Yip, sounds good to me.
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Yip, sounds good to me.
Sorry guys if I put the cat amongst the pigeons. I was just going on my preferences/system.
Someone else who did the Wolfosn mod at the time (can't remember who) recommended the AD826's so I thought I'd give them a go. They suited my taste.
As ever your choice is what counts.
Its good to talk. I've learned so much from this thread and your views have always been 'on the money' imho. Its gonna be fun when the caiman is released tho.... one opamp is fab in the 7520, but not so good in the 7520 'Caiman'. Perhaps we ought to split the thread clearly at this point?
Ade
Quote:
Originally Posted by trailer
Hi folks,
This question was raised a while back by the dearly departed lingling. But never got a reply:
Will there be a US version of the eventual Caiman power supply?
Another question that I haven't seen addressed (although in a thread this long I could well have missed the post):
What are the sonic differences that come from the Caiman's WM8716? The lower SNR was mentioned but what other changes in the sound could I expect from the use of this DAC chip?
p.s. I will do my darnedest to restore the reputation of the US after all the damage lingling did to international relations. And let me start by saying how appreciative I am that forums like this exist. Many thanks to all of you who have posted such valuable contributions. Can't wait to get a Beresford so that I can start repaying you in kind. Now off I go to fret over the 7520 vs. the Caiman...
And now let's resume the :gig:
If the US distributor orders the Caiman PSU when it is available then you should be able to buy it in the US.
It is possible to modify a stock TC-7520 into a Caiman. Details are on the modification page on my site. Cost wise it should be about the same if you do it yourself or if you buy a ready made Caiman.
Stan
Agreed. Your Obama-esq gestures go down well! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by roscoeiii
Chicago huh?
I was there last August on Holiday, loved the river Taxi and up the top of the Sears Tower. I couldn't get over how flat Chicago is, from the Sears at night all lit up it looks like a giant circuit board!
The Sears Tower is no more. The name has been changed recently.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazjam
Yeah heard that Stan.
They renamed it to honour the 25th Aniversary of the film Die Hard.
Dunno if thats an unfounded runour or what.......? :)
I think it could have been me who recommended the AD826.Quote:
Originally Posted by trailer
My take on the Opamp and DAC upgrades is this:
1. The Wolfson WM8716 improves the 7520 significantly.
2. Whatever Opamp you choose to improve a standard 7520 will also improve a WM8716 equipped 7520 by a similar margin.
3. The MLC5/6 mod is worth doing, but the effects are subtle.
4. Choice of Opamp is a personal thing - Once you are happy with the sound - Stick with it.
For what it's worth, I am using a LM4562NA in the Line-out socket and an AD826 in the Headphone socket. But I listen via headphones exclusively, both from the built in headamp and external amplifiers. What works for me may not be to everyones taste.
I am so happy with this combination, I am considering removing the Opamp sockets and soldering the Opamps directly to the PCB.
Hope this is some help - Ken
Chicago the circuit board huh? I'd say that in general it's a good circuit, but there are also some mods that could make it so much better.:)
What opamp would you recommend with Chicago?
I find the sound very airy, even windy.
Edit: On a more serious note, how large are the legs on the WM8176? I've only got a 1mm tip soldering iron, I get the feeling this isn't fine enough.
Hi,
Do you think it is worth doing the MLC8 & MLC9 mod?
Will I notice much difference with my HD650's ?
I am pleased with my LM4562NA upgrade that has made a difference :)
( I think sometimes i spend too much time Modding and not listening to music :lol: )
I think you mean the WM8716 :). According to the spec sheet the legs are about 0.3mm wide and the gap between the legs is about 0.3mm. So they're stupidly tiny.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZebuTheOxen
I'm in the same boat as you, I have a 1mm tip soldering iron and I fancy swapping to the WM8716 but what with the size of the legs and the cramped position it's located in I think the likelihood of me knackering it up are quite high. Stan mentioned he was trying to negotiate a deal with an electronics expert to provide a mod service, hopefully Stan will have more details about this soon.
OK, Stan and Leo have covered the swapping of the DAC in another thread, and having tackled the job myself I can confirm that it is quite a tricky operation.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZebuTheOxen
The IC's legs are 0.6mm between centres, so it's pretty tight. However, the soldering iron bit I used is 1.5mm and it was OK. Problem with using a very fine bit is that it wont hold much solder and loses it's tinning quickly.
