good, or better, with the trannies as it does with the opamp. It's very good already.

I've also got in mind some PSRR mods for the Legato, but they're on hold 'till other stuff is sorted.

Look forward to hearing your impressions .... I think you'll like it! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by squeezethatbuffalo

Hi Dan,

Do you already have your Legato, or are you still waiting for it?

I agree. Low input/output impedance along with lower distortion are the main reasons I'm putting a Legato between the BII and my transformers. I'm also curious on how Legato sounds stock. Hopefully I'll be able to find out in a few days.

Cheers,
16-09-2010, 15:17
squeezethatbuffalo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Giovanni

Yes, mine came a few weeks ago - I ordered it as soon as it became available. I've heard from Jensen, and it seems I don't need the coupling caps, so that's one less thing to worry about. Hopefully it sounds as good, or better, with the trannies as it does with the opamp. It's very good already.

I've also got in mind some PSRR mods for the Legato, but they're on hold 'till other stuff is sorted.

Look forward to hearing your impressions .... I think you'll like it! :)

Sounds like you've been using the built-in BALSE stage. Let us know how they compare to the transformers :)

Do you mind sharing what you have in mind? Sounds very intriguing!

I'll find time to build the DAC after my order arrives, hopefully I'll be able to listen to it during the weekend.
17-09-2010, 21:37
Dan Giovanni

Quote:

Originally Posted by squeezethatbuffalo

Sounds like you've been using the built-in BALSE stage. Let us know how they compare to the transformers :)

Do you mind sharing what you have in mind? Sounds very intriguing!

I'll find time to build the DAC after my order arrives, hopefully I'll be able to listen to it during the weekend.

The Legato uses resistors for current sources, and while a simple and elegant solution, they will give the circuit rather poor PSRR.

The mods I'm thinking of are either adding extra RC filtering on the rails, or using active current sources. I've got a few ideas, but need to work out the details. Got a bunch of other stuff to do first -hopefully will make some headway over the weekend.
17-09-2010, 22:37
leo

Just having a play about with the BII regs, once the SMD inductors on the underside of pcb are removed to disconnect the BII onboard regs (Core, VDD, XO) it seems the caps going to the input of the stock regs are disconnected too . It maybe worth trying adding input caps to the alternative regs to be fitted especially if the main supply source is not close to the regs, I'm going to try some caps with the inputs to the PH regs

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/P1090331.jpg
17-09-2010, 22:40
leo

Also thing to note, even though the input of the stock regs is disconnected their output is still connected so it may be worth doing a small track cut to isolate them from the upgraded regs output
18-09-2010, 04:18
squeezethatbuffalo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Giovanni

The Legato uses resistors for current sources, and while a simple and elegant solution, they will give the circuit rather poor PSRR.

The mods I'm thinking of are either adding extra RC filtering on the rails, or using active current sources. I've got a few ideas, but need to work out the details. Got a bunch of other stuff to do first -hopefully will make some headway over the weekend.

Great, I'm already thinking about modding my Legato though I don't even have it :lol:

Just one more question, please. What supply(s) are you using?
18-09-2010, 04:20
squeezethatbuffalo

Quote:

Originally Posted by leo

Also thing to note, even though the input of the stock regs is disconnected their output is still connected so it may be worth doing a small track cut to isolate them from the upgraded regs output

Thank you for sharing! I'll keep that in mind :)
19-09-2010, 10:06
squeezethatbuffalo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Giovanni

Yes, mine came a few weeks ago - I ordered it as soon as it became available. I've heard from Jensen, and it seems I don't need the coupling caps, so that's one less thing to worry about. Hopefully it sounds as good, or better, with the trannies as it does with the opamp. It's very good already.

I've also got in mind some PSRR mods for the Legato, but they're on hold 'till other stuff is sorted.

Look forward to hearing your impressions .... I think you'll like it! :)

Hi Dan,

Which Jensen transformers will you be using with the Legato?

Somehow I missed the DC offset part of your previous post. According to the datasheet, the core of LL1527 "is a high permeability mu metal core", no mention of air gaps. Now I'm worried about saturation :doh:

Cheers,
19-09-2010, 11:40
Dan Giovanni

Hi Alex,

My supply is currently a "Dual Reg" by Greg Ball ...

http://www.ska-audio.com/Forum/YaBB....mpage=products

Good, but not great. I've got a discrete shunt reg based on Salas' design almost finished too that should be better. What about you - what are you doing for a PSU?

My trannies are Jensen 4:1 step down types. The Lundahls my be OK without caps too .... perhaps you could email them to find out?

Dan
19-09-2010, 13:12
squeezethatbuffalo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Giovanni

Hi Alex,

My supply is currently a "Dual Reg" by Greg Ball ...

http://www.ska-audio.com/Forum/YaBB....mpage=products

Good, but not great. I've got a discrete shunt reg based on Salas' design almost finished too that should be better. What about you - what are you doing for a PSU?

My trannies are Jensen 4:1 step down types. The Lundahls my be OK without caps too .... perhaps you could email them to find out?

Dan

Hi Dan,

I plan on using "Golden Reference" power supplies for my Legato, and Paul Hynes for the BII. They're no Paul Hynes, but I find them really good for analog applications. Not nearly as good for digital though.

I got a reply from Kevin (from K&K Audio), he said 6~7mV would "cause you to lose some low bass". I just wrote him another e-mail asking about the severity of the issue. If it seriously hinders performance, I may add caps or go for gapped transformers. Not sure which is the lesser evil ;) Did you hear something similar from Jensen?

Edit: Oh and btw, I finally got my BII+Legato today! "The post office doesn't deliver mail on Sundays", you say. No they don't, but I was determined enough to drive through a typhoon to pick it up. :lol:
http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01027/typhoon.jpg

Cheers,
Alex

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