Going Linear with the Caiman

[OLED]

If you have a passive output, do you need to supply 12 or 15 V at all, do you only require the 5 V for the DAC power rail?

[Puffin]

It the PS caps are removed should jumpers be put in their place?

Having given it some thought, I would assume not.

[Ali Tait]

If you have a passive output, do you need to supply 12 or 15 V at all, do you only require the 5 V for the DAC power rail?

Well that was my thought,to try feeding the dac with it's own regulated supply.These are pretty good supplies I've got I think,low ripple.

[leo]

Majority of dac and receiver chips I've tried tended to be quite sensitive to the quality of the supply just as much as the analogue sections, some are much more picky than others so its worth going for the best you can if going to the trouble of doing other various mods too imo

[HighFidelityGuy]

I'd agree with that.
I compared my linear supply to the original Caiman supply on my Caiman that has Murata regs and I could definitely hear an improvement using the linear supply. I could hear more subtle detail in the background and the noise floor seemed to be lowered. I guess the linear supply must have better signal to noise ratio.

The improvements were subtle though and I'm not entirely sure they were worth the money I spent but I think it's worth trying the Maplin CB radio supply Stan recommended.

[Gazjam]

Hey Dave,
your linear PSU for the Caiman, was it a diy job with Teddyregs etc?

ta.
Gaz.

[HighFidelityGuy]

Hey Dave,
your linear PSU for the Caiman, was it a diy job with Teddyregs etc?

ta.
Gaz.

Yep, SuperTeddy reg, 100VA tranny, HexFred bridge rectifier, 22,000uF Mundorf smoothing cap etc.

Here's a not very good photo of it before I'd finished bolting it all together:

[Gazjam]

Thanks Dave!

I'll have a bash with the Maplins one..jeez, just checked their website, have you seen their returns policy!?

basically you cant return it unless its faulty...then you need to get it "checked" before a refund...hmnn.
Reckon the Maplins supply is good enough quality?

ta.

[Ali Tait]

Leo,I'm already feeding the dac with a regulated linear supply.Do you think there's any mileage in using another linear supply to feed 5v to the dac chip directly?

[HighFidelityGuy]

Thanks Dave!

I'll have a bash with the Maplins one..jeez, just checked their website, have you seen their returns policy!?

basically you cant return it unless its faulty...then you need to get it "checked" before a refund...hmnn.
Reckon the Maplins supply is good enough quality?

ta.

No probs.

That sounds a bit dodgy of Maplin. I would have thought that contravenes UK distance selling rules where you're entitled to return the item for a full refund (minus shipping) within 7 days of purchase. I thought that was law. It's supposed to protect you against accidentally purchasing an unsuitable product due to you not being able to actually see the item in the flesh. I'd pull them up on this.

EDIT: Here's a link to the regulations LINK. You want section 3.22 onwards. Basically you have the right to return the item within 7 days of receiving it even if the item is fully working.