jgarner71 = by any chance are you finding you need to drive your amps a bit harder to get the dac to sound right with these mods?
Posts: 20
jgarner71 = by any chance are you finding you need to drive your amps a bit harder to get the dac to sound right with these mods?
Last edited by fault151; 10-03-2009 at 14:03.
Hey, you can call me James. It's hard to say really. I can barely turn the dial on my amp as it is. I was using the WIMA's before and though it seemed louder (more forward) then.
I'm actually trying to go for a slightly relaxed, but fast and detailed sound, if that makes any sense. I don't want the musicians to sound like they are in my living room, but on a virtual stage behind the wall. But no DSP junk. I thought Stanley's DAC did this very well right out of the box.
I've been running it in for about 24hrs in it's current config now and I'm not frowning to say the least!
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James
Denon DCD-755AE (Power supply mods, used as a transport)
PS Audio Digital Link III (Power supply mods, Audiocom Superclock 4)
Tricorp TRV-35SE (V-Cap Teflon and Wima MKP10 caps)
KEF IQ5 (Bennic XPP caps and Jantzen MOX resistors)
Yamaha YST-SW225 subwoofer
Cables: Transparent Premium Powerlink, PS Audio xStream Prelude, Mark Grant DSP 2.5, Audioquest King Kobra, Audiotrak Glass Black
Posts: 20
Hey, mine ssems to sound detailed, but i swear i can hear distorion and noise. Stan seems to think it may settle down over time. Or it could be that it's picking up lot's of detail. I'll shall see.
I haven't modified the two caps next to c5 + c6 like you have. But in might.
Are you doing anything else to it?
Looking good chaps
Be careful with AD8066's, these can oscillate in some circuits, a tell tale sign is they go hot to the touch
Wima's, hmmm well I never got on with the FKP or FKP2 Wima's, I once tried them in the filter for my Sabre dac, highs had a sort of spitty quality which never went away so I changed them to some Evox low inductance, the spit was gone
I've noticed a few use Nichicon FG, these are reported to take quite a lot of burning in, frequencies may seem to be all over the place before they have had chance to form.
Audiograde parts are a real pain![]()
Posts: 20
I hope that is what is wrong with mine.
leo when you say the sabre, do you mean the buffalo sabre dac? From twisted pear audio?
Posts: 20
Cool, id love to see some pics! i too have the buffalo +the opus with metranome. What do you think of the sabre as a stock unit? What have you actually done to yours?
I haven't got a scope, i'm going to have serious check and see if i can spot anything. I'm tempted to send it to one of you guys for a second opinion on the sound.
If you had a scope you could check the chip for any instability problems, oscillation can be clearly seen on a scope
Does the chip feel physically hot to the touch? obviously be very careful if trying that, if your not comfortable don't do it
I started a thread here for the Buffalo http://theartofsound.net/forum/showt...?t=1152&page=4 ,
I'm currently playing about with an output stage.
This dac is now my main reference which others are judged against
I've only heard the 7510 Mk6/4 with Mod21, I may pick one up if I see any going dirt cheap, mainly just to mod etc and start a new thread in the diy section , the Buffalo is keeping me busy at the moment
Leo,
I'll send you my modded 7510 down for further analysis if you like. Costs covered of course.
Naim ND5 XS, nDAC, XP5 XS, 202, HC, NAPSC, 250.2, B&W 804s.
AVR350, B&W HTM4, Gallo.
Samsung, Oppo.
Posts: 20
Wow, just looked at your pics, you have been busy! Id love to hear it compared to mine as a stock unit. I see you also have a slee solo. I seem to remember chatting to you a while back on rock grotto forum.
What is your main amp you run this with?
If the scope isn't expensive, i'll get one and give it a try. I'll test the heat coming form the op amp tomorrow and let you know. I'm pretty keen to get it sorted.![]()