Am I correct in assuming that the Gator is now a higher current ouput buffer with a low(ish) impedance now "properly" able to drive a power amp as a conventional preamp would?
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Am I correct in assuming that the Gator is now a higher current ouput buffer with a low(ish) impedance now "properly" able to drive a power amp as a conventional preamp would?
Received mine this morning, capp'ed, installed and running.
Thanks Stan for a swift service :)
My original board isn't very original to be fair, but I will have some time on comparison soon ... It was mainly about retaining the improvement I got from the passive mod and getting back headphone use ... And that seems to be exactly what has happened - I missed the bit in your post about extra volume but that is a happy bonus as I have a more useful volume control in my set up now ... With the passive mod I had to turn the control quite far round to get good level and then it was difficult to get the level just right for some reason...Quote:
Originally Posted by StanleyB
It does seem to sound very slightly different from the passive mod, a bit less laid back, but that could be just the extra volume...?
What ever, I'm very happy with it ... The sound seems as good as it has ever been and it has all it's functionality! So yeah, cheers again for your efforts!
:(:( Still waiting for mine to arrive.
I added an additional 'aftermarket' modification option for the headphone section that will allow soldering savvy Gator owners to refine the headphone output and get it to match their headphones more closely. The reason why I added this extra modification option is because of the wide range of headphone impedances and bass depth level. The standard configuration is set to comply with the EU directives on headphone output level safety. But once the Gator has a wider ownership audience I'll sit down and describe the headphone output mod.
The HD650 has frequently been accused of having a lazy bass. The standard Gator quickly turns that HD650 in a punchy bass performer. And that's to mention just one headphone that I have tested it with.
I had a bad 10 minutes after fitting the Gator board. Horrible distorted sounds. Twiddled all the cables but no joy. I was just about to PM Stan when I had an idea. I disconnected my Lightspeed and plugged the dac directly into the amp. Perfect sound. I guess its just an attenuation issue, maybe Goldenjacks or something is required.
Anyway I am very happy with the result, I hadn't bothered with the Passive mod as I wanted to retain the headphone facility and was fed up with all the cap comments. Just to be different I asked Stan to fit some Nichicon FK caps so YMMV but the difference, to me, is marked. The speakers seem to disappear and I feel like my chair is closer to the stage or microphone.
So I think I will try headphones next and crack open a bottle:cool:.....
I wonder what the output impedance of the Gator is.
I would recommend the Caiman in your set up. The 2Vrms output would be far too much for your power amp, which has a very low sensitivity if I remember correctly.
Gator received yesterday - thanks Stan! just gotta get 5 minutes to fit it now...
I hope one or more of the Gator owners could pen a few quick lines about their early impressions :). Next batch of Gator invoices are going out next week :eyebrows:.
I have been trying out the Gator with each of my headphones and couple of different opamps in the headphone output. I must say that the AD826 is so far the most impressive of the 'straight plug in' type. The bass has more beef in it and sibilance is less noticeable on offending recordings.
2nd batch of Gator now in :). Check your PM. If I missed anyone on the list, PM or email me ASAP.
Woohoo, looking forward to this. :carrot:
PM sent :)
Somehow I don't think the gator is gonna arrive today. :(
Damn snow.
Yeah, I think it's going to be a while until I get mine too. Mine's getting delivered to work and I'm stuck at home with a foot of snow outside. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Maximum
:lol:.Quote:
Originally Posted by HighFidelityGuy
Yours was sent out on Monday.
Despite the snow, my Gaitor was delivered today - Stan only posted it yesterday :youtheman: .
Got mine yesterday. Will try and fit it today.
Hello there Steve,
Welcome to the Art of Sound.
Would you mind diving into the Welcome area please & just saying a few words of introduction. This is a requirement for all new members. You'll find a quick guide to what's expected by clicking here
Apart from that, have fun while you're at AoS.
Cheers
Mine has been installed for about a week now. Over that period the sound quality has improved to the point where I now believe its reached its optimum performance. And what a performance, Stan you will have to go some to beat this with next years model.
The post came by this morning; now where is that screwdriver.....
I am a bit surprised that there has been so few responses apart from mine.....:mental:
TBH i've been so busy I haven't had much time to listen to music properly this last week or so (crime I know). I'd previously been using the Caiman with just a passive cap mod (some polyester caps picked up from Ebay) and was happy enough with the sound but always one for not missing out thought it worth punt.Quote:
I am a bit surprised that there has been so few responses apart from mine.....
The proper way of testing would have been to replace the caps with the board and do some comparisons but life's too short, so as well as installing the board it also got the Murta regs at the same time.
The sound of the combination is noticable even without any direct comparison. The first thing was that the there's more high-frequency detail (cymbols etc). Also the bass seems tighter than the caps, but no more deeper or extended.
Oh I don't know :scratch: - it seems a good buy, the rest of the high-fi isn't up to distinguishing the difference I suspect.
I have to lift my hat (no smiles for that) to Stan for forever tweaking and providing us the fruits of his work. At the end of the day it's all about the music.
:band:
BTW - The cardboard box for Charlize has gone and she's now in an anonymous aluminium box.:unfair:
Totally off topic, but I love the series of books referred to in your avatar Jerry - made for entrancing reading years ago when I commuted to London. i tend to re-read them every ten years or so :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Covenant
Just picked my Gator board up and fitted it. In the process I snapped something off the USB daughter board when removing (or trying to remove) the glue in the way of the new board. Er, Stan, how much for a new USB board ? I use it very rarely though, so ce la vie.
Initial impressions. More bass. Much much more bass. Trying to match volumes with the earlier passive mod in general, but there is noticeably more bass. I do not object to this per se. Speaker positioning to play later. Maybe in the week.
