My 2019 Update Thread - My final system I think.

[Gazjam]

lol.. what is it? a fellows maybe?

Bialetti.
"Propa" Italian gear, to match the machine.
Really inexpensive too, about 12 quid?

Feels great quality.

[brian2957]

Looks interesting. Hope it all works out OK buddy

[struth]

Bialetti.
"Propa" Italian gear, to match the machine.
Really inexpensive too, about 12 quid?

Feels great quality.

Looks good mate. Machine must be settling nicely as you don't bother posting

Mine is doing fine too

[Gazjam]

Looking good Grant.
Still don't have a Tamping mat yet.

It TOO is on zee List...

[Gazjam]

Looks interesting. Hope it all works out OK buddy

Thanks Brian,

Don't work Fridays, so spent today doing the Modding work that I could do up to this point,
Fitting the Power supply control board, and the Stillpoints ERS fabric internally in the Dac.

Basically the goal here was to isolate the digital input board as much as possible, especially the more "noisier" chips like FPGA and the like.
Completely isolated the back of the digital board in the ERS stuff, as well as all the digital inputs.
Only use 2, the i2s for my Oppo and the coax for the Audiolab CD Transport, and both have been treated.

All done,
tested and working and plumbed back into the rig.
Its making music, so thats always a good sign.


From a complete power shutdown,
The Dac takes a day or two to get back on song so casual tunes over tonight and tomorrow, then I'll sit down for a proper listen.
Be fun to observe the changes these mods have made, immediately after powering on the first track I put on the Audiolab (Trevor Jones' "Excaliber" Score), the sound was "different" noticably more 3D and beefier, a bigger sense of scale to the music?
Reduction of noise on the digital side and possible better internal power filtering with the power control board fitted, so makes sense.

Good stuff,
the guys at PS Audio who recommended these mods really know their stuff.
Some fun listening over the weekend to come.

Will post Photos of the Mods over the weekend,
bit knackered, dinner and telly calls.

(and maybe a wee dram too, did well getting these mods done today. )

[brian2957]

All part of the hobby mate. Enjoy

[Gazjam]

All part of the hobby mate. Enjoy

I appreciate (and endorse) this Sentiment.

[Gazjam]

ok,
couple of days on the Dac Mods now, hearing what they brought to the table.

The Display PCB of the Dac:


Double sided tape doing it's thing:


Material cut to shape and applied.

The Dac's touchscreen display is a big culprit in chucking in excessive RF and EMI noise.

Digital board removed.
Every screw turn a heart in the mouth "Will I cock this up" moment




Treating the Digital Input Board:

Material cut to shape and selectively placed bits of double sided tape applied to the PCB.
The Stillpoints ERS fabric stuff is conductive (carbon fibers in it), so not taking chances and covering the exposed edges with electrical tape.)

Phew!
Happy that's done.



Digital Board and Transformers with RFI/EMI treatment:


Fitting the Power supply control board:

PS Audio (In their wisdom) made their Dac a "modular" design?
in that they built in an Expansion port, which enabled you to take the option of fitting their Network Streamer Card.

As said previously,
A community spirited Electrical Engineer and PS Audio Fan did a thing.

(based on the Dac Designers suggested improvements to his outgoing Dac design, at "end of life" with no further Firmware upgrades) took his recommendation as an upgrade of splitting the analogue and digital stages and powering them independently and created a Thing.

He designed, manufactured and did a Group Buy on his PCB design, which does exactly what Ted Smith the Dac designer suggested.
Plug n Play.

After fitting the board and some internal power cabling rerouting,
I now have the future upgrade option of powering the Analogue section of the Dac independently with a Teddy Pardo/ Paul Hynes level linear power supply.

How cool is that?



All good.

The presentation has changed in a way that's noticeable, and its a significant improvement.
Its a step change better, on a par with listening to the same Album on Vinyl I'd say.

Happy I did the Mods,
More to come when I swap out the analogue output board Transformers,
which is a very significant improvement from the PS Audio Folks that have already done all the Mods.

[struth]

youve been busy.. at least your hearing an improvement and had fun doing it

[Gazjam]

youve been busy.. at least your hearing an improvement and had fun doing it

This is the Way...