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Thread: Jolida Super Max Extream Mods FX Glass Tube Dac

  1. #1
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: U.S.A. Neo-Socialist Kalifornski

    Posts: 3,262

    Default Jolida Super Max Extream Mods FX Glass Tube Dac

    It started with the power supply being removed and replaced on a fitted bed of Dynomat Extream,and mounted on bushings.
    Then the refitting the PSU with 2 huge JJ caps the rest are Audio Note Kasi .Elna Silnic 2 where not in the path.
    Wire wound resistors Ayden Q cap and big Shockty diode and a better ON power regulator transistor.
    All the resisters in the amplifier section are nude Z foil and Caddocks, all capacitors in the path have been way upgraded.
    Also Audio Note tube sockets and RCA Jack's and the Digital SPIDF is a Canary 75 ohm BNC.
    Internal wire is DHLabs silver wire.
    P.S. Audio power cord, and vibration dampening feet.
    Everything you can do to this DAC has been done and initial impressions are stellar.
    More to come I am at 45 hours burn in.
    The first thing I noticed is how quoit it is now, no noise floor,solid state like black back ground .
    So far is is way more dynamic, bigger sounding over all and very smooth no grain what so ever.
    I will start tube rolling after 200 hours ,the tubes in it now are new tungsol gold pins. The bottom plate had to be raised on pillers to accommodate the big JJ PSU caps. This was a huge undertaking in parts sourcing. It involved a lot of research and weeks spent waiting on special ordered parts.
    The biggest credit goes to Paul Warenycia who was able to de solder / solder it all with out lifting a trace and fit it all back together looking neat and clean!

    THANKS TO :
    Paul W. (retired H.P. Engineer).
    The guys at Jolida for the schematics.
    Dan at Modwright
    Folks on AOS!
    Parts Connexion Team.
    Parts Express
    Michal Percy
    ON semi conductor
    Digikey
    Mouser
    Upscale Audio
    Ebay sellers
    Like I said it was a big team effort that took months to implement correctly this one of a kind ,my take on what the SE version of this DAC would be.
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    Last edited by goraman; 16-07-2019 at 19:19.
    Jeff :UBERTHREADKILLER

  2. #2
    Join Date: Jan 2019

    Location: Kent UK

    Posts: 409
    I'm Martin.

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    You should think about removing that QA pass sticker on the back by the sounds of things .

    Have a go at describing the performance jump over the stock item in % improvement terms.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date: May 2018

    Location: Woking

    Posts: 803
    I'm Chris.

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    Superb. Excellent effort you've put in and the results sound competely worth it. I have the same DAC albeit far less modified. Only changed the caps to Mundorf Evo with upgraded internal wiring too.

    Definitely interested in a PSU mod now.

    Have you considered swapping in some 5755 tubes with adapters? I'm running Raytheon yellow print (reliability controlled) and they absolutely wipe the floor with any 12ax7/ecc83's I've tried in there, and I've tried a lot....

    Great work anyway.

  4. #4
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: U.S.A. Neo-Socialist Kalifornski

    Posts: 3,262

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    Quote Originally Posted by Discopants View Post
    You should think about removing that QA pass sticker on the back by the sounds of things .

    Have a go at describing the performance jump over the stock item in % improvement terms.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    The thing that strikes you first is just how much bigger everything sounds , sorry if this dosent make sense but it is just a larger sense of scale, everything just sounds bigger, faster and more liquid.
    Pure Chello (Amazing grace ) the textures of the bow being drawn across the strings, you can hear the amount of rosin being used at times.
    It is hard to say at what % but it is a significant change in background noise floor and dynamics. Piano keys just ring out with so much more body of tone.It's all just bigger sounding ,sorry but I don't know how else to explain what I am hearing. Mo Musical!
    BTW: you can see a glimpse of the resistors used under the big white Modright cap in the picture below.
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    Last edited by goraman; 17-07-2019 at 04:20.
    Jeff :UBERTHREADKILLER

  5. #5
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: U.S.A. Neo-Socialist Kalifornski

    Posts: 3,262

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    Quote Originally Posted by Opti-cal View Post
    Superb. Excellent effort you've put in and the results sound competely worth it. I have the same DAC albeit far less modified. Only changed the caps to Mundorf Evo with upgraded internal wiring too.

    Definitely interested in a PSU mod now.

    Have you considered swapping in some 5755 tubes with adapters? I'm running Raytheon yellow print (reliability controlled) and they absolutely wipe the floor with any 12ax7/ecc83's I've tried in there, and I've tried a lot....

    Great work anyway.
    I know the Raytheon both black and gray plate (reliably controlled ) tubes very well, I had the 12AT7 /ECC81 . They are fantastic but I have been burned buying these tubes too, they are faked all the time and even the real ones are mostly down to over used or micro phonic duds now.
    There are very few of these left that are real Gems now. I'm done with chasing down rare tubes from unknown sellers for this reason alone.
    Jeff :UBERTHREADKILLER

  6. #6
    Join Date: May 2018

    Location: Woking

    Posts: 803
    I'm Chris.

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    Quote Originally Posted by goraman View Post
    I know the Raytheon both black and gray plate (reliably controlled ) tubes very well, I had the 12AT7 /ECC81 . They are fantastic but I have been burned buying these tubes too, they are faked all the time and even the real ones are mostly down to over used or micro phonic duds now.
    There are very few of these left that are real Gems now. I'm done with chasing down rare tubes from unknown sellers for this reason alone.
    I completely get you. I've come to a similar conclusion regarding some KT88's for two of my amps. I've just retubed them with new JJ's. Firstly because they are readily available and secondly they are surprisingly good, especially the bottom end.

    Do they sound like GEC or EAT's... no, but the difference between them cannot justify nearly 10 fold of the JJ's price! Plus I have no hang ups about wearing them out!

    Luckily I have a spare pair of the Raytheons which I've had for years so hopefully a few more years of great tubes in the Jolida....

  7. #7
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: U.S.A. Neo-Socialist Kalifornski

    Posts: 3,262

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    After some burn in I switched tubes to the Telefunken rib plates.
    Wow! All the bass of the Tungsol gold pins but Wow! what a glorious mid range! so much more thwack / Attack in the snare drum.
    Listening to Dina Krall Live in Paras . Love the drum solo at the end of Devil may care.
    Her voice is so sexy and deep , these Tele's and this DAC are a sultry combo.
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    Jeff :UBERTHREADKILLER

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