Refer All and Sundry to my "Modding my Oppo 203" post...
More games Afoot there.
Refer All and Sundry to my "Modding my Oppo 203" post...
More games Afoot there.
Cracked open the case of my Dac again today.
Some more RFI treatment after doing some more reading up on it.
I'd already tried maxing out the digital section by adding Stillpoints ERS fabric to select chips,
a lot of trial and error, definitely a case of less is more.
After a lot of reading about RFI/EMI and its harm to digital circuitry I looked at the Dac's analogue board this morning?
There's two (digital related) areas on the board that were potentially electrically noisy, and wanted to to see if the Stillpoints stuff would make an improvement there.
1.
A 28 pin digital "switch" chip, that controls the interaction between the digital and analogue boards (tied in with controlling signals through the connecting ribbon cable)
2.
The corresponding Crystek Oscillator (clock signal generator)
I've taken the Dac as far as it will go with this ERS stuff I think?
sounding pretty great and a nice jump up from stock.
I wouldn't touch anywhere else on the analogue board, the Stillpoints stuff works primarily on digital circuits.
If you add too much it masks the upper freq's and dulls the sound. (as was when I initially used it on the Dac's output Transformer).
So two more mods to do then I'm done on the Dac front:
* Fit better specced, beefier Edcor XS440 transformers to the Analogue board, swapping out the stock TX's.
* Install a quality external regulated linear PSU to power the Analogue stage independently from the digital stage.
(Looking at a Farad Super3, Paul Hynes or the like.)
Meanwhile, enjoying the improvements today's shenanigans brought.
As usual,
took a couple of pics:
Last edited by Gazjam; 11-03-2022 at 17:41.
AC POWER
Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
AMPS
Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
SPEAKERS
Wharfedale Evo 4.4
DAC
PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
TURNTABLE
Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
PHONOSTAGE
Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
DIGITAL
OPPO 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac) - Roon Endpoint, HDMI input used for all things Streaming/ PS5 /AppleTV ... also good for movies apparently?
MUSIC PLAYBACK
Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
Ipad Roon Remote.
Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Dac via Oppo HDMI input/i2s output to Dac.
SPEAKER CABLES
Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - yup, even with biwire it sounds better - and it does)
INTERCONNECTS
All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables
another job tidily done gary.. your getting good at those things now.
Regards,
Grant .... ؠ ......Don't be such a big girl's blouse
I've said it before and I'll say it again: democracy simply-doesn't-work.... ..... ...... ...... ................... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....
FIIO K7 BT, M11 PLUS, BTR7, KA5 - OPPO BDP-103D - PANASONIC UB450 - PANASONIC 4K ULTRA HD TV - PIXEL 6 - AVANTREE LR BLUETOOTH - 2* X600 SOUNDCORE - HEADPHONES INCLUDE, FIIO, NURAPHONES', FOCAL, OPPO, BOSE, CAMBRIDGE, BOWER & WILKINS, DEVIALET, MARSHALL, SONY, MITCHELL & JOHNSTON - 2*ZBOOK'S- MERCURY BD ROM, ROON, QOBUZ, TIDAL, PLEX, CYBERLINK, JRIVER - MULTI HDD'S -
Oh my god! There's nothing wrong with the bidet is there?
“Nothing discloses real character like the use of power. It is easy for the weak to be gentle. Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power. This is the supreme test. It is the glory of Lincoln that, having almost absolute power, he never abused it, except on the side of mercy".
“You see these dictators on their pedestals, surrounded by the bayonets of their soldiers and the truncheons of their police ... yet in their hearts there is unspoken fear. They are afraid of words and thoughts: words spoken abroad, thoughts stirring at home -- all the more powerful because forbidden -- terrify them. A little mouse of thought appears in the room, and even the mightiest potentates are thrown into panic.”
"You don't have free will. You have the appearance of free will.”
“There's a war out there, old friend. A world war. And it's not about who's got the most bullets. It's about who controls the information. What we see and hear, how we work, what we think... it's all about the information!”
