[conquerator2]

Should be ok, but please take note, it might has higher ripple noise than the original power supply from Creative.



OPA604 is a famous op-amp, used in many audio equipment. But I'm not the fan of OPA604. Have a few devices with OPA604, generally I replaced it with other op-amp. But it is good to tame analytic sound system.

Nice, thanks! Could you tell me roughly how it compares to AD8597, OPA827 or AD8065?
Thanks.
I am considering them and some others like ADA4627-1, AD8597ARZ and AD797BRZ.

 

[earfonia]

Nice, thanks! Could you tell me roughly how it compares to AD8597, OPA827 or AD8065?
Thanks.
I am considering them and some others like ADA4627-1, AD8597ARZ and AD797BRZ.

 
Well, my impression is on the first page 

 

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

I wish one of you guys would put up a small vid or a set of images showing how to swap the opamps with the ones with the adapter, and ones without. I'm scared to do it, bcause I'm horrible at DIY.

 

[earfonia]

I wish one of you guys would put up a small vid or a set of images showing how to swap the opamps with the ones with the adapter, and ones without. I'm scared to do it, bcause I'm horrible at DIY.

 
This could probably gives the idea soldering smd component like the SOIC8 Op-Amp:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9FC9fAlfQE
 
My tips soldering SOIC8 to the adapter:
1. Use long nose Visegrip to grip the Op-Amp with the DIP8 adapter you bought from Browndog or eBay. It helps to keep the op-amp in place, to align the op-amp's feet on the adapter.
2. Use another tool to grip the Visegrip to position the Op-Amp for soldering. We can use another Visegrip to position it.
3. Use small tip solder iron and small solder wire.
 
This post might help as well:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/89714/make-yourself-soic8-to-dip8-adapter-56k-warnings
 
Happy soldering!

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Oh, soldering? That's right out. I do not trust myself. Plug and play only.

 

[earfonia]

Oh, soldering? That's right out. I do not trust myself. Plug and play only.

 
Noted. To plug in the op-amp into the socket is not so difficult. To unplug it from the socket is more difficult. My best tool are my fingers. Just slowly jiggle the op-amp, very slowly, till it loosen from the socket, and pull slowly.

 

[conquerator2]

   
This could probably gives the idea soldering smd component like the SOIC8 Op-Amp:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9FC9fAlfQE
 
My tips soldering SOIC8 to the adapter:
1. Use long nose Visegrip to grip the Op-Amp with the DIP8 adapter you bought from Browndog or eBay. It helps to keep the op-amp in place, to align the op-amp's feet on the adapter.
2. Use another tool to grip the Visegrip to position the Op-Amp for soldering. We can use another Visegrip to position it.
3. Use small tip solder iron and small solder wire.
 
This post might help as well:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/89714/make-yourself-soic8-to-dip8-adapter-56k-warnings
 
Happy soldering!

Wait, so to use the SOIC to DIP adapter requires soldering?!

 

[earfonia]

  Wait, so to use the SOIC to DIP adapter requires soldering?!

 
Yes.
That's why I suggested to get the already soldered SOIC8 op-amp from Browndog for anyone who don't do soldering. For those who have soldering skill, to buy the adapter from other source is cheaper than Browndog. Sometime I even made my own, as you can see on the picture on first page, there are a few different type of adapters for the SOIC8 op-amp. I actually wish Creative would include 1 or 2 pairs of different op-amp bundled with the white LE version, for users to easily experience different sonic tuning using different op-amp. 

 

[LucasCL]

Hey guys, we are having an exclusive Head-Fi promo code for the Sound Blaster X7 and X7 Limited Edition in conjunction with our participation at CanJam SoCal 2015.
 
U$100 off Sound Blaster X7 and X7 Limited Edition
Use code "SBX7CAN"
 
Learn more about the Sound Blaster X7: http://us.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-x7
 
Please note that this promo code is only valid for purchases through http://us.creative.com/ and is for US only. Also, coupon code is only valid till March 31, 2015.
 
If you guys have any questions, I will be here to answer them

 

[hi2chris]

Think i finally found the right power adapter
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/AC-DC-adapter-for-Jebao-DC-12000-Pump/1180745_1859451588.html
 
has the same model number but isn't much cheaper then from creative, but a good option for those of us in Australia since creative store doesn't sell it.
 
also found this one
 
http://www.amazon.com/Makerfire%C2%AE-Power-Supply-Adapter-Regulated/dp/B00NHEV4BU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1427173382&sr=1-1&keywords=24+volt+6+amp
 
much cheaper, and it is regulated so potentially should have minimal 'ripple'. Went down a massive rabitt hole trying to figure out what 'ripple' was Earphonia haha.
 
 
once i figure out which route im going to go i may have to start looking at op-amp rolling, looks like i won't have to ask anything this time since the discussion is already there.

