Any Digital Impressions of the Caiman yet?

**Getgaff** · 02-08-2009, 15:29

Great post - look forward to hearing more.

Was it expensive having Tirna mod your 7520? The Wolfsen DAC can be purchased for less than £4 + delivery from Farnell...

http://uk.farnell.com/wolfson-microe...716/dp/1354193

... but swapping out the DAC chip is way beyond my capabilities.

**Gazjam** · 02-08-2009, 20:36

Hi Getgaff,
no not expensive at all, the cost was £30 including postage and packaging.

Great service.

**StanleyB** · 03-08-2009, 08:46

If you include the postage to send the DAC to them, that works out at about £40, which is also the price difference between the TC-7520 and the Caiman, with the LM4562NA thrown in.

**Gazjam** · 03-08-2009, 09:00

Your spot on Stan, I forgot about the cost of posting it down there.
£40 all in.

**Labarum** · 03-08-2009, 09:01

Stan is right. Think hard. Standacs sell very well on ebay, so a Caiman could be by far and away the best deal.

I might eBay my 7510 and buy another Caiman - I need one in my flat in Southampton and one in the bungalow in Nicosia.

**Covenant** · 03-08-2009, 09:10

Stan, I think you said that the Caiman (and Wolfson 7520) would only show their full potential with an uprated power supply you were developing.
Is there any more news about this? If you could say when it will be available and details of the differences it would be appreciated.

**Gazjam** · 03-08-2009, 09:16

I'd be interested in this too Stan, I'm currently using the Maplin one, but I know its not as good as the Caiman specific one.

**StanleyB** · 03-08-2009, 09:57

Originally Posted by Covenant

Stan, I think you said that the Caiman (and Wolfson 7520) would only show their full potential with an uprated power supply you were developing.
Is there any more news about this? If you could say when it will be available and details of the differences it would be appreciated.

I'll only know for sure when it will be available after I have a production sample in my hand

.

Stan

**twelvebears** · 03-08-2009, 10:08

Chaps.

I've only had my 7520 since mid-May, I'm currently running the 4032 opamp upgrade and am very pleased with the sound but I would defo have gone for the Caimen if it had been around at the time.

Funds are tight so with eBay/Paypal fees and inevitable s/h losses, upgrading mine is still the cheaper option.

The question is, and Stan has already told me his preference (thanks Stan), is whether to stick with the 4032 opamps currently fitted and just swap the DAC chip for the Wolfson, or also get the LM4562HA with the MLC5/6 mod done at the same time?

Cost differences between the two will be minimal, so it just down to sound/performance.

If the opamp choice is mostly due to bass weight, I may do best to stick with the 4032s as my system isn't short of grunt as it is....

Views please gents?

**Covenant** · 03-08-2009, 10:51

Hi Steve,
I have just received my 'Wolfsoned' 7520 from Tirna this morning and I have the 4032 fitted in the line out with the 4562 in the variable output.
I dont think I should put any comments down until its bedded in for a few days so bear with me Twelvebears

A great service from Tirna by the way so a big thank you to Jimmy and Alan.
I am sure I will use them again soon.

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