Caiman passive output mod revealed

[leo]

As Stan says

BTW gr0001 , can you please pop into the welcome section of the forum before the site owners get you

[OLED]

Afternoon all, sorry I missed out on the threads on upscaling etc, since I asked the question. However, some very good replies in there. I do agree that if it was recorded in 16 bit you can't magic 2 to the 8 extra voltages levels from it, but listening to the Genesis remasters, it does help if things are remastered for the CD format and not so heretical if it is a band member that does it! From this and some of the Creedance Clearwater remasters, seems that there is still a lot of life left in the 16 bit formate.

Cheers Andy

[OLED]

ClarityCaps: was just watching James Taylor & Carole King in concert on BBC4 and the sound was superb, a real sense of you-are-there with audience noise and realistic instruments. These caps are coming on strong now.

That's a very encouraging report Martin!

[MartinT]

I have now put in the 2.2uF 200V AuriCaps this morning, and they're sounding mighty impressive already. Bass is superb - tight and extended. The best I've yet heard from a film cap. Fabulous midrange, too.

I'm getting fed up with the 5-way socket and will be looking to remove it and solder my favourite caps in place soon. ClarityCaps or AuriCaps? Hmm.

[Gazjam]

I'm getting fed up with the 5-way socket and will be looking to remove it and solder my favourite caps in place soon. ClarityCaps or AuriCaps? Hmm.

...or that third (or fourth) film cap that someone else tries and your curious about?

From the spec sheet on the 2.2 Auricap, the diameter looks similar to the Clarity Cap and it looks as though it'll fit inside the Dac case ok?
Any problems here Martin?

Ta.

[StanleyB]

I have been trying THIS ONE
I might buy a few more before he runs out .

[DSJR]

Stan, you're going to have to do a Gator model both with the discrete line stage and with the passive output too on the second set of output sockets.

As an aside, WHY did Sony/Philips settle on a 2V output? I mean, with a passive style of output level, this is about the same as vintage tuners and tape decks.......

[Stratmangler]

As an aside, WHY did Sony/Philips settle on a 2V output? I mean, with a passive style of output level, this is about the same as vintage tuners and tape decks.......

Higher voltage = higher output = more apparent detail in the music.

It's the reason why you have to be so fastidious about level matching when comparing source A with source B - the louder source will always seem to have greater detail retrieval.

[MartinT]

...or that third (or fourth) film cap that someone else tries and your curious about?

Nope, I'll know when I've researched enough and am satisfied. It's been a fun experiment, but I want to close the Caiman up and leave it be.

From the spec sheet on the 2.2 Auricap, the diameter looks similar to the Clarity Cap and it looks as though it'll fit inside the Dac case ok? Any problems here Martin?

Actually they're smaller than the ClarityCaps (23 x 20mm) and fit in easily, especially as they have longer leads. I did have to prune the ends, though, to fit in that damned socket. When I remove the socket I should be able to solder my cap choice in without problems. If I have to slightly open up the PCB holes, I'll destroy the through-hole plating and will have to be careful to solder them both sided.

[StanleyB]

Stan, you're going to have to do a Gator model both with the discrete line stage and with the passive output too on the second set of output sockets.

The idea is that those who need a 2V output with the passive mod performance would be interested in the Caiman. If only the passive mod is required then forking out for the Gator would not be financially sound.