[docentore]

Do consider taking off the BiCaps with electrolytic capacitors, and put in 22uF Film caps or Vishay , KEMET KO

But why, the caps are on the audio signal path. If there is no DC offset only thing these do are is filtering the frequencies.

 

[lantian]

Hey guys will a 25v capacitor work for amp7 as power smothing replacement for the 470uf 16v nichicon? As far as I can see higher voltage should have no issues, but wanted to make sure.

 

[Whitigir]

Hey guys will a 25v capacitor work for amp7 as power smothing replacement for the 470uf 16v nichicon? As far as I can see higher voltage should have no issues, but wanted to make sure.

If you can have it fit in, it definitely will work

 

[lantian]

If you can have it fit in, it definitely will work

Thank you. Thats awesome.

 

[lantian]

Rest of my order arrived today. Recapped power caps for my sansui and finally added the audio note. Standard 470uf25v one to my amp7. Simply sublime sound. Thanks for the help@Whitigir

 

[Whitigir]

Rest of my order arrived today. Recapped power caps for my sansui and finally added the audio note. Standard 470uf25v one to my amp7. Simply sublime sound. Thanks for the help@Whitigir

I am glad you are enjoying the ride . AudioNote is great for sub bass, textures and extensions. The Dx220 definitely can enjoy a more musical yet accurate tuning like this for sure. Job well done

 

[lantian]

I am glad you are enjoying the ride . AudioNote is great for sub bass, textures and extensions. The Dx220 definitely can enjoy a more musical yet accurate tuning like this for sure. Job well done

Thanks really loving it.

 

[lantian]

Could anyone make a parts list for amp7ex mod. As in all the tantalums that need to be replaced? Like the ones for amp8 with mauser links would be hugeley appreciated.

 

[orys]

Hi guys!
Just got a DX220 with amp1 mkii and amp8.
Anyonwe inmterested in trading his modified Amp8EX for a stock Amp8 + cash?

 

[Lohb]

I have the Amp 8 (Fidelizer Ultimate Mod) is it more or less same as this DIY one ? It's fantastic anyway in every way...my DAP quest over for a good while....amazing with planar cans...XC + A2C

 

[lantian]

My dx220 finally has the ex mod applied. Both mine and my brothers playrs. Got them done by a work college who does this every day on military stuff.
Thank you @Whitigir for all your help through the journey. Everything worked out fantastic and the sound is indescribable. Can not put it in words. Thank you so very much for sharing this and being part of the community. Also thanks to @Paul - iBasso for this amazing player and platform and for the continuing of work being done to these amazing players through furter firmware upgrades.
This is now my endgame source for quite some time. Loving every moment.

 

[Whitigir]

My dx220 finally has the ex mod applied. Both mine and my brothers playrs. Got them done by a work college who does this every day on military stuff.
Thank you @Whitigir for all your help through the journey. Everything worked out fantastic and the sound is indescribable. Can not put it in words. Thank you so very much for sharing this and being part of the community. Also thanks to @Paul - iBasso for this amazing player and platform and for the continuing of work being done to these amazing players through furter firmware upgrades.
This is now my endgame source for quite some time. Loving every moment.

Woooo!!! Congratulations!! Yes! It is an awesome player when it is done and paired with Amp8EX

 

[Whitigir]

This is the newer and easier way to improve the Max amplifier sections which also improve and somewhat alternate the sound performances. You should consider your favorite Capacitors of choices that best suited you. The voltage swing is higher than 8V. You are recommended to use 10V minimum. You can go for 47uf/100uf/10V or higher. 47uF has better sub bass textures where as 100uF has more energetic mid bass

This was developed based on Ibasso latest engineering points, and adopted from Ibasso DX300 Amp11 but a little further. The output coupling capacitors are BiCap with either Bipolar or polar capacitors of choices. While space is limited in Dx300, it isn’t an issue with Max. So all 4 caps can enjoy the upgrades. However, the choices of caps can also influences the number of caps that can be upgraded.

I don’t have any official schematic or engineering views of these amplifier from Ibasso, so I am only pulling, soldering, listening, and following the directions that Ibasso had mapped out with their newest designs. This is to yet confirm that Ibasso is using great component of choices and knows exactly what they are doing as Ibasso is the founder and maker, engineering of this platforms. In the mean while, there are indefinite ways to replace components in a way to upgrades or sometime even degrade the player. But using better components are not always resulting in a better performances. The case in point is that with this MAXW mod, you will find the performances to be improved just about as much as the MAXEX, but a lot simpler and cheaper. You can DIY or ask any electrician to help you with a touch of soldering

The hardest procedure is to take off the back of the Max. You need to heat it up and then using debonder with suctions cups and discarded credit card to pull the back off. It is glued like a smartphone screen would