Caiman passive output mod revealed

[Alex_UK]

I just laid them flat as best I could - I suspect they are in danger of blowing the thing up as the legs are unshielded and touching all sorts of bits, but not each other, and nothing else metal... I would take a picture but I fear if I open the case again they'll fly out like a jack-in-a-box!

Been running in for about 12 hours now, having a "Daddy Day Care" day today so will try and have a listen when she has her nap in an hour or two.

[chrism]

I temporarily used some hook up wire to lengthen the legs - twisted and soldered(insulated stuff). One fits at the side of the USB point and the other near the pot. I can close the lid easily.

I suspect that they will be a temporary project and I will eventually end up with something that fits better, does not need extension wires and sounds better than the benchmark grey Rubbies (if it exists).

Regards

Chris

[OLED]

Hi Andy

As I understand it, the muting relay only kicks in when there is no signal lock into the DAC and ensures that no spurious noise emerges from the DAC in an unlocked condition. I don't think the relay enables between tracks as far as I can tell.

Thanks MArtin, that makes sense. Do you know where in the signal path the relay sits?

heers Andy

[MartinT]

Thanks MArtin, that makes sense. Do you know where in the signal path the relay sits?

Only a guess: just before the op-amp board sockets, i.e. in series with the coupling caps.

[OLED]

OK, if that's the case, we'll have to get Stan's definitive, then at least we could connect the output of the caps straight onto the RCA's.

[SteveTheShadow]

Hmmm

been following this thread with interest.

I have a 7510 mk6 DAC and have carried out the wire mod and the passive output mod.
Agreed, it gives a massive leap upwards in sound quality.

Strangely enough the caps I have found to give the best sound in my system
are the humble little red, rectangular 0.47uF, 100V WIMA mkp I bought from Maplin, a couple of years ago for about 50p each.

I've tried Jensens, Mundorfs and clarity caps of the same value, but none were as good as the little WIMAs.

With my 100K amplifier input impedance, they give -3dB point of 3.4Hz, which is low enough for me.

Steve

[Canetoad]

I ordered some 2.2uF auricaps and received an e-mail today to say they're out of stock. Doh!

[MartinT]

Bernie - did you order from AudioCap? Bad luck, I must have had the last two

They're worth waiting for. The best caps I've used as coupling caps.

[Canetoad]

Yep, they should have some more at the end of the month. My ClarityCaps are sounding pretty damned good so I won't exactly be missing not having them. You're comments just made me a bit curious about trying them.

[Alex_UK]

Just intalled Stans eBay recommendation 10uF film cap...

<snip>...a fair bit better actually in transparency and solidity in the soundstage?
Because of this you get drawn into the music with hardly any effort, regardless of what it is.
Also, the bass is awesome. My amp is 50k Ohms and it's a 10uF cap...it goes L O O W..
Good stuff, film caps are better...
<snip>

Doesn't it indeed! Listening to The Prodigy - Fat of The Land (which I'll admit isn't a bass shy recording in the first place...) but things are rattling and shaking in my room which didn't before, including the sofa and me! (I didn't realise my speakers were capable of doing that!)

I'll try some more subtle recordings later (making the most of having the house to myself for an hour or two ) but they do seem something of a bargain - thanks Stan (again!)