Best advice I can give is to get yourself a flux pen and don't be afraid to use it. Flux is the magic sauce which will prevent solder tracking between pins. Also be careful with the PCB pads, they lift very easily when heated - But pins 6,12, 17 and 22 are not used, A couple of these lifted on mine.
Unless you have eyes like a shite hawk, you will also need plenty light and magnification...
Good luck - Ken
What you need is something like this:
PSU
I use something similar, set at 14V.
Stan
I just stumbled across this great tutorial on surface mount soldering with a regular soldering iron: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NN7UGWYmBY
The same group also have a few other good tutorials on soldering.
As a quick update, I'm finding the THS4032 on the line output with a 4562NA on the HPA a very 'thorough' sound. Unfortunately some parts of the sound are recessed, notably guitars in busy passages.
On my original amp these would come through clear as a bell, very easy to follow etc. but this most certainly isn't true with the 4032/4562 setup. At some points I had to strain to make them out in passages where I knew they were. The grunt / growl of distortion on certain guitar effects isn't as forward as it should be in the music.
Drums are very prominent and correct sounding with this setup, the bass is very very taut and sounds excellent. This dominance of bass might be masking the guitars. Any suggestions for some mid-range emphasis mods?
If you are using your original amp as a reference, and that's the sound you are after, then maybe you are better off sticking to the amp:). On many audio devices the bass and tops are several decibels down on the 0dB level, which then produces an unnatural extrusion of the midrange. When you then start listening to a different piece of equipment without the drooping bass or treble response, the sudden repositioning of the midrange within the audio spectrum gain level can come as a shock. If the midrange is too forward, you kill the soundstage.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZebuTheOxen
Stan
I had a feeling you were going to say that!
The fidelity on the 7520 is so much better.
I guess I'll have to listen to all the music instead of just the guitars now :lolsign:
My test tracks for guitar interaction with vocals and other instrumentsQuote:
Originally Posted by ZebuTheOxen
:
Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower
Michael Jackson feat. Eddie Van Halen - Beat It
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Van Halen - Eruption
Santana - Europa
Eagles - Hotel California
Metallica - One
Steely Dan - Reelin' in the Years
Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
Jimi Hendrix - Star-Spangled Banner
Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing
Joe Satriani - Surfing With the Alien
Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Child
Frank Zappa - Zoot Allures
Wot, no Deep Purple ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sensimilia
Can't argue with the rest of the list though !
Chris:)
PS. I'd recommend Highway Star - Blackmore's multi-tracked harmony, interval shifting solo is a real teaser !
That list makes me feel quite young.
What's that Sonny ? They don't write 'em like they used to !:lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by trailer
Chris:lolsign:
All my Deep Purple records are on vinyl. I use 'Child in Time' to test my TT set up;). My Jimi Hendrix vinyls got nicked from the flat of an ex:steam:. Some of it was even unopened.
The reason I pick so much of the old stuff is mainly due to the fact that just about all of them were made with analogue equipment. The recordings were dropped onto analogue tapes, and then years later digitally converted for pressing onto CD. A lot of valuable information is preserved within that recording and transfer process that I feel is missing in the purely digitally recorded and manipulated recent material.
Stan
Dropped in just to say I've been swapping around opamps and have a couple of things to bring to the table.
I'm using the stock 7520 with no mods beyond the different opamps (2 x 4032CD, 2 x 5532P, 2 x 4562NA).
If you flick back to my last post on the previous page, I wasn't entirely happy with the sound of guitars I was getting, and couldn't place why.
At the time I was using the 4562NA in the HPA and the 4032CD in the line out socket. I did a bit of trawling and picked up that the opamps influence the sound of one another. Presumably depending on which output would mean one opamp was dominant.
So I swapped the 4562NA around with the 4032CD.
Big difference in sound, a lot more slam, more detail in busy sections, this was more of what I was looking for. Unfortunately all of the problems with the 4032 already mentioned in this thread have surfaced and it seems like I need to find another opamp. (Are the 4032's problems related to it's design or the mounting with the resistor?)
Given my fairly limited knowledge of what is available, and what I can see from the different specifications on the opamps I have; It needs to have a slew rate of at least 20V/µS, (5532 has 10V, 4562 has 20V, and the 4032CD has 100V.) , a good amount of bandwidth (50mhz or more?), and available in 8-pin DIP.
I've been looking at the AD826 which has 35mhz bandwidth (Is that enough? More = better? Does it raise the noise floor?) and 250V/µS, which seems quite desirable.
