FrankenZERO - A bang for buck exploration with a DIY Heart !

[Pricklely Peete]

Originally Posted by les_garten

Hi Peete,
Haven't installed my Kit yet, but I do have a question. I posted a link here with a Vol POT that looked just like my Alps from LC. It was Poo Poo'd as not the same. Any idea where you can get a good Pot to fit the Zero?

Les

I'll see what I can dig up for you...in the meantime use the pot LC sent you....I bet it's the real deal.

Peete.

[les_garten]

Originally Posted by Pricklely Peete

I'll see what I can dig up for you...in the meantime use the pot LC sent you....I bet it's the real deal.

Peete.

Hi,
The LC pot was installed when I got mine. He doesn't cut the shaft though. So, when nibbling mine off, I was a little overzealous and the shaft is short. I may be able to fix it but I don't think so. So I'm looking for a replacement while I do the Cap Mods.

[Pricklely Peete]

Originally Posted by les_garten

Hi,
The LC pot was installed when I got mine. He doesn't cut the shaft though. So, when nibbling mine off, I was a little overzealous and the shaft is short. I may be able to fix it but I don't think so. So I'm looking for a replacement while I do the Cap Mods.

So far I've come up with SFA where that NOS pot is concerned....although I haven't given up the search. I'll post a link to it if I manage to find it ( I ran across the exact same NOS part sometime ago....you think I can remember where though, nope ? ) D'oh.

Peete.

[les_garten]

Originally Posted by Pricklely Peete

So far I've come up with SFA where that NOS pot is concerned....although I haven't given up the search. I'll post a link to it if I manage to find it ( I ran across the exact same NOS part sometime ago....you think I can remember where though, nope ? ) D'oh.

Peete.

Hi,
Thanx Peete, there's got to be some of these out there.

Les

[bundee1]

I think you spotted that pot on that chinese website that manufactures audio chassis and sells jacks and connectors. I dont remember what its called but you posted a link to it before.

[les_garten]

Originally Posted by bundee1

I think you spotted that pot on that chinese website that manufactures audio chassis and sells jacks and connectors. I dont remember what its called but you posted a link to it before.

Peete said it wasn't the same POT. I tried to find out about a week ago how to get in touch with the guys on that site, and it ain't easy.

[Coreyk78]

Well after killing my original DAC board, I got a new one from LC. I decided that I would try the mod again. And I am very happy because I was successful this time! I got all the caps and diodes replaced and added the .047uf k42y-2s I have and started burning it in. The sound is very nice now, the bass feels fuller, I like the changes so far, can't wait to hear what it will sound like once the PIO caps fully mature.

edit- wanted to note where I used some different part choices from PPs kit. I used Panasonic FC for the power supply caps, and Elna Cerafine in the cool red and gold for the caps around the chip. The other caps are Panasonic FM as PP spec'd out originally.

[rouk44]

Hi !

I got a frankenmod upgrade kit from Pricklely Peete (Thx one more time for your share)
It was my first tweaking experience, so it took me many hours, desoldering stock components was the more difficult.
thanks to Sennsay : its post on page 3 was very useful !

After many hours, irritation and swearwords, SURPRISE ! it works

After only a few hours, improve was obvious, however there was at first a little harshness in high treble which disappear quickly during burn in.
"Airing", 3D effect and weight on bass were clearly improved.

But I had a problem, from time to time sound became lower and sizzling; by moving a little the RCA cables, it returned normal.

So I thought, there was a bad solder on the RCA jack, then I desoldered and resoldered many times these damn jacks and the problem was always here.
I broke several tracks, so I made jumpers with components legs.(poor work, looked like a battlefield...).

This story finished by a probable shortcut, a little smoke and the melting of
the 2 resistances underneath the PCB.

I am VERY disgusted, especially as Franken mod was very very promising !

During my attempts to fix it, I have killed some OPA (hope my earth is unharmed), and I'm not 100% sure about the origin of the problem was the RCA !

I am not competent in electronic,
does anyone think I may have damaged components from the franken kit (caps and diodes) ?
I have no tool to check them (just a very low end multimeter).

Perhaps I think about buying just a new PCB (but resoldering frankenkit components with their shortenend legs will be an ordeal)

But if it doesn't work again, I won't identify the failure and run the risk of becoming mad !

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

[bundee1]

I fried something on my FrankenMod by installing a cap backwards. If you want to get plenty of help, take close up pictures of the top and bottom of the dac board, specifically the places where you did work. People here can try to diagnose the problem from those pics. Joyeux Noel!

[sennsay]

Originally Posted by rouk44

Hi !

I got a frankenmod upgrade kit from Pricklely Peete (Thx one more time for your share)
It was my first tweaking experience, so it took me many hours, desoldering stock components was the more difficult.
thanks to Sennsay : its post on page 3 was very useful !

After many hours, irritation and swearwords, SURPRISE ! it works

After only a few hours, improve was obvious, however there was at first a little harshness in high treble which disappear quickly during burn in.
"Airing", 3D effect and weight on bass were clearly improved.

But I had a problem, from time to time sound became lower and sizzling; by moving a little the RCA cables, it returned normal.

So I thought, there was a bad solder on the RCA jack, then I desoldered and resoldered many times these damn jacks and the problem was always here.
I broke several tracks, so I made jumpers with components legs.(poor work, looked like a battlefield...).

This story finished by a probable shortcut, a little smoke and the melting of
the 2 resistances underneath the PCB.

I am VERY disgusted, especially as Franken mod was very very promising !

During my attempts to fix it, I have killed some OPA (hope my earth is unharmed), and I'm not 100% sure about the origin of the problem was the RCA !

I am not competent in electronic,
does anyone think I may have damaged components from the franken kit (caps and diodes) ?
I have no tool to check them (just a very low end multimeter).

Perhaps I think about buying just a new PCB (but resoldering frankenkit components with their shortenend legs will be an ordeal)

But if it doesn't work again, I won't identify the failure and run the risk of becoming mad !

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

OUCH! A sad way to have such promise destroyed. Tell you what, rouk44, why don't you PM me and I'll see what I can do from here, though it is difficult without having the job in hand. Are you able to take any sharp close-up pics of the underneath of the board at all?

I am beginning to think that if one is not experienced with at least some form of kit work, it may be better to hand the kit to someone who knows what they're doing.
I did make it quite clear in the rebuild guide posting on P3 that the tracks are VERY DELICATE. In saying that, I also appreciate that you did find it useful, rouk44, so thank you.

The results from this rebuild are stunning from a musical perspective and fully deserve attention to detail and a good clean job well done and I admit that it isn't really an easy task, even for those of us with more experience.
If you know a tech or an experienced kit builder, then it really is worth asking for help and joyfully handing over a few ales or some cash in exchange!

S-Man

[ccschua]

I think a very important fact for beginners is : --

Dont do all the Franken mod all at once.

Split the mod phase by phase lol.

After u satisfy with the sound then u go. no joke.

my sequence is

1. Power cap at +- 15V
2. Power cap at DAC
3. Power cap at signal level
4. Diodes
5. power cap to the DAC.
6. sausage.

As for the franken mod, I have removed the green sausage to the silmic 2. I like the sound better, more dynamics.

[ccschua]

Originally Posted by rouk44

Hi !
This story finished by a probable shortcut, a little smoke and the melting of
the 2 resistances underneath the PCB.

I am VERY disgusted, especially as Franken mod was very very promising !

During my attempts to fix it, I have killed some OPA (hope my earth is unharmed), and I'm not 100% sure about the origin of the problem was the RCA !

I am not competent in electronic,
does anyone think I may have damaged components from the franken kit (caps and diodes) ?
I have no tool to check them (just a very low end multimeter).

Perhaps I think about buying just a new PCB (but resoldering frankenkit components with their shortenend legs will be an ordeal)

But if it doesn't work again, I won't identify the failure and run the risk of becoming mad !

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

Mine is also a battlefield. However before power up, I make I check the circuit 1 by 1. I took the pain, use the multimeter, check continuity of each joint that I have done. If u are excited at power up before checking, that is the story of frying up some components.

I use a bright light as backlight and check the PCB for all the continuity.

[les_garten]

Originally Posted by ccschua

Mine is also a battlefield. However before power up, I make I check the circuit 1 by 1. I took the pain, use the multimeter, check continuity of each joint that I have done. If u are excited at power up before checking, that is the story of frying up some components.

I use a bright light as backlight and check the PCB for all the continuity.

Good tips, thanx!

[sennsay]

The bright light as a backlight is a good old handy hint, one I've used regularly for years and that's a great reminder cc!

It's also very important for noobies to remember that if you have a problem, don't just plough on regardless! There are several more experienced Head Fiers in this thread to run something buy.

My Frankie is well over the 800 hour mark now and sounds just sensational and in combination with the highly upgraded KHA amp, now designated KHA II, is still reaching small new levels of refinement. KHA II is also a sensation in it's own right, the Black Gate caps and various Nichicon Muse caps, plus the Dales resistors and a couple of PIOs have taken a long time to run in, the BGs in particular took 150+ hours before even beginning to sound really any different from new! At 300 they started to settle in a bit and it's been more than worth the wait, the transparency is fabulous! I mention this, because as a combo with Frankie, they make a dynamite pair of extraordinary value for money! Using Frankie as a DAC/pre, this is as simple as hifi can get and the sound quality is unlike anything I have come across before, so much so that even the word/s hi-fi are meaningless, the music singing and dancing in and around the head with no barriers and all-of-a-piece. By that I mean that separating out bass and treble etc is basically impossible, the whole sound just taking on a wholeness that belies the fact that there are electronics recreating the musical experience. And THAT, my friends, is really really special and a rarity even in the high end. Maybe especially in the "high end"!
My experience has found that such a lovely thing is far more common in the lower echelons of our wonderful .. um .. hobby.
To add to this experience, I've FrankenModded my Plinius IIC pre-amp with PIOs and Black Gate and Nichicon power supply caps and this too has transformed into something way beyond it's stock form, though also taking well over 300 hours to even begin to take on it's new sound signature. The wait has again been worth it, adding even more grip to the bass, image focus and a sense of limitless power while remaining extremely transparent. There are obviously some benefits to having the IIC as a buffer, though for that ultimate sheer freedom-from-electronics feeling, just Frankie and KHA together are nigh on unbeatable, being just a tad softer in it's imaging. Both are as addictive as all-get-out!!
PP and I will be sharing more about this combo (Frankie and our respective KHAs) in a posting together in a while, when we can get our s ... elves together.

[sennsay]

Removed post, posted it twice by accident. Heh heh.