Caiman PSU

[StanleyB]

it's a sad fact of life that the more I strife to develop a better solution at a lower cost, when compared to other companies, the more I get others trying to badmouth me or trying to cut up my market place. You only have to look at the cost of certain DACs in my sector in the market on sale in the UK, and then compare their prices in other markets around the world where I also have a dealer.
Then you have the case of those who have been re-chipping their TC-7520 and adding the Maplin PSU. By the time you add the cost of the upgrades up, they are more than buying a Caiman fully loaded.

[chrism]

it's a sad fact of life that the more I strife to develop a better solution at a lower cost, when compared to other companies, the more I get others trying to badmouth me or trying to cut up my market place.

Not certain where this is coming from with this Stan. All I have read is how great your designs are and at a great price as well. I thought that you enjoyed others trying tweaks and mods as well - isn't it half the fun?

Calm down young man.

Regards

Chris

[Themis]

So, the PSU is up and running.
Cold, after a few minutes of warming, it sounds better than the stock, but I'll need to get my amp back (it's out for the week) in order to give a more precise opinion.

The headphone amp part of the Caiman, in any case, benefits quite significantly from the PSU: there's a clear increase of musical "truthfulness", as if there were even more details coming up.

Thank you Stan for this upgrade.

[Gazjam]

Uhm,
I only mentioned the Maplin PSU as it was what I was using already and I had read the 7520 could be run (and improved) with the new PSU running at 15.5v.

The Caiman PSU is actually cheaper than the Maplins one: an important distinction. Of course it makes sense to buy that, and I will, but I had a Maplins one ANYWAY, so just thought Id try it.
Turns out it works,go figure.

[Alex_UK]

Then you have the case of those who have been re-chipping their TC-7520 and adding the Maplin PSU. By the time you add the cost of the upgrades up, they are more than buying a Caiman fully loaded.

Except the Caiman wasn't available when they bought the 7520, and want to upgrade without starting from scratch?

[Labarum]

Then you have the case of those who have been re-chipping their TC-7520 and adding the Maplin PSU. By the time you add the cost of the upgrades up, they are more than buying a Caiman fully loaded.

Except the Caiman wasn't available when they bought the 7520, and want to upgrade without starting from scratch?

And as I carefully point out in an earlier post:

Any honest appreciation of the Caiman Supply must compare it with the Caiman DAC running with another competent 15v supply. The extra 3v might alone be responsible for the improvement in the Caiman.

It may be an academic point, for Stan's Caiman Supply will probably cost less than a competing supply. I have an adjustable power supply lying around the house - I used it with the 7510 (at 12v), but will not risk trying the Caiman with it.

[ZebuTheOxen]

Gentlemen.

For those of you who use headphones; How much do they benefit the sound?
I've experienced a bit of clipping on the very busy / transient parts of certain music with the K701s. I have a feeling a bit more juice might be 'enough' to fix it.
I've got a 'Caiman' 7520 (WM8716 / 4562NAs / 10uF caps + 36k resistors).

Thanks in advance :]

[Labarum]

For those of you who use headphones; How much do they benefit the sound?

If you mean how does the new power supply benefit the sound when using headphones my answer is, greatly.

The sound is more full bodied without being overblown, and I believe there is more detail to be heard as witnessed by the dying notes of the piano. (Dampers held off while a chord fades.)

I have noticed no clipping, but my Sony F1s are not as hard to drive as your 701s. I would be very surprised if you got anywhere near amplifier clipping - I would exceed the threshold of pain long before that.

[ZebuTheOxen]

That's pretty much what I wanted to hear, thanks!

It's only on very specific parts of music, and the K701s don't handle harmonic distortion very well anyway - which could be the cause.

Sounds like another step forward :]

[StanleyB]

The TC-7520 needs certain mods done to it in order to work with the Caiman PSU properly. I have agreed with Audio Flair that they can do the mods and include the Caiman PSU. That won't be before end of November though.