Thanks again to Stan for continuing to evolve an already excellent product!
Yea, I have read them three times myself. In the middle of Against All Things Ending-the next to last one. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by DSJR
The user comparisons between the passive mod and theGator board are interesting...Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Galbavy
be good to see them trickling out.
My Gator Showed up today! :)
But my Denon D2000's fell apart on Friday :(
So it's going to be a while before I get to hear it :doh: Can anyone suggest some alternatives in the £200-£300 price range? I've always had "listener fatigue" with the Denons (not the caiman's fault, same problem when plugged into the laptop) Advice please so I can try out my Gator!
Still waiting for mine. Snow has turned to ice. Can anyone tell me which delivery company it is being shipped by please.
Mine came with Royal Mail. Haven't received anything for days and am waiting for quite a bit. Don't hold your breath!
I have been using the Gator plus AD826 in a TC-7520 with my HD650 headphones, and I am impressed. The normally sloppy bass on the HD650 is now far firmer and punchy. Not the kind of attributes that one would associate with the normally lethargic HD650. Rock music now sound more believable with the HD650.
Thanks Stan..!
Do you need closed-back cans? If so, you might want to try out the Shure SRH-840s, although those are only about £130 if you shop around. If you are open to open-back cans, then check out a pair of Sennheiser HD600 or HD650 'phones. You should be able to pick up a pair for around £220 if you shop around. Both are highly regarded and I believe Stan uses a pair of HD650s himself.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kendalbeefcake
If you get a pair, I'd be interested in your thoughts compared to the Denon AH-D2000.
Best,
Adam
Hi Adam,
I'd chosen Closed-backs because of the need to be "social" when listening, i.e. not disturb 'er indoors! I've got a reasonable amount of Denon kit and was always pleased..But has Stan has since pointed out to me off-line it's probably the air-pressure in the closed back which has been giving me grief, so I'll probably switch to an open-back HD650 as you and others have suggested..Assuming Peter Tyson send me back something I can e-bay!
Mr postman finally delivered my Gator today. :champagne:
I just have one question....I don't really ever use the headphone output on my Caiman, so is there likely to be any sonic benefit to the line outputs by not installing an opamp? I'm just thinking from the point of view of having the fewest number of components as possible. Cheers. :)
I haven't tried that myself, but let us know if it works OK. It won't harm the board since the Gator transistors are on a different supply line to the opamp.
Thanks Stan. I'll give it a try without the opamp first and use that as a baseline. It'll save me digging out my box of opamps. Cheers. :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by StanleyB
Stan, will the next evolution of the stock Caiman include the Gator board?
Does the addition of a Gator board to a 7520 make it the same beast as a Caiman+Gator? From memory, the difference between the 7520 is in the ouput section.
Are you prepared to declare your hand, Stan: are we anywhere near a Standac with remote control?
Does the Gator improve on the "quality of sound" achieved by the passive mod at all (volume accepted). I am not a headphone user and wondered if the Gator is an upgrade over the caps solution we have been enjoying.
Regards
Chris
Good question!!!!!!
All I can say is that the question regarding the Gator upgrade has been answered time and time again in this thread. I refer you to the first opening lines in the thread on page 1.
As for how good it is: you'll have to spend serious money to get any other DAC to sound this good for so little, or your money back:). Which other DAC manufacturer can offer you the same level of confidence when you hand over your hard earned cash ;)?
As for any other product in the future etc.: wrong thread to ask those questions. The forum inspector would be round in a flash with is baseball bat to keep us in line.
I can't see any comparison of passive vs Gator in terms of sound quality (not signal level).
If you start reading from http://www.theartofsound.net/forum/s...t=7623&page=13 there are a number of comments from users who have done comparisons ;).Quote:
Originally Posted by Clive
The comparisons are not that clear. Graybags was vs some polyester caps, I'm not sure what Peter Galbay had before so the comparisons are not huge definitive yet...are they?
What exactly are you hoping to read or have existing user write about Clive :scratch:? I am sure more comments will be forthcoming as customers get their Gator through the post. Some parcels are still stuck in a Royal Mail sorting office, whilst others are in flight to foreign lands.
Hi Stan,
The Caiman is superb of that there is no doubt. The question I asked was about the objectives of the Gator design. I already understand that it modifies the volume from the passive mod and also provides for headphones - great.
My question was about the sound quality achieved vs the passive mod (same or better). If it is an upgrade I will end up going for one.
Regards
Hi Chris, as I wrote in the first entry of this thread:Quote:
Originally Posted by chrism
I wanted to find a solution for the low output of the passive mod and preserve the headphone output capability.
In other words. It's damn good. And I offer a full refund on the Gator if anyone is not completely satisfied with its performance. But please take note that:
1. You should only buy the Gator if you have tried the passive mod, but need a higher output.
2. You are not confident with fitting the passive mod and experimenting with caps, but you want to experience the improved SQ offered by these mods.
I have only made 200 pieces since it's a hobbyist project. That's why it is in the Drawing Board. So please only order one if you definitely want to experience the magic that the Gator brings to the sound of the TC-7520 and Caiman. It's not a 'me-too' product, but one squarely aimed at the discerning listener who would appreciate its enhanced performance through a decent set of amps and speakers.
Hi Stan,Quote:
Originally Posted by StanleyB
Thank you for the time taken to answer my query. It would appear that as a very happy "Passive Output" user that I will not need to purchase a Gator afterall. I am not sure what the reference to "me-too" means though and yes I can confirm that I enjoy a rather "special" Power amp and cracking speaker setup.
Best regards
Chris
Received mine today!
It was worth the wait though. I didn't really like the sound I was getting from my speakers before but the gator board has transformed this. Everything just comes to life so effortlessly now and is so well balanced.