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Emu 0202 Modification

post #1 of 17
7/29/07 at 6:24pm
Thread Starter 
Hello!

Has anyone modified their Emu 0202? I'd like to upgrade the DAC and output capacitor if there is one. If so, then can you somehow give the location of these parts? and how you did it? Difficult?

Thanks!
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post #2 of 17
7/29/07 at 8:15pm
You really can't just "upgrade" a DAC like swapping opamps in a small headamp. There is a lot of additional circuitry around that chip to make it work, and the number/location of pins and the size/configuration of DAC chips are mostly not the same.

Before you get into something like that......have you ever taken the time to download the data sheets and application guidelines for the existing DAC and the DAC you wish to use to see if they are pin-compatible, etc. etc.? Next, do you understand what is presented in those sheets? If not, then you really aren't ready to take on such a project, I'm afraid.
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post #3 of 17
7/30/07 at 1:30pm
Thread Starter 
you're right. I just looked at the DAC data sheet for the emu 0202 and didn't realize that it was a 20 pin chip. I was under the impression that most opamps were 8 pin chips. What about the capacitors though. That should be easy enough right?

Thanks!
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post #4 of 17
7/31/07 at 12:58am
Do you know more about circuit design than the folks at E-MU? Parts, assembling those parts into the spaces provided on the board--that all costs money, and most of them are there for a reason other than to cut the manufacturer's profit margin unnecessarily!

Modding is justified for people who are truly smarter than the original designers....or at least understand what they are removing and why it is safe to do so.

If the difference between DACs and opamps isn't clear to you, just listen to your gear as the original designer intended......and you may avoid burning up some gear.
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post #5 of 17
7/31/07 at 2:07pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sejarzo View Post
Do you know more about circuit design than the folks at E-MU? Parts, assembling those parts into the spaces provided on the board--that all costs money, and most of them are there for a reason other than to cut the manufacturer's profit margin unnecessarily!

Modding is justified for people who are truly smarter than the original designers....or at least understand what they are removing and why it is safe to do so.

If the difference between DACs and opamps isn't clear to you, just listen to your gear as the original designer intended......and you may avoid burning up some gear.
Yes I do have a good understanding of audio electronics. I have built my own audio equipment and I'm an electrical engineer. I appreciate your concern though.

Now where are the output capacitors and output buffers? Does anyone know?
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post #6 of 17
7/31/07 at 4:09pm
Sorry for my confusion, and I don't mean to be a smart aleck........but wouldn't tracing the PCB traces from the output jack pads to the components in the outputs that you wish to modify be a trivial matter for an EE with a good understanding of audio electronics?

And when you wrote......

"I just looked at the DAC data sheet for the emu 0202 and didn't realize that it was a 20 pin chip. I was under the impression that most opamps were 8 pin chips...."

.........it sure seemed as if you were confusing opamps and DACs. I don't think there has ever been an 8 pin DAC, someone please correct me if I am wrong.
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post #7 of 17
7/31/07 at 11:21pm
Thread Starter 
Deleted
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post #8 of 17
8/1/07 at 12:24am
blap,

As far as I can tell sejarzo was just probing to find your level of competency (pretty darn politely too, if you ask me) and you're berating him and telling him to go away? Not a good start to your Head-Fi career.

My 2ยข, after reading the thread I'm with sejarzo, if you're an EE and frequent builder of audio equipment I'd be much more interested in hearing your opinion on the DAC that's already in there and why you wish to upgrade it or the capacitors. Me (non EE, hack enthusiast) isn't going to be able to offer much other than subjective impressions. I doubt any one has a schematic for the card so you're quickest route to information is one of the following:

1. Try using the search function (it actually works on this forum) to see what you can find in existing threads. My memory tells me that folks have talked about modding this card before but I couldn't point to a specific example right away.

2. Trace the circuit for yourself.

Regards,

Nate
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post #9 of 17
8/1/07 at 5:13pm
The 0202 uses a Cirrus CS4392 DAC, and the only pin-compatible DAC is an older, less capable unit, based on the data sheets on the Cirrus site.

If you want a better DAC, I would seriously suggest spending the extra bucks on an 0404 USB.
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post #10 of 17
8/2/07 at 1:09am
Thread Starter 
thanks, but now i'm just really interested in finding the output caps. I've tried tracing, but I can't trace any of the electros to the outputs. Is there something else in series in between the coupling cap and output?
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post #11 of 17
8/18/07 at 12:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sejarzo View Post
Sorry for my confusion, and I don't mean to be a smart aleck........but wouldn't tracing the PCB traces from the output jack pads to the components in the outputs that you wish to modify be a trivial matter for an EE with a good understanding of audio electronics?

And when you wrote......

"I just looked at the DAC data sheet for the emu 0202 and didn't realize that it was a 20 pin chip. I was under the impression that most opamps were 8 pin chips...."

.........it sure seemed as if you were confusing opamps and DACs. I don't think there has ever been an 8 pin DAC, someone please correct me if I am wrong.
There have been a bunch of 8pin dacs actually, tda1543, tda1545 just to name a few
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post #12 of 17
8/19/07 at 2:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sejarzo View Post
Modding is justified for people who are truly smarter than the original designers....or at least understand what they are removing and why it is safe to do so.
That is one of the most big headed things I have heard here. I doubt anyone here could create the sort of devices the original designers do.

There are reasons they don't max out the performance of their designs, and it is not because they are dumb.

It is for cost effectiveness, and they have to design the products performance to meet a price point.
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post #13 of 17
9/28/07 at 12:12pm
Thread Starter 
So I Modded my Emu 0202!

1. Removed and bypassed the output coupling capacitors from the DAC to the opamps.
2. Replaced output opamps (JRC2067) with OPA2107.
3. Replaced power supply capacitor with Panasonic 3300uF 16V.

Result:
WONDERFUL!! More depth. Warmer. I think the mod that had the biggest impact was the power supply capacitor replacement. Then the opamps, and then the coupling caps.
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post #14 of 17
12/3/09 at 8:47pm
I must open mine and have a look... That's on the list after getting it to play nice with windows 7 on my netbook!

Why wont it install? Argh

***EDIT*** Doh just resurrected a zombie thread by accident! Soz folks!... having a senior moment
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post #15 of 17
1/21/10 at 11:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by justblair View Post
***EDIT*** Doh just resurrected a zombie thread by accident! Soz folks!... having a senior moment
Ha.. ha..

I just replace power cap with panasonic FM and coupling caps with Elna silmic II. Not sure the improvements, but placebo effect is there...
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