Gator aid. Or how to get the most from your Gator.

[Gazjam]

Thanks for your comments Werner . The more I develop my products to reveal even more detail at a knock down price, the more difficult it becomes to make users aware that the extra detail might not be what everyone wishes to know about.
Maybe my idea to sell the Gator as an upgrade was wrong. I should have shown how to build it as a DIY project on veroboard instead and let people build it at their own leisure and with whatever parts they want. I don't make anything of note on the project, but it wasn't my intention to make any money out of it in the first place. So I shall pull the Gator upgrade at the end of the month or as soon as the remaining 37 pieces of MK2 boards are finished. So it's back to the passive mod DIY project after that.

Hi Stan,
As I said throughout my posts here, i felt the problem was with my system as 99.9% of Gator owners were extremely happy with the product and I could easily tell the improvment over the passive mod in terms of clarity and 3d soundstage.
I was complimenting the Gator and making sure I didn't give the impression it was a bad bit of kit!

The distortion though Stan..after hearing the comments about the ruthlessly revealing nature of the Gator I went back and relistened to the problem tracks and I can say that to me it definately seems its a gain/freq response problem rather than the nature of the recording.
Which is why I asked you about the Gain mod earlier..maybe its an easy fix?
Alex_Uk said it cured the exact same problem that he (and I) had.

Could be wrong of course, Im a electronics numptie but I just thought it would be useful to post here and look at specific reasons why this could be happening.


After all, its what an online community is for!

The forum here has been great for ongoing tweaking and development of the Dac Stan, so maybe this is an oppertunity to get some good feedback from end users for making the Gator even better!!

Any info on the mod you can point to Stan in earlier threads or...?

Many thanks...
and remember I was PRAISING the Gators improvements!
Just a little niggle with this distortion problem is all, which I thought was ok to discuss.

[Gazjam]

Bummer. Any chance you could give us the names of few problematic tracks? Maybe I have some of the same songs in my library, I wouldn't mind trying them.

Also, I recall that you've been doing lots of Soundcheck's mods to the Touch. I did them too, and with each mod I've noticed how the signal was getting stronger and firmer and more authoritative and more in-your-face. Maybe that too plays into the Gator's over-excitedness? Have you tried doing the factory reset on the Touch? See if that makes any change...

Alex,

Good idea, I'll try the factory reset see what that does.
I agree with the Soundcheck mods doing what you say they did, maybe in combination with the Gator its just too much.

Some testing later.

Problem tracks?
Norah Jones - Feels like home

Anything with dynamic piano in it.

Adele 21 (most of the album)

Anything by Meatloaf (B I G production values really brings the distortion out)

Seasick Steve - Doghouse Music

...lots more but that'll do.

[Gazjam]

I think we need Stan's input here, when he's next around. The "gain mod" on mine (original Gator) completely cured the problem, whereas before it was exactly as Gaz describes, especially piano. It made no difference if I used the variable output set very low, and the amp set high. Gaz - which input are you using on your amp - some have different sensitivity (mine doesn't) on the CD input, which is what I believe the Gator is designed to work with, I understand.

Hey Alex,

It was your post about the "Gain mod" that focussed on what is probably the problem in my system and possibly the solution.

The Dac is usually plugged into the CD input, but I tried the others but all just the same.
Funny though, because a couple of the inputs up the "opposite" side of the circuit board sounded "different"?
Go figure...not even going there!

[StanleyB]

The forum here has been great for ongoing tweaking and development of the Dac Stan, so maybe this is an oppertunity to get some good feedback from end users for making the Gator even better!!

Considering the £2 odd that I make on each board it just isn't worth the hassle any more.

[Gazjam]

Stan.

Would the "gain mod" that you did previously for Alex_Uk be applicable to the Gator 2?
Would this mod reduce the output of the Gator 2?

I ask as this MIGHT be the solution to my problem...
if so, could you supply a Gator 2 board with the Gain Mod applied, with the normal money back guarantee?


thanks.

[StanleyB]

The MK2 has the Alex mod. But why do you ask? I can't find any record of you on my system with regards to any Gator bought.

[Gazjam]

The MK2 has the Alex mod. But why do you ask? I can't find any record of you on my system with regards to any Gator bought.

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showp...6&postcount=65

was a prospective buyer Stan, had the chance to listen to one in my system...
not to worry

[Puffin]

Thanks for your comments Werner
I should have shown how to build it as a DIY project on veroboard instead and let people build it at their own leisure and with whatever parts they want.
.

Yess Pleeeassseee

[Trumpetman]

Oh Dont stop making the gator yet.....

I cant afford a caiman until summer and WANT the gator, cause i need the headphone too... And I know other people too that want it with gator...

[magiccarpetride]

Considering the £2 odd that I make on each board it just isn't worth the hassle any more.

Stan, the consensus is that Gatorized Caiman is breathtakingly superior to vanilla Caiman. Please make the necessary pricing adjustments that will ensure viable business for you, and continue offering the superior product. I'm in discussion with a few people who are looking for a DAC, and in my honest opinion they'd have to go into spending thousands before they could get something better than Gatorized Caiman.