mrdon
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2005
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I would agree with everyone here. The two most cost effective tweaks are located in the power supply and in the output stage.
The power supply mod is fairly straight forward. Find the section on the pcb where the power supply 'lytics are located and write down all their values. Maintain (or increase) voltage but increase capacitance by 20% except for the big can cap - double it. You can use Black Gates (mucho $) or Panasonic FC's (inexpensive). Also, find your diodes and replace them with over spec'ed
Shottky diodes. Next or close to your diodes are the X "safety" caps. They should stay the same size, unless you're going to try the Auricap tweak. In that case, replace each X cap with a .47uF/600V Auricap. All of this improves power recovery and cleans up grunge. Better dynamics is the first thing you will usually notice, as well as a deeper and possibly tighter bass.
The second best place to make changes is in the analog path, after the DAC chips. Better caps here can help a lot, and can change the sound significantly, especially in the top end clarity, extension and transparency. You can also roll in some higher quality opamps (remember to check voltages) and exchange the very last 'lytics in the path with film caps (like Auricaps). At this point in the path, you may also exchange the stock resistors for higher grade ones like Riken carbon films.
Please note...you do this at your own risk and at the risk of potentially harming yourself and your equipment. That's the risk involved but the risk IMHO is worth it to the ears God gave us.
The power supply mod is fairly straight forward. Find the section on the pcb where the power supply 'lytics are located and write down all their values. Maintain (or increase) voltage but increase capacitance by 20% except for the big can cap - double it. You can use Black Gates (mucho $) or Panasonic FC's (inexpensive). Also, find your diodes and replace them with over spec'ed
Shottky diodes. Next or close to your diodes are the X "safety" caps. They should stay the same size, unless you're going to try the Auricap tweak. In that case, replace each X cap with a .47uF/600V Auricap. All of this improves power recovery and cleans up grunge. Better dynamics is the first thing you will usually notice, as well as a deeper and possibly tighter bass.
The second best place to make changes is in the analog path, after the DAC chips. Better caps here can help a lot, and can change the sound significantly, especially in the top end clarity, extension and transparency. You can also roll in some higher quality opamps (remember to check voltages) and exchange the very last 'lytics in the path with film caps (like Auricaps). At this point in the path, you may also exchange the stock resistors for higher grade ones like Riken carbon films.
Please note...you do this at your own risk and at the risk of potentially harming yourself and your equipment. That's the risk involved but the risk IMHO is worth it to the ears God gave us.