 

[earfonia]

  Think i finally found the right power adapter
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/AC-DC-adapter-for-Jebao-DC-12000-Pump/1180745_1859451588.html
 
has the same model number but isn't much cheaper then from creative, but a good option for those of us in Australia since creative store doesn't sell it.
 
also found this one
 
http://www.amazon.com/Makerfire%C2%AE-Power-Supply-Adapter-Regulated/dp/B00NHEV4BU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1427173382&sr=1-1&keywords=24+volt+6+amp
 
much cheaper, and it is regulated so potentially should have minimal 'ripple'. Went down a massive rabitt hole trying to figure out what 'ripple' was Earphonia haha.
 
 
once i figure out which route im going to go i may have to start looking at op-amp rolling, looks like i won't have to ask anything this time since the discussion is already there.

 
Thanks for the link! Yes, the one sold by AliExpress looks the same!
The one from Amazon looks small, not sure if it is really able to supply 144 Watt.
 
Actually today's regulated power supply also has high frequency ripple, because most of them are Switching Mode Power Supply (SMPS). Anyway, the adapter from the X7 LE has proven to improve the speaker output, so it is safer to get the similar power adapter.

 

[earfonia]

  Hey guys, we are having an exclusive Head-Fi promo code for the Sound Blaster X7 and X7 Limited Edition in conjunction with our participation at CanJam SoCal 2015.
 
U$100 off Sound Blaster X7 and X7 Limited Edition
Use code "SBX7CAN"
 
Learn more about the Sound Blaster X7: http://us.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-x7
 
Please note that this promo code is only valid for purchases through http://us.creative.com/ and is for US only. Also, coupon code is only valid till March 31, 2015.
 
If you guys have any questions, I will be here to answer them

 
Delicious treat for US Head-fi'ers!
 
Lucas, in the last IT show in Singapore, during the X7 presentation, I noticed that the X7 control panel looks different, the speakers and headphone tab were separated on the new control panel. Also there is a new feature to select different tuning for the E-MU XM7 speaker. Is the updated X7 control panel available for download?
 
Thanks!

 

[Fegefeuer]

How about doing this for EU as well, Lucas?

Or Germany. Ja?

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

OF course they do this a few days after I bought mine off Amazon. Now I have to return it, and then buy from Creative...

 

[khtse]

LucasCL

  Hey guys, we are having an exclusive Head-Fi promo code for the Sound Blaster X7 and X7 Limited Edition in conjunction with our participation at CanJam SoCal 2015.
 
U$100 off Sound Blaster X7 and X7 Limited Edition
Use code "SBX7CAN"
 
Learn more about the Sound Blaster X7: http://us.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-x7
 
Please note that this promo code is only valid for purchases through http://us.creative.com/ and is for US only. Also, coupon code is only valid till March 31, 2015.
 
If you guys have any questions, I will be here to answer them

 
LucasCL
 
Is there any update to the X7 Control Panel software anytime soon? There a number of quirks in the software that I hope can be addressed. Can you pass this along to the team that work on the software? Thanks:
 
1. Speaker calibration should not be passed through to headphones:
 
Right now, speaker calibration affects both speakers and headphones. The speaker calibration feature is really useful for someone like me who has left and right speakers placed asymmetrically (physical limitation). But I switch between speakers and headphones very frequently, and having to manually turn off (there isn't even an OFF button, I have to manually adjust the calibration back to center) the speaker calibration when I put on my headphone is really annoying.
 
2. Better way to enable SBX Surround:
 
We have discovered that to fully take advantage of SBX Surround for headphones we have to do the following in sequence: (1) unplug headphones, (2) change speaker setting to 5.1, (3) plug in headphones (this change speaker setting to "headphones", but the speaker setting in Windows control panel remains at "5.1" which is what we want, (4) turn on SBX Surround. The SBX Surround experience is quite different if 2.1/2.0 speakers was chosen before plugging the headphones in, and if we try to select "5.1 speaker" after the headphones were plugged in, the headphones setting would get overridden and no sound would come out from the headphones.
 
There should be better documentation in the software/support page about how to use / best take advantage of SBX Surround. The software should also does the above automatically when enabling SBX Surround
 
3. Speaker/headphones settings and calibration should also be saved to profile:
 
Right now they are not. Because of (1) and (2) listed above, it would be very handy if we could save speaker/headphones adjustments to profile.