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Valab Dac-First Impressions - Page 10

post #136 of 1578
11/23/08 at 10:58pm
Thread Starter 
I would take a look at his ad on E-Bay and pose the question to Kevin himself. His ad does say there is reclocking but does not say how it is implimented.

Phill
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post #137 of 1578
11/24/08 at 12:02pm
DIR9001 is a very good receiver, with very little generated jitter (40ps instead of the 200ps of orther commonly used receivers) but the question is about the quartz: is it a good one or is it a cheap one that could be bettered by other cheap chinese TCXOs available on the web? Who knows? Maybe TeraDak? He's the one saying there's room for improvements there...
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post #138 of 1578
11/24/08 at 2:20pm
Delete. Double post.

Sorry.
F. Lo
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post #139 of 1578
11/24/08 at 2:31pm

I took the plunge

I notice the Valab DAC is re-listed at eBay and 6 are available. I took the plunge and ordered one. I guess US$180 shipped a very good deal and careless what caps the designer will be using, as long as it sounds good to my ears.

F. Lo
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post #140 of 1578
11/24/08 at 2:43pm

Valab posted updated information about NOS DAC

Valab provided the following information regarding caps. This was posted on 24 Nov (Asia-Pacific Time)

Quote :

In order to keep our promise to upgrade this DAC to be world best TDA1543 based USB DAC, We do some upgradation of capacitor usage in this of DAC.
Key capacitor usage list below.

1. First stage filtering capacitors: Three Rubycon XYF 1000u/35v Long Life/Low impedance 105 degree C tolerance

2. Decoupling capacitors for digital circuit chips: Eight Rubycon XYF 25uf/25v Long Life/Low impedance 105 degree C tolerance
http://www.rubycon.co.jp/en/catalog/...inum/e_yxf.pdf

3. Decoupling capacitors for TDA1543 chips: Eight NEC TOKIN 10uf/25v SMD type capacitors, one for each tda1543 chip

4. Adjustive capacitors for voltage regulator: Two Rubycon XYF 25uf/25v Long Life/Low impedance 105 degree C tolerance

5. Analog output output capacitor: Two metal can Tantanium 10uf/16v

6. Digital input coupling capacitor : Two metal can oil filled 0.01uf/200v

I think you can hardly find commercial selling dac use even better parts than this tiny usb dac, even these over $1000usd ones.

DACs ship out after 11-25-2008 will use capacitors listed above.

Unquote.

I have little idea what this means compared to previous versions, but I think this is worth noting.

F. Lo
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post #141 of 1578
11/24/08 at 3:52pm
Thread Starter 
Wow, I just received my replacement dac today and it's already outdated, LOL, It does have Sanyo caps in the power supply, the board is a little different around the power supply, the small caps on the board and the 1543 chips are different but I cant tell what brand they are, the coupling caps are the old Phillips so I didn't get the new russian caps. It does sound excellent though, it is smoother and warmer right out of the box, nice wide soundstage, very good imaging, so far the big difference for me is the smoothness, the first one I had was more ragged. The edge on guitars is gone, so far very nice but I have only had it up and running for a short time so we'll see how it does as it burns in.

Phill
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post #142 of 1578
11/24/08 at 3:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fkclo View Post
Valab provided the following information regarding caps. This was posted on 24 Nov (Asia-Pacific Time)

Quote :

In order to keep our promise to upgrade this DAC to be world best TDA1543 based USB DAC, We do some upgradation of capacitor usage in this of DAC.
Key capacitor usage list below.

1. First stage filtering capacitors: Three Rubycon XYF 1000u/35v Long Life/Low impedance 105 degree C tolerance

2. Decoupling capacitors for digital circuit chips: Eight Rubycon XYF 25uf/25v Long Life/Low impedance 105 degree C tolerance
http://www.rubycon.co.jp/en/catalog/...inum/e_yxf.pdf

3. Decoupling capacitors for TDA1543 chips: Eight NEC TOKIN 10uf/25v SMD type capacitors, one for each tda1543 chip

4. Adjustive capacitors for voltage regulator: Two Rubycon XYF 25uf/25v Long Life/Low impedance 105 degree C tolerance

5. Analog output output capacitor: Two metal can Tantanium 10uf/16v

6. Digital input coupling capacitor : Two metal can oil filled 0.01uf/200v

I think you can hardly find commercial selling dac use even better parts than this tiny usb dac, even these over $1000usd ones.

DACs ship out after 11-25-2008 will use capacitors listed above.

Unquote.

I have little idea what this means compared to previous versions, but I think this is worth noting.

F. Lo
.
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post #143 of 1578
11/24/08 at 5:03pm
Ok, some updates:
I asked Kevin if a chinese TCXO would better the installed one.
His reply is "Precision TCXO get much better improvement than any other parts.
Much better!
But it is too expensive to use it in $180usd product.
My profit even not have $20usd.
So 1ppm tcxo will not appear in VALAB NOS DAC.
I use Japan made 20ppm type now, cheap but reliable..."

Now make your choyce about the TCXO. I already made mine.
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post #144 of 1578
11/24/08 at 5:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kooka View Post
Ok, some updates:
I asked Kevin if a chinese TCXO would better the installed one.
His reply is "Precision TCXO get much better improvement than any other parts.
Much better!
But it is too expensive to use it in $180usd product.
My profit even not have $20usd.
So 1ppm tcxo will not appear in VALAB NOS DAC.
I use Japan made 20ppm type now, cheap but reliable..."

Now make your choyce about the TCXO. I already made mine.
Does anyone know if there's any place we can order the good TCXO so we can install it ourselves?
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post #145 of 1578
11/24/08 at 5:13pm
Phill, that's fantastic about your new dac. If it's not a huge trouble can you post a few pictures and chronicle what cap brand/value is where? Thanks.
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post #146 of 1578
11/24/08 at 5:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by defec View Post
Does anyone know if there's any place we can order the good TCXO so we can install it ourselves?
Digit TCXO on eBay. You should find some.
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post #147 of 1578
11/24/08 at 5:14pm
oh yeah, kevin is sending me some of the russian caps to try. If there are extra's i'll spread the wealth.
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post #148 of 1578
11/24/08 at 6:33pm
Thread Starter 
Hey Defec, what is the best way to post pictures, I've tried imageshack but they don't seem to come out that great.

Phill
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post #149 of 1578
11/24/08 at 6:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tubes View Post
Hey Defec, what is the best way to post pictures, I've tried imageshack but they don't seem to come out that great.

Phill
Photobucket?
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post #150 of 1578
11/24/08 at 7:33pm
i just checked digit tcxo on ebay and it does not exist
any ideas for a reliable precision tcxo clock to replace with ?
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