Yesterday I accidentally killed my 2-year old Grados during experimenting with opamp replacement for my PPA. The power offset was obviously too high when I turned off the PPA and then one of the driver was sounding quieter than the other. I noticed that the membrane used in Grado is pretty...

I tried replacing my opamps with LM6171 and THS4061(81) which are more superior(IMO) to the AD8610 chips installed in my PPA. The newly installed opamps(LM7161 or THS4061) work great in PPA having HAL5002 buffers but don't work with Larry's descrete diamond buffer for some reasons The sound is...

I managed to reduce the THD to as low as 0.017% on my TDA1543-based DAC, but these harmonics are still troubling me. They are not random, as you can see, and for 1kHz tone additional 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11kHz tones are visible on the graph. Despite that, the sound is very very good after lots of...

I made my TDA1543-based DAC prototype last week and very happy with the results: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...682&highlight= http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...threadid=35420 Powering it separately from another battery board or 12-24V adapter works like a charm with PPA as...

The Cimarrow Tech. carries BrownDog adapters which look right to host the 28-pin surface-mounted CS8414: http://66.216.121.197/index.asp?Page...WPROD&ProdID=6There are 2 pin configurations available, which one should I select? 1. Pins are installed for SO adapter. 2. Pins are installed for...

Did anyone have a chance of comparing Rekens resistors? I've heard they are superior to even VD metal films in audio applications. Also, what about AVX ceramic caps, are they the same or worse than SMD? The Wima caps are not easy to come by, any good replacement brand for them? And the...

I'm making a part list to assemble DAC based on the Nonoz III. Some capacitors on his website are not brand-specific. I'd like to confirm which ones are best suited for such purposes. Attached is the schematics: D1(STPS1045D) - Schottky diode avail. at mouser, but is there a...

I plan to build a simple DAC using Mr. Kusunoki approach http://www.sakurasystems.com/articles/Kusunoki.html It can be used as an line input for my PPA or a standalone unit. The DAC chip is going to be either TDA1541 or TDA1543(less smoth, needs 2 or 4 for better dynamics). The SPDIF from...

Received my order with OPA637AP and OPA627BP(ground) and tried my PPA with the new chips. Really like how they sound. More musical and lively than AD8610. It's a tiny bit softer in the upper high region, not that there's a cut off in treble sound, just a little laid back and pleasing compared...

Straight 3.5 Switchcraft plugs are now $6.76Cnd for 10 and more, instead of 3 bucks each at the end of March. Is this a general price raise affecting other parts too?

I've decided to further maximize the maxed out version of my PPA by replacing electrolytic caps with Black Gates. The only electrolytic caps used in PPA are C1 and C4. Can someone who already did that help me with the model#/type of the best Black Gates that would replace them? Are there...

After building my PPA, I started looking to replace my 2-year-old SlimX iMP350, which as you all know doesn't have a true line-out bypassing the internal phone amp. The sound is pretty good, but not as good as compared to a cd or dvd player with a line out. I like my iRiver, it has solid...

Anyone knows where to purchase them except Mouser? I have local access to buy NTE metal film ones, which are 1% and more, but they are not the same quality as VD. So I wouldn't want to use them in the sound path for my PPAs. What other brands are comparable with VD, if any?

PPA maxed out version with built-in battery/charger board. It uses 4 buffer chips per channel and will be upgraded to LaRocco DDB pretty soon. Elna Cerafine power caps, AD8610 opamps, Vishay/Dale 0.1% precision resistors, Wima caps, solid-core teflon-insulated 22g silver interconnects, Cardas...

Almost finished up everything, including the connectors, panels and jacks just to discover that the battery board isn't charging the cells. I use 12-AAAcell configuration with 24V Elpa(TEPS in mind). It's Kodak 750mAh cells. The schema isn't too hard indeed, I just don't understand what may go...

Finished up my battery board late last night and when boxing up both boards for the first time in a Hammond case, I realised that it's not too easy to find the best fit. The components are in their way to each other inside the case preventing easy sliding the boards in. I think that the best way...

I've just become a father to my PPA baby yesterday!!! It's in its enfancy stage without case so far, just a board with temporary connecting jacks&plugs sticking out which are definitely going to be replaced with silver interconnects once put in a case together with a battery board. It took me...

Hello, I've decided to build a real power supply instead of using the Elpac one. The Tangent's site has no details yet about it. Someone can help me out with it? Thanks!

I was reading about some issues regarding PR amp and different set of phones, some phones are too sensitive with low impedance which creates problem with the smooth volume for them. Larry fixed that issue by adjusting the gain resistor value for the PR. My PPA will likely to be used with...

Building PPA and am not sure if the 1455N1601 case will fit both the amplifier board and the battery board which I plan to add later. Seems to be high enough to place the battery board below the amplifier, but would like to check before placing another order with DigiKey. Wll it fit with a...

Hello, I'm puzzled by the amount of different markings for Vishay/Dale precision metal type resistors: Mouser.com site has 1001 types for 1/8w prec. metal film: CFM(obsolete)? - only 4 listed. RN55B RN55D RN55E Which ones would be better for using in PPA? Any sonic differences in...

Received my new Etymotic today and extremely happy with the phones. Best details and resolution, though a little less musical than my Grado. Way better than Shure E3, no comparison. The Etymotic distributor located in Toronto named Allan was very helpful and professional. Highly recommend him...