EMU 0404 USB Modding FINISHED!

I want to mod the 0404 USB like they have been doing for x-fi's and the PCI EMU boards for years. There's pictures in the computer source thread of the internals. I have 12 ad8599's coming as samples from Analog Devices as I'm in university still. From the look of it, this thing has 11 opamps, not sure if I need to even replace all of them but I'm getting 12 just to be safe. I also want to replace capacitors, this is where I need the most help. I'm not sure which ones to replace, and if all of them (I think theres about 16 of them), I'm not quite sure which types to use (same specs or higher?) and whether to use different ones for the power stage (not quite sure how to identify which caps are for audio or power at this point, either).

So far, I've found a fairly easy mod that I did today that noticeable improves the sound, it's smoother and dare I say a bit more fast and dynamic and even removes most of my background noise. I replaced the wall wart power supply with a linear regulated, higher power one:

Jameco Electronics Power Supplies & Wall Adapters: VARIOUS : DV51AAT

the plug needs to be replaced with another size though (1.7mm ID x 4mm OD):

DC Conn 1.7mm X 4.0mm R/A power cord - Ace Electronics

Thanks for all your help!

BUMP!

DONE:

-Replaced PSU with linear regulated version [stated from 1st post]

-Op-amp rolled 3x AD8599's for headphone and line-out stage, I accidentally ripped out a few legs so I bypassed them with solid silver wire outfitted with teflon tubing

-Replaced analog capacitors with Blackgate FK Series (2x 22uF/16V) for headphone and C series (5x 47uF/50V + 2x 10uF/50V) for line-out

-Replaced power capacitor with large FK series 220uF/100V

the caps were so large it had to be put it in like so (looks like a bouquet of capacitors; nerd romance lol), but it still sounds awesome:

lol yeah the top fits back on, with exactly enough room!

for the large cap I used the largest capacity I could fit from the FK series, the headphones caps (2) were direct replacements, the line-out caps were C series for decoupling and are the same values except the V are much higher (which doesn't harm it in anyway).

the jumper wires are because I ripped some pads out while trying to remove the old op-amps (they op amp legs so small and hard to cut).

I did the power supply upgrade first, then everything else at the same time later in one large soldering job. I did use higher uF blackgate FK series on the line-out's at first but it sounded too dark (although very rich) so I opted for the stock values. I no longer hear any noise in the background either, like when nothing is playing there is no sound at all anymore.

after about 24 hrs of playback, there were a few differences in RMAA graphs but not much as the EMU 0404 USB already had excellent characteristics from stock, however the sound is quite the improvement!! the head-phone out sounds really nice now (instantly notice the improvement) to the point where I find myself using headphones more and more (which also has to do with me liking to hear music at louder volumes which isn't always a good idea with speakers).

You can definitely hear the characteristics described for the AD8599, as in it brings the sound forward, including those subtle sounds with great detail; definitely smoother and warmer than the stock nj2068's. How much warmth I couldn't tell you as I put the blackgates in at the same time.

As for a picture of the power supply, it's not that appealing, it's just looks like a shrink wrapped connection of the two cables, the rest is identical to the pictures from the websites I linked on the first post:



Oh, and btw, what is listening fatigue?

LOOOL yeah I know, I was just being sarcastic because I don't recall getting it anymore