***SMILE, BE HAPPY***
That Stillpoints fabric looks interesting Gary. Where would you recommend trying it other than in a DAC?
Main system : VPI Scout 1.1 / JMW 9T / 2M Black / Croft 25R+ / Croft 7 / Heco Celan GT 702
Second System : Goldring Lenco GL75 / AT95EX / Pioneer SX590 / Spendor SP2
Thanks Grant,
Its good fun and always a result when you can eek out more performance from your kit.
Jimbo,
Initially I was tempted to just try it everywhere,
TOTALLY the wrong approach.
Some things I found:
- Less is more, its easy to overdo it and kill the high end.
- Keep it away from anything analogue - digital circuits only.
- The amount of harm on digital components from RFI-/EMI (clocks and the like) seems to vary with frequency, the high end being more effected?
That's why sound gets muffled and loses air at the top end if you overdo the Stillpoints stuff.
- Keep it well away from toroidal transformers - kills the sound.
Where I've used it
As well as on my Dac (as shown) I've used it on my Oppo 203?
Again, anywhere near the transformer or analogue output stage and it deadens the sound.
Each HDMI socket has a dab of the Stillpoints stuff on top of the socket casing, and each HDMI cable I use has a loop taped around the connector.
Improved picture is very noticable.
I've done this will all my HDMI cables, inc. into PS5 and AppleTV - Upgrade your cables!
I'm looking into where else its been used by other folks.
I'm sure on CD players it will work somewhere, not just (I think) on the digital output.
The oscillator and any other bits n bobs related to the clock might benefit.
Its very much a case of trying and seeing what works though, unfortunately.
The Stillpoints ios great stuff if your of the Tweaky mindset, and works great if not over used.
Highly recommended.
AC POWER
Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
AMPS
Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
SPEAKERS
Wharfedale Evo 4.4
DAC
PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
TURNTABLE
Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
PHONOSTAGE
Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
DIGITAL
OPPO 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac) - Roon Endpoint, HDMI input used for all things Streaming/ PS5 /AppleTV ... also good for movies apparently?
MUSIC PLAYBACK
Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
Ipad Roon Remote.
Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Dac via Oppo HDMI input/i2s output to Dac.
SPEAKER CABLES
Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - yup, even with biwire it sounds better - and it does)
INTERCONNECTS
All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables
Wash your mouth out Sir!
in alphabetical order by Artist
(yes, I'm that sad)
AC POWER
Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
AMPS
Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
SPEAKERS
Wharfedale Evo 4.4
DAC
PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
TURNTABLE
Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
PHONOSTAGE
Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
DIGITAL
OPPO 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac) - Roon Endpoint, HDMI input used for all things Streaming/ PS5 /AppleTV ... also good for movies apparently?
MUSIC PLAYBACK
Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
Ipad Roon Remote.
Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Dac via Oppo HDMI input/i2s output to Dac.
SPEAKER CABLES
Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - yup, even with biwire it sounds better - and it does)
INTERCONNECTS
All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables
Ah,
ok Boss, will do.
AC POWER
Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
AMPS
Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
SPEAKERS
Wharfedale Evo 4.4
DAC
PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
TURNTABLE
Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
PHONOSTAGE
Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
DIGITAL
OPPO 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac) - Roon Endpoint, HDMI input used for all things Streaming/ PS5 /AppleTV ... also good for movies apparently?
MUSIC PLAYBACK
Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
Ipad Roon Remote.
Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Dac via Oppo HDMI input/i2s output to Dac.
SPEAKER CABLES
Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - yup, even with biwire it sounds better - and it does)
INTERCONNECTS
All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables
Might have a go with some of this magic fabric Gary. Which are the most critical areas to try first?
Main system : VPI Scout 1.1 / JMW 9T / 2M Black / Croft 25R+ / Croft 7 / Heco Celan GT 702
Second System : Goldring Lenco GL75 / AT95EX / Pioneer SX590 / Spendor SP2