If there's an opamp which has lots of detail in the mid and treble, coupling that think the 5532 would be a great solution I think.
Any thoughts?
Just a quick update;
I'm looking at the AD8032ANZ, AD8032BNZ and the LT1632CN8.
Just want to check none of these will explode / kill my amp if I test them out.
Cheers, Tom.
Let us know how you get on, so that others can benefit from your experience.
Stan
Thanks :lolsign:
Hi,
I own a 7520 and have install 2 tirna ths 4032. it have distortion in the sound? izzit because the chip is not burn in yet or i need to remove the mc5 / 6 etc?
Larry, I am not sure exactly what your problem is. Could you please clarify what exactly your problem is?
Hi,
I have 2 THS4032 installed on my TC 7520. I brought is on eBay from tirna electronic. I am using the build in headphone amp to drive HD600. When lisenting at low volume at 9 o'clock. There is noticetable distortin in the sound. It seem to be unstable to me. But when listening at a higher volume. let's say 11 o'clock. The distorion is minimise but the distortion is still there but less noticetable. I try using toslink(desktop pc) and USB(netbook) both have the same problem, meaning my source is ok. So what is the real problem I have?
I happen to have a few THS4032 opamps and decided to test each one of them.
I get a nasty sounding break up of the sound on one, but it is OK on the others. So I reckon that one of my THS4032 is duff.
I would suggest that you try one THS4032 at a time and see if both of them produce the same distortion. That would tell you if one is dodgy.
STan
Hi,
I have try installed 4032 on the line and 5532 on head and listen sound normal. Follow by 5532 on line and 4032 on head and it sound normal too.
I do this test for the 2 4032 chip. when even I put both together the distortion come.
In that case I would use only one THS4032/ Get a LM4562NA to partner it. I got a few, so you can PM me if you can't buy just one piece off eBay.
I personally think two of the THS4032 in the DAC is over powering. On my system it sounds far too cramped. That's why I use the LM4562 to balance it out.
Stan
Hi Stan,
Oh I see, I have a few question. Hope it is not too much =D
1) If I choose to install a 4562, How does 4562 on line and 4032 on head compare to 4032 on line and 4562 on head in your opinion?
2) I have read that installing a 4562 is better to have the surrounding cap remove, what is the different with the surrounding cap remove or not?
3) If you recommend to put 4562 on the line with cap remove, then the MLC5/6 is to be remove?
4) If I have 4562 on the head, which cap do I actually remove?
I saw two 4562 at different price. So which is the correct one?
http://sg.farnell.com/jsp/search/bro...questid=577440
There are no hard and fast rules. But the THS4032 needs the caps next to it on the PCB, unless you want a lot of RF break through.
As for the price of the LM4562NA. If it is £5 or less, then you can't complain.
STan
Would it be possible to replace the DAC chip with a AK4396?
No, but why would you want to go down market with the DAC chip?
One of my friends recommended that DAC chip, so I just thought I'd ask.
Just my guessing. I am sure you lowered amp board (otherwise you cannot close lid) and now it is very close or almost touching capacitors below it. Put some insulation between, maybe that helps.Quote:
Originally Posted by larry
Out of curiosity, if each opamp is for a different output, then how does having two of the same opamps installed change the sound vs having 1 of them installed?
I have about 10 metres long cable from dac to amplifier. Is THS4032 would be better for line output in this case then LM4562HA?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sensimilia
What was a reason for cap on THS4032 from Tirna. That was not same as caps on the PCB? And put next to the chip only because those on PCB are too far away?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sensimilia
After some troubleshooting, I heard distortion from the same spot of a song. Can I say that my source is the culprit? 2 4032 sound very detail. It really reveal my song.
My DACs are clinical, so distortion in the source material is going to rear its ugly head.
Has anyone tried to put a discrete opamp in a Beresford?
hey guys, i've been away for a while...so any news on the Caiman and when it can be expecting to be released?
Stan, would it be possible for the Caiman be sent out on loan for a review? i'd really like to test it out.
I believe they were released, as I purchased one.Quote:
Originally Posted by AudioFile808
I did. I tried a set of Burson discrete opamps. The results were:Quote:
Originally Posted by therockst4r
1. It didn't work
2. The case couldn't close
Added to that, the distortion figures for the U$100 Burson discrete opamps are 0.001%, compared to the U$5 LM4562 0.00003%.
If you are however hell bent on going discrete, even though the sound will be more distorted than the LM4562, let us know how you get on.
Stan