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

[Covenant]

No no no Stan, keep the mods coming, money is not the issue honestly.

[Canetoad]

The innards of my Caiman after yesterdays update.

[brian2957]

Don't know about you guys but over the years I've discovered that over a period of time , sometimes months , sometimes years , my ears seem to get 'used' to the sound of my system and I start to look to improve the performance . That's when 'upgradeitis ' begins to take a grip . TBH if I can keep getting the improvements that I get with Stan's upgrades I will be more than happy and probably much better off . I've spent a lot of money in the past to achieve much smaller upgrades in sound than I've ever spent on one of Stan's outstanding modifications. IMHO Stan's DACs and mods are fantastic value for money . Long may it continue.
Brian.

[brian2957]

The innards of my Caiman after yesterdays update.

Thanks for the Photo Bernie , I'm waiting for a new board to arrive in the next few days . This may come in handy.
Brian.

[DaveK]

DaveK-I guess when you add it up, over a few years, we have spent a few bob on our 7520's. Think about it:
Wolfson dac chip
Murata regulators
Silmic capacitor upgrade
Gator board
Gator Simic upgrade
15v linear supply

My memory is hazy over the price of individual parts but I would guess about £200 in my case. Was the 7520 about £150? So I wonder what you could get for £350 now? It wouldn't buy you, for example, a Rega or Mdac which ours must be very close in quality to.

And don't forget the op-amps we've rolled - most not costing mega-bucks but they all add up. My most expensive (and sonically rewarding) are a pair of round metal 111s on a two-into-one adapter - ridiculously expensive ATM but I managed to get mine for a reasonable price. And then there's the expensive (damp seal foil with mastick ) case dampening that I did, a more subtle improvement. And I had a shielded 2 core power lead made up, by the usual suspect, from JLH RE to B-DAC.
All done seperately so it doesn't have an immediate impact on the wallet.
Dave.

[DaveK]

No no no Stan, keep the mods coming, money is not the issue honestly.

Plus one for the above comment Stan, from me. When things get tight at our end of the wealth spectrum, as they regularly do, thanks to the 'experts' we somehow finish up with running the country and it's financial system, what we need is value for what little disposable cash we have. Your products fit that description admirably IMHO. Great 'sound per pound' return, so please keep up the good work .
Dave.

[StanleyB]

And there was me busy designing the Bushmaster to be almost upgrade resistant .

[howlindawg]

And there was me busy designing the Bushmaster to be almost upgrade resistant .

Don't you dare, we'd never forgive you!

[Gazjam]

Sadly, too often in the world of hi-fi audiophilia, it is, but folks like Stan are doing their best to prove that it does not have to be.
For my part, my soon-to-be-modded Caiman/Gator is fed by an ex-eBay (el cheapo) linear PSU through a small regulator module (made on breadboard by a member here) through a JLH Ripple Eater, (total cost really was 'peanuts') and I'm very happy. As and when the modded B-DAC lifts it a little higher I shall be even happier .
Did I mention I am born and bred in Yorkshire?
Dave.

Sure there's a bit of Glaswegian in you Dave....

[Gazjam]

aka a born and bred cheap bastard


Hmm still trying to get to grips with the "stereo types"... here I thought that scotsmen were considered the notorious penny pinchers

Hey watch it or I'll "set aboot ye"!