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Review: ZERO 24 BIT/192KHz DAC/Headphone Amp/Pre-Amp - Page 54

post #796 of 9242
1/16/08 at 4:13am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamato8 View Post
Has anyone tried the LT1364 in the DAC, and two LT1469 in the headphone amp?
I'm doing the swap right now.
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post #797 of 9242
1/16/08 at 4:14am
I've searched this thread & found some results for ebay seller snow48_6, but nothing conclusive. Has anyone ordered from them & had a successful transaction? How was shipping time? As it is not from Lawrence, is this a genuine Zero Dac? Is it the upgraded version & what's the deal with the green caps vs blue box caps?

Thanks for any info?
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post #798 of 9242
1/16/08 at 4:20am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamato8 View Post
Has anyone tried the LT1364 in the DAC, and two LT1469 in the headphone amp?
Ok, Opamps in place. Lossless WAV, X-Fi optical to Zero, DAC out to Super-T amp. I can't turn the volume up on the Super-T much, the wifes asleep, but, what I can hear sounds pretty good. The Headphone amp, with HD-580s in, sounds excellent! Full spectrum, dynamic and bass that is low and tight and has great impact! Where did you dream up this combo?? From other swaps?
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post #799 of 9242
1/16/08 at 4:29am
Another question (other than 1 above about ebay seller snow48_6): how do you think synergy would be with LD MK III & D2000? I listen to music across the spectrum, but not rap/hip hop/metal.
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post #800 of 9242
1/16/08 at 4:34am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mapstec View Post
Has someone tried to trace the circuitry of the Zero?

When I look at the layout and the fact that you can not listen to the headphone out when the external DAC out is active I thought that one of the relays at the back of the Zero is responsible for routing either to the external out or to the headamp.

Now I wonder about the various wires between the main board and the amp board:

I believe that the three stranded wire is the power supply and that leaves two sets of four that very much look like two stereo connections.

Now one I would understand: from the Dac to the headamp for amplification and then to the headphone socket.

But what about the second pair? Does it go back from the headamp to the main out? I am not good enough to deduce it from the layout.

Anybody any ideas?

I don't want to to try and unclip various wires to see what then does not work anymore....
Maybe this info can help too. Earlier in testing, we found out that the mainboard Opamp has a sonic impact on the headboard output, but the headboard Opamps have no effect on the DAC output. Rather like a one way street.
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post #801 of 9242
1/16/08 at 4:34am
Sorry double-post
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post #802 of 9242
1/16/08 at 4:37am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dantztiludrop View Post
How do you think the synergy would be with the Zero, LD MKIII & D2000 (opamps aside for time being)?
Sorry, I was swappin stuff. My Zero with stock Opamps in it had great synergy with my MKIVse. I would say the MKIII should be in the same boat at least!!
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post #803 of 9242
1/16/08 at 7:39am

Careful

Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum View Post
There is your million dollar idea! Home spray freshner that smells like new electronics! Every audiophile would have to buy some!!!
Be careful now, I took out a patent on this very idea years ago. I have yet to do anything about it though.
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post #804 of 9242
1/16/08 at 8:39am

Some opamp combinations to try?

Dac / Amp :

LT1358 + LT1469

LT1469 + LT1358

DY2000 + LT1469

LT1469 + OPA2132

AD8599 + LT1361

LT1028 + LT1361

LT1028 + LT1358

AD797 + LT1469

AD797 + LT1361
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post #805 of 9242
1/16/08 at 8:42am
How's LT1364 + LT1469 going btw?
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post #806 of 9242
1/16/08 at 8:57am
Any suggestions for smooth and neutral op-amps?

I'm looking for the best synergizing op-amp combo for both dac/amp for DT880 and maybe another or the same op-amp combo for MS2i.

The op-amps must have a very smooth treble and a very present and almost liquid midrange for the dt880.

For MS2i, I think something very transparent, natural and rich would be best. Any suggestions?

I'm thinking maybe DY2000, but it is slightly expensive. Also very interested in LT1057 and LT1028.
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post #807 of 9242
1/16/08 at 9:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Henmyr View Post
Any suggestions for smooth and neutral op-amps?

I'm looking for the best synergizing op-amp combo for both dac/amp for DT880 and maybe another or the same op-amp combo for MS2i.

The op-amps must have a very smooth treble and a very present and almost liquid midrange for the dt880.

For MS2i, I think something very transparent, natural and rich would be best. Any suggestions?

I'm thinking maybe DY2000, but it is slightly expensive. Also very interested in LT1057 and LT1028.
All the LT opamps are smooth, and mostly neutral. All have beautifully smooth and colorful midrange with lovely presence.

The LT1469 is one of the softer LTs, yet is very very clean. The LT1361 should pair very well with it, as the LT1358. In your place I'd probably try with the LT1358/1361 in the Dac and the LT1469 in the amp.

Also the LT1028 is smooth and pleasant, it's definitely worth trying in the Dac.
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post #808 of 9242
1/16/08 at 9:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by charley phogg View Post
Good to hear you like it. I've been following this thread from the beginning as it's one of the dac's I'll be considering for my next upgrade after my Green comes. Going to be a bit before I can do that though, and I'm unsure if I'll go this route, or hold off and just go direct to a higher end dac. But I do like hearing the improvements as I move up the food chain and think it will be fun in modding and rolling opa mps. Guess it really depends how soon upgradietis sets in after my new baby comes.
Well i can tell you i think you will love the Graham slee amp, I do! I went round to grahams to listen to it before i made a purchase and i have to say i was really impressed with all his gear. I tried loads of music through various items he had made including the new voyager portable and i loved the solo! I went round with the intention of buying the voyager but left with a few hundred pounds lighter buying the solo

At the minute i'm burning in the dac and using the opa 627 in the dac and the LT1364 in the headphone amp section. Both are upgrades on the original spec and it shows. I left it playing away over night coming up to 25 hours and already i like the sound. I can't help having a quick listen to the solo via the dac every now and then.

When did you order your solo?
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post #809 of 9242
1/16/08 at 9:16am
Quote:
I've searched this thread & found some results for ebay seller snow48_6, but nothing conclusive. Has anyone ordered from them & had a successful transaction? How was shipping time? As it is not from Lawrence, is this a genuine Zero Dac? Is it the upgraded version & what's the deal with the green caps vs blue box caps?
I ordered one from him on 3rd Dec and received it on 30th. Pretty good I thought considering Xmas. No UK tax to pay either.
Sorry I'm not into taking it apart. It sounds very good to me as is. I use HD650's with it and as a DAC for my Squeezebox.
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post #810 of 9242
1/16/08 at 9:57am
One opamp combination that should be quite good for all seasons is LT1469 + OPA2132. But I'd make sure you get the OPA2132UA and mount them on Browndogs, the reason being that this opamp series has recently been revised which I'm only sure about for the SMD versions (in fact the OPA132P and PA are now labeled "obsolete").

Alternatively to the OPA2132, you may very well use the DY2000.
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