My 2019 Update Thread - My final system I think.

[Ali Tait]

Looks like it’ll be high capacitance, which may be an issue in some systems.

[Opti-cal]

Looks like it’ll be high capacitance, which may be an issue in some systems.

Yes entirely possible but can also use a thinner gauge (so less strands in total) I believe the improvement may be due to each strand having its own individual dialectic (teflon) and the increased capacitance is outweighed by the improvement in clarity. As well as the OCC cable sounding better than OFC. I may try some non individually stranded cable at some point (one dialectic) but it does sound excellent in this configuration. As always system dependent potentially.

[Firebottle]

High capacitance to what?

There are two 'plates' to a capacitor, I don't see another one. If you mean between each cable then they are all at the same potential so a non issue IMB.

[Barry]

High capacitance to what?

There are two 'plates' to a capacitor, I don't see another one. If you mean between each cable then they are all at the same potential so a non issue IMB.

Agreed - but maybe the suggestion is that those strands with the clear insulation are separated from those with the coloured insulation, each set then being connected together and the whole used as a two-wire system. Now that would have high capacitance. But capacitance is not much of a concern with speaker cables. Far more important are low loop resistance and low loop inductance.

I'm amused by the belief that the long crystal size achieved by the Ohno continuous cast process is maintained once the wires are plaited together, or bent into a radius which exceeds the wire's natural bend radius. I'm also sceptical about the 99.99999% copper purity claimed; China is known for the often poor quality of copper it produces.

[Firebottle]

Having moved to OCC for interconnects and speaker cable I can attest its superiority for signal transfer.

[Opti-cal]

I'm amused by the belief that the long crystal size achieved by the Ohno continuous cast process is maintained once the wires are plaited together, or bent into a radius which exceeds the wire's natural bend radius. I'm also sceptical about the 99.99999% copper purity claimed; China is known for the often poor quality of copper it produces.

I am amused by the improvement in SQ I'm getting from cables costing a pittance. The copper is not produced in China, I think most of it is mined in Taiwan/Malaysia possibly. Whether their claims of purity are accurate or not is inconsequential to me so long as they sound better, they do.

[Barry]

Whatever works for you is fine by me. Happy listening

(Regardless of where the copper ore is mined, the refinement will be carried out elsewhere.)

[Gazjam]

Interesting cable that Chris, and not expensive either just for the ammount of cable you get for your money.

Similar construction n design philosophy to the Morrow SP7 I use too.
(Individually insulated cores)

https://www.morrowaudio.com/pages/ssi-cable-technology

[Gazjam]

Some more modding schennanigans on the way...
Lining up my next system project, this one should be a doozy.

Similar to what I did with my Oppo 203 HERE:
https://theartofsound.net/forum/show...ajor-Oppo-mods

I'm looking to hot Rod my PS Audio Directstream Dac.

That, along with the Oppo, are the hub of the digital setup and any gains here will lift the whole system.
So will improve a lot of things, Streaming, CD playback, YouTube music, Netflix movies...etc.

I'm looking at:

1)
Upgrading the audio transformers on the Analogue board with beefier, quieter, better ones.
The first (post prototype) dac was originally designed around these specific transformers, but lesser ones were used when it went into production to keep the cost down.

Drop in replacement, Same pin arrangement as the stock one, desolder and fit.
Probably get someone else to do this work, bit above my paygrade soldering skills wise!

Big thread over on PS Audio forums about it, all saying upgrades take dac to the next level.
Should be good. Someone else's pics that's done the Mod.

On their way from Germany, should land sometime next week.

Old Transformers


New Transformers


2)
External linear power supply to power the Analogue board.

Need to drill out hole in back panel blanking plate to fit 4 pin DC power socket, and make up appropriate internal DC cable to sit between socket and jumper on the board.
Will be looking up best sounding hookup wire, connectors n stuff as the Project rolls on.

As to linear power supply, originally thought Paul Hynes, but I don't think they are available anymore, so looked around and found this one.
Best of the rest apparently, and matches the dacs quality well I think.

Farad Super3


https://faradpowersupplies.com/shop/...o/dc_output-5v

It's very well reviewed too.
https://faradpowersupplies.com/shop/...3-testimonials

3)
Synergistic Research Orange Fuse
Have SR fused elsewhere in my system and (to my ears ) make an appreciable improvement.

Wanting to squeeze the best out the Dac...especially as it's had its final FPGA firmware update...is a good plan, and from experience a good fuse can improve things.
Circuit breaker would be better, but cant have everything!

Looking forward to see what comes out at the end.
Wish me luck!

[Gazjam]

Speaking of fuses, this arrived this morning.



Got this for the Audiolab CD transport.

It responded well to better isolation feet and case damping - the usual CD player mods - so this should bring a little extra too.
This fuse gets great write ups, and whilst at £38 its not chump change, if it improves things its money well spent.

A weekend of enjoying my CDs awaits.

Didn't want to go TOO crazy with a fuse for this, better to put a "good enough improvement" fuse in there and maybe improve the digital cable to the Dac later on?

Have replaced fuses with better in a few bits of kit now, and doing this can genuinely make a surprising improvement.
Best of the bunch are SR fuses imo, couple of SR Blacks dotted about and now have a Blue in my Pre-amp.
Swapped out the input 12AU7 valves in my Pre-Amp recently,
with the SR fuse added as well, really hearing what the BHK Pre can do without the bottleneck of a stock fuse in there.

Couple of SR Orange fuses coming next week, one for the big Meridian poweramp, another for the Dac.
Decided to splurge with these two, its good kit, might as well get the best out of it.