Caiman Mods

**Tony G** · 21-03-2010, 01:11

Wondering if anyone has either thought of or tried any mods to the digital inputs ?
Specifically thinking of changing coax connectors for BNC and perhaps fitting a digital pulse transformer.
Any input from anyone on these ideas welcomed.

**leo** · 21-03-2010, 17:41

I changed one of the RCA's to a 75R BNC, one of the nice and useful things with these dacs is that it has no shortage of inputs.
I've not added a pulse transformer on the input yet, choice would be a 1:1 Newava

**sponge** · 22-03-2010, 09:22

Originally Posted by leo

I changed one of the RCA's to a 75R BNC, one of the nice and useful things with these dacs is that it has no shortage of inputs.
I've not added a pulse transformer on the input yet, choice would be a 1:1 Newava

I have been thinking of doing the same thing with BNC's - Can you tell me please Leo, what part have you used (and where from)? It seems to fit very well.

**leo** · 22-03-2010, 18:02

Originally Posted by sponge

I have been thinking of doing the same thing with BNC's - Can you tell me please Leo, what part have you used (and where from)? It seems to fit very well.

I fitted what I had to hand, it was brought from Maplin quite a while ago
code number for the 75ohm is FE31J (the code was still on the packet) http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=1569

The only problem is I had to mess about and find a plastic washer to isolate the metal body from the Caimans chassis, it was just something I had kicking about.
Maplin do a BNC socket which is insulated , unfortunately its 50ohm

BTW the screw for the original RCA now serves no purpose, I just srewed it into a nut to cover the hole up

**Tony G** · 22-03-2010, 19:22

Thanks for that Leo, the Newava is the one I would use since I still have a number of them - minimum order was 10 IIRC.
Have you noted any particular improvement with the BNC socket fitted?
T

**sponge** · 22-03-2010, 20:12

Originally Posted by leo

I fitted what I had to hand, it was brought from Maplin quite a while ago
code number for the 75ohm is FE31J (the code was still on the packet) http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=1569

OK Leo, cheers for that mate - I'll pick up a couple next time i'm passing.

I'm doing this mod for convenience only, not for any sonic gain.

Ken

**leo** · 23-03-2010, 02:40

Just a subtle difference imo with this dac, some of my sources are BNC and the odd one is RCA so I prefer to keep the dac and source sockets the same

**apmusson** · 23-03-2010, 19:14

Hi,

Had a chat with Jimmy from Tirna Electronics yesterday. He is a very nice chap.

I was talking to him about the use of THS4032 opamps in the modded (caps / regs) Caiman. He said that he has discovered a slight instability in the THS4032 feedback loop that manifests itself in about half of the ones he's tested. This shows itself as a distortion in the loud sections of the music. I have experienced this but always thought that this effect was caused by electrostratic damage (caused by my cackhandedness).

He says that he has some ideas how to correct this instability but hasnt had a chance to try them out yet.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting my Caiman back from him tomorrow. I think I'll try it out with my existing LM4562HA metal can opamps for a while.

Ade

**StanleyB** · 23-03-2010, 21:08

The LM4562HA sounds almost the same as the THS40432CD. I use both types of opamps in different DACs.

**apmusson** · 26-03-2010, 16:27

Stan,

I've had the modded caiman running for 3 days now. I am happy with the LM4562HA. I am very very very happy with my Caiman.

Ade

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