Hotrodding the X-Fi: A Layman's Guide (No 56k) - Page 136

Repairing

Hello everyone, this is my first post.

Two days ago a friend of mine gave me his X-Fi XtremeMusic SB0460, because he tried to swap the opamp and managed to rip out every pad except pin 1 (output), pin 4 (V-) and pin 8 (V+). Luckily, I found a picture of the traces of the opamp in this thread, and so I tried to solder the opamp legs to the correct pads with some very thin silver wire.
After doing that and getting no sound at all, I figured out, that R90 and R73 were broken. Luckily, both are just 35 Ohm output resistors, so I decided to bypass them. Incredibly, after putting it back in, everything worked perfectly.

After that, I replaced C177 with a BC 2200µF 12V low-ESR cap. Also, since I don't use the AUX in or 10 pin connector, I decided to short C18, C19, C21, C22, C48, C49, C102 and C104, which are all in the audio path, and C23, C50, C76 and C77.
The improvement after this was just amazing. The bass got a bit tighter and the detail and resolution really improved.

Thanks to everyone posting in this thread.

Here are 2 pictures (yes I know, the opamp job is really messy, but it's working ;-) )

After performing the mod as described by the OP, my sound card stop working intermittently.

Any possible explanations?

After performing the mod as described by the OP, my sound card stop working intermittently.

Any possible explanations?

reflow solder joints to pins tbh

I have been modding my X-FI.

But RMAA tests are disturbing. Right channel gets harmonic distortions, many harmonics. How is the op amp channel order??

is left pins 1.2.3.4 and right channel 5.6.7.8

I had solder pad 3 ripped off, so I had to run a wire to decoupling capacitor nearby. But I think it is the left side, so why there are distortions on the right channel!!

The op amp is AD8620 and it sounds good, but I want excellent RMAA results!

How to make a DIP8 socket mod to SOIC pads. I have not yet figured it out. It would help op amp rolling a lot.

i have an elite pro and there is a stereo receiver hooked up via the analog method.

connected to the receiver are some speaker cabinets with a twelve inch woofer in each cabinet.
i ported the cabinet and gave the box a tune well into the 20hz area.
the midranges are the famous peerless/nht NPT-11-081-1 drivers.
the tweeters are stillwater design (kicker) from the early 1990's era.

i use the receiver EQ to give a 3dB boost at each of the crossover points.
then i used my calibration microphone and trueRTA to calibrate the pink noise response for my room.

the problem i am having is the need for lots of boost in the 30hz area.
my EQ 31hz slider is at 10.4dB and the 'bass boost' within the THX console is set at +12dB @ 30dB (small speaker)
there is distortion from the soundcard when trying to push songs with lots of low bass.
i can play a 30hz sine wave in trueRTA and the sound is fine (although still a low audible level)

and then if i try to enable anything fancy like 24bit crystalizer, the sound really distorts (bass AND midrange)

i am wondering why the card is distorting.
i really dont think there is a lack of processing, so that leads me to believe there is a lack of power on the PCB board somewhere.

so i started to think about this mod and i wonder if changing any of the capacitors would help my situation.

i've setup my THX console with the proper angle and speaker distance to try and clear up the standing airwaves in the room.
this room has no carpet, tile floor, and no fabric on the walls (painted wood paneling)
no fabric in the room either except for one moon chair that is wrapped in corderoy.
i would think that the 30hz would be more audible.

if i turn down the soundcard preamp level to -6 the distortion goes away but then the audio is low and i have to crank the receiver up to a point where it is probably clipping.

i just want the bass to be more audible without any distortion.
any engineers or people who have changed the caps care to englighten me?

I have the original card in this thread that started the craziness. COTD did the mod for me after he had done something similar on an EMU. I have never had one issue with this sound card. I absolutely love the sound. It is running into a Bijou Tube amp made my dBel, using Ultrasone 2500's. Absolute synergy. The Ultrsones are a little analytical and the ERS Paper and blackgate really work together to make these cans sound spectacular. Warming up the sound a little without loosing the fidelity.

The Bijou is a beast of an amp. It is a very tubey sounding amp which also seems to just work right with the headphones. I am still in audio heaven, I wouldn't change a thing!

I have the original card in this thread that started the craziness. COTD did the mod for me after he had done something similar on an EMU. I have never had one issue with this sound card. I absolutely love the sound. It is running into a Bijou Tube amp made my dBel, using Ultrasone 2500's. Absolute synergy. The Ultrsones are a little analytical and the ERS Paper and blackgate really work together to make these cans sound spectacular. Warming up the sound a little without loosing the fidelity.

The Bijou is a beast of an amp. It is a very tubey sounding amp which also seems to just work right with the headphones. I am still in audio heaven, I wouldn't change a thing!

Hello dear music enthusiasts.
I did modding the xfi Elite Pro, I changed the 5 op-amps with L49720, capacitors with others better, but I have a little problem, namely the front left channel is plays a bit slower than the rest of the channel, rebuilt soldering capacitors, the same result.
Is it possible that the op-amp front has some problems? was there a cold soldering? or is it broken?

Is there any benefit in modding my X-Fi if I use optical out to an external DAC?

absolutely not

For DSP caps might be, but for opamp and the decoupling caps no.

anyone ??!!