Any Digital Impressions of the Caiman yet?

[Peter Galbavy]

Thanks, but the hum was solved with Stan's help - ground the Caiman to the Phono ground. I also moved all the power plugs to a single supressed multiway plug - and now a master/slave one. However, I have two Chinese made 8000M's that physically hum - I was quoted repairs of about £80 from IAG to replace PSUs etc. Hummmmmm. They are fine as PA gear

[roscoeiii]

If by "physically hum" you mean that the hum is coming from the 8000Ms chassis, you might want to look into a product like the PS Audio Humbuster, or Channel Islands XDC-2. Both of these remove DC from your power that can cause shassis hums from toroids. Humbuster worked like a charm in my system. Both companies offer 30 day trials, so if the device doesn't work you can send it right back. Both are around $300 USD.

And not sure your level of technical expertise, but it could just be that whatever is holding down the toroids needs to be tightened. But since both are humming, I'd guess it is the DC on your AC line.

Best of luck in the hum battle. I'm sure glad my hum woes are behind me.

-Roscoe

[Peter Galbavy]

If by "physically hum" you mean that the hum is coming from the 8000Ms chassis, you might want to look into a product like the PS Audio Humbuster, or Channel Islands XDC-2. Both of these remove DC from your power that can cause shassis hums from toroids. Humbuster worked like a charm in my system. Both companies offer 30 day trials, so if the device doesn't work you can send it right back. Both are around $300 USD.

More than the amps are worth This is getting the thread off track, but I will just fill in the blanks.

And not sure your level of technical expertise, but it could just be that whatever is holding down the toroids needs to be tightened. But since both are humming, I'd guess it is the DC on your AC line.

First thing I tried (I got them almost free as part of a Denon 4308 package on a classified ad in another forum) - the toroids are tight. I will however read up on the whole DC on AC thing - I like learning

Thanks!

Now back to the wonderful (really, honestly wonderful) Caiman discussions.

[roscoeiii]

Yes, back to the Caiman. Can't wait to hear impressions of the new PSU.

[sum1]

Just got my Caiman today. Only had about 4-5 hours burn-in for it and my impression is that its smooth but its sort of too smooth that somehow sounded slow and veiled. Currently the Nad C542 cd player is still beating it which i found quite surprising. I'll do more burn-in and see what will happen to its sound. Does the Caiman already have mlc5/6 mod made to it or will i have to do this myself?

The headphone amp somehow produces a little click sound everytime i stop and start a music which is weird since the lineout (fix and var) dont have this click sound. It could only be a particular headphone but i havent tried em out. Oh and it seems like the headphone amp is not shielded therefore you get those mobile phone buzz sound if there one is near it

btw does your unit always defaulted to the usb input everytime you turn it off and on? mine seems to do this.

[StanleyB]

Just got my Caiman today. Only had about 4-5 hours burn-in for it and my impression is that its smooth but its sort of too smooth that somehow sounded slow and veiled.

4 to 5 hours burn it? More like 4 to 5 days at least. But if you are getting a veiled sound from the Caiman through your speakers after a week or so then you have a problem in your system, or your NAD is too bright, i.e. exaggerated mids and strangled bass.

[technobear]

Just got my Caiman today. Only had about 4-5 hours burn-in for it and my impression is that its smooth but its sort of too smooth that somehow sounded slow and veiled. Currently the Nad C542 cd player is still beating it which i found quite surprising. I'll do more burn-in and see what will happen to its sound. Does the Caiman already have mlc5/6 mod made to it or will i have to do this myself?

The headphone amp somehow produces a little click sound everytime i stop and start a music which is weird since the lineout (fix and var) dont have this click sound. It could only be a particular headphone but i havent tried em out. Oh and it seems like the headphone amp is not shielded therefore you get those mobile phone buzz sound if there one is near it

btw does your unit always defaulted to the usb input everytime you turn it off and on? mine seems to do this.

The Caiman is fully cooked at about 200 hours so leave it running with music playing all day and all night for a couple of weeks. Connect the headphones and the amp and make sure the amp selector is set at 'Caiman' (but the amp can be switched off as the signal will still flow through the volume control pot).

The Caiman always defaults to USB when powered up. It's a 'design feature'

I would leave it powered. It uses naff all leccy anyway.

There isn't a piece of hifi kit made that can shield a mobile phone at close range. This is not a fault.

[Marktdac]

What do u lot think of the headphone side of the Caimen?

Gone back to useing my Project headamp as it seems to power my Audio Technica phones a lot better

More volume and better bass

Thanks Mark

[Themis]

The Caiman always defaults to USB when powered up. It's a 'design feature'

Strange... mine always comes back to the previous input...

[Marktdac]

That because u have it permenantly connected to the mains