Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Computer Audio › Hotrodding the X-Fi: A Layman's Guide (No 56k)
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Hotrodding the X-Fi: A Layman's Guide (No 56k) - Page 11

post #151 of 2165
3/20/07 at 6:52pm
Can I ask why you chose a 2200uF standard Blackgate? Why not a 3300 or 4700uF? These are also available for 16V.
Reply

Gear mentioned in this thread:

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic Card
$99.99 at
See it »
Benchmark - DAC-1 -HDR - Preamplifier / DAC / Headphone Amp SILVER
$1895 at
See it »
Benchmark - DAC-1 Black
$995 at
See it »
post #152 of 2165
3/20/07 at 7:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by db597 View Post
Can I ask why you chose a 2200uF standard Blackgate? Why not a 3300 or 4700uF? These are also available for 16V.
probibly no benefit/ cost outlay.

2200uF is a lot of capacitance, and its being fed DC power, which in theory should be relativly clean with modern switching transistors and vregs etc.

the massive HT amps normally have 2x 33000 uF capactiors running maybe 8x170w DIN or whatever, so 2200uF is already overkill imo
Reply
post #153 of 2165
3/20/07 at 7:07pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by db597 View Post
Can I ask why you chose a 2200uF standard Blackgate? Why not a 3300 or 4700uF? These are also available for 16V.
yes Gilly is right the 2200uF is already overkill.

a 4700uF Blackgate would be enormous and cost more! the general practice is to use something that is 10x the original value. any more than that will probably not yield any improvement. most people use the card with an amp which has a ton of capacitance, so actually with an amp the original value of 220uF is already enough. However, Blackgates have much better specs than Jamicon so the capacitor should still be replaced. I just picked the larger value because for some headphones I don't use a dedicated amp.

btw, there are other good choices for capacitor besides Blackgates, to those who care about every dollar in their wallet. Just be sure to not use too high voltage ratings, since electrolytic capacitors work best near their voltage rating. Thus we would use a 16V capacitor for 10-16V.
Reply
post #154 of 2165
3/20/07 at 7:09pm
Thanks a lot Gilly and cotdt. You've convinced me. I'll be upgrading the capacitor too.
Reply
post #155 of 2165
3/20/07 at 9:13pm
The U.S. Sites I emailed in this thread about purchasing ERS paper and a capacitor, gave no response yet :S. Can Radio-shack order this for me or possibly can I buy a similar Capacitor and ERS paper at Radioshack?

Thanks,
- ReT
Reply
post #156 of 2165
3/20/07 at 9:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ReTiCuLe View Post
The U.S. Sites I emailed in this thread about purchasing ERS paper and a capacitor, gave no response yet :S. Can Radio-shack order this for me or possibly can I buy a similar Capacitor and ERS paper at Radioshack?

Thanks,
- ReT
have you tried that canadian site? they respond within 24 hours usually...

Now for the more crazy modders:
http://www.bursonaudio.com/Burson_HDAM_Module.htm

Reply
post #157 of 2165
3/20/07 at 11:01pm
alright, I finish half of my mod....

I only changed the OPamp

waiting for the capacitor and ERS paper

the problem is.. right after I solder them in.... the sound is very small and it crack and pops

Then after .... I test it three time, try to re solder the join every time....

finally, after removing some excess solder, I finally got the sound fixed'

wondering what cause it though

================================================== ==

after I changed the OPamp, I found that the highs are much more clear, and seems like there is a little more sound stage
well... the bass sounds little different.. but don't know how to describe it
Reply
post #158 of 2165
3/20/07 at 11:33pm
Thread Starter 
congrats! see that wasn't so hard
Reply
post #159 of 2165
3/20/07 at 11:35pm
I received my Xtrememusic today. I was expecting the opamp chip to come as well but it didn't so it looks like I have to wait a little longer to mod it.

For the best music settings with the Xtrememusic, I should just turn off all effects and put it on audio creation mode and turn on bit perfect playback, right? With this, there's no reason to use ASIO or any other settings through Foobar, is that correct?

I hope I get my opamp tomorrow
Reply
post #160 of 2165
3/20/07 at 11:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cotdt View Post
congrats! see that wasn't so hard
well.. yeah, besides the hour that I tried to solve the problem scare the crap out of me

waiting for the second mod
Reply
post #161 of 2165
3/21/07 at 12:32am
Is the 2200uF blackgate polar?
Reply
post #162 of 2165
3/21/07 at 2:51am
yes
Reply
post #163 of 2165
3/21/07 at 4:54am
So do you line up the + on the blackgate to the white semi-circle on the X-Fi's PCB, or the unfilled semi-circle? Sorry, I'm not an electrical engineer...
Reply
post #164 of 2165
3/21/07 at 7:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichB View Post
I put a DVM on these caps and I am reading 2.45 volts DC. It seems best not to short them, right?

- Rich
YEs,i too get a reading of 2.45V DC.The 5V output of the regulator is split to +/- 2.5V to power up the opamps (which is why i replaced the JRC with a AD8620);both work very well with low voltages.

IMO,the JRC4556 is not a bad sounding opamp by any means,just slightly less detailed and airy and warmer.
Reply
post #165 of 2165
3/21/07 at 8:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ]|[ GorE View Post
why i replaced the JRC with a AD8620);both work very well with low voltages.
How does the AD8620 compare against the LM4562 suggested by cotdt? It seems to be a lot more expensive, but it's also more easily available.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Computer Audio

Gear mentioned in this thread:

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic Card
$99.99 at
See it »
Benchmark - DAC-1 -HDR - Preamplifier / DAC / Headphone Amp SILVER
$1895 at
See it »
Benchmark - DAC-1 Black
$995 at
See it »
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Computer Audio › Hotrodding the X-Fi: A Layman's Guide (No 56k)