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  1. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

      Bit more complicated than it looks. For one, you're replacing TWO original op amps with FOUR OPA627's using a BrownDog adapter. Here you can see one OPA627 mounted on top, and what you can't see is another below. It's hidden by the extension pins. You need those so the bottom op amp clears...
  2. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Pretty please to all new owners ... do mention what options you got or if it's a basic unit. The OPA627 and GE tube upgrades make a major difference in the sq ...   Also, if you're running low impedence cans ... Maverick did play around with the basic gain quite a bit before settling on...
  3. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Quote: http://www.mav-audio.com/store/index.php/tube.html   Both the tube and op-amp upgrades make for significant improvements but are available separately. There's a lot of different op-amp upgrades you can make, but the OPA627s are a strong contender for top honors without having...
  4. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Now that you mention it, I remember having tracking and all that on the D1, but not on the D1+. Huh. Maybe trying to save a buck and pass it on, what with the cost of shipping going out of sight lately ...   Anyway ... ordered mine Dec 20 and had it in hand on Jan 3 ... not bad at all for...
  5. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Way I understand it, the unit is infinitely variable and able to drive up to around 600ohm based on the position of the volume (gain) control. I do know that Maverick has modded the design several times over the course of production to address hum issues with extremely low impedance cans. They...
  6. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Can't imagine why not - they both use the same op-amps and look to have adequate spacing available to cram them in.   I'm waiting for the mad scientists to come up with substitutes for the OPA 2604 that was added to the mix... way I hear it, that's strictly to offload IV conversion from the...
  7. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Quote: The tube output makes a major difference in the sound, and each tube will "color" that sound and add a unique flavor. Same with op-amps.   Just don't become a tube whore like me ... <G>     I switch to the standard analog out every now and then just to see what I'm not...
  8. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    This just in for all you folk with the volume control questions.   The volume control is disabled for the analog out from the factory, BUT ... it can be enabled by switching a couple jumpers on the main board.     Those jumpers basically replace the bypass switch that was on the D1...
  9. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Lest we forget the analog in ... that's why I went with the D1 in the first place, and why my upgrade path was to the D1+ instead of the D2 ... I really like being able to drive my turntable thru an external phono stage and then the tube out. Adds a real mellow vibe to it. If I had a complaint...
  10. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Mods: We need a new section in this thread for the D1+ ... it's a whole nuther aminal!   Short answer ... the D1 is NOT upgradable.   Short answer ... I for one couldn't resist. <G>     Got my shiny new D1plus the other day and have around 30 hours on burn in. Basically fired...
  11. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Oh. I did make one other mod to my D1 ... dremeled off the lower flanges on the top. No amount of bending and tweaking loosened it up to where it'd slide on and off without a struggle. Probably not an issue for most, but with my rolling habit, a good thing.     Pops right off now and...
  12. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    I can't give you a head to head comparison as I went with the upgrades right out of the factory after reading other user's reviews. What I can say is that the OPA627 op amps are highly regarded, and the upgrade price is very reasonable if you price the individual components. Maverick also does a...
  13. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    ooooOOOOoooohhh ... shiny!   Also got me thinking about doing a bit of rolling myself. I saw some rave comments about using a metal can op amp (49720HA) and bookmarked that as a possibility back when I was researching DACs. Supposedly much quieter and "black" because of the additional...
  14. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    ooPs !!!   http://www.analog.com/en/precision-op-amps/high-supply-voltage-amplifiers/ad823/products/product.html   Looks like the AD823 AN is obsolete and out of production. I checked Mouser, and they don't got it. I'm sure they're out there somewhere.   Anybody??   It looks like...
  15. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Good link ... I stumbled across that one earlier in my research. Keep in mind this is strictly concerning headphone applications.   Worth noting for those who don't want to go the single to dual conversion and adapters required to run the OPA627, the AD 823 AN came in a close second, and is...
  16. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Ya beat me to it ...   Quote:
  17. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    It's this one ...     Yah .. I know ... please don't hit me ... <G>   The DAC (line output) is marked U5 on the board. It's the one closest to the tube ...  
  18. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Nothing to say you can't swap whatever op amps you're using between the DAC and headphone sides. Rumor has it, you can run either socket without a chip, and likewise with the tube if you're not using the DAC side. Haven't tried it myself. Anyway, that's where those extra risers might come in...
  19. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Partially pressed in should be good if it's a solid connection. Can you easily rock the chip in the socket? Then I'd think twice about leaving it that way, but if it seems stable, why not? Be interesting to know if the top cover clears the SUN without the DIP8 extension. Just run a straight edge...
  20. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    I remember reading that it needs a DIP8 socket extension to clear the surrounding caps and such. Problem then is it's too tall for the case. Only options there are to either leave the top off or cut a hole so the SUN sticks up thru it.   I also remember seeing that there's no convenient...
  21. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    I had a feeling that's what was happening. It gets a bit confusing, as many DACs use single channel op amps right out of the box. Having to do the dual to single channel conversion takes a bit more futzing about.   Here's a good pic showing the single to dual chip conversion socket.  ...
  22. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Rudimentary is good ... I can handle rudimentary. Complicated could get complicated ... <G>   First off, you are aware that you need TWO OPA627 chips mounted to an adapter board similar to the one in the pic I posted up a while back? Knew that you did, but just checking. You also need a...
  23. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Sound cards suck ...   In my experience anyway. The onboard audio was useless (as expected), so I went with an E-MU. That was fine - when it decided to play nice. More times than not, I spent my days wandering thru the seven levels of driver hell with that POS. Next up was a Xonar, which had...
  24. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Having heard about how SPDIF is so much better than USB, I asked Ryan. He says not so's you'd notice. But ... could it be better? Therein lies the question. Still thinking it'd be an interesting experiment, but I'll put it on the back burner for now.   I did come up with a Plan B. Found an...
  25. sKiZo

    Maverick Audio DAC/Amp

    Dead thread?   Drat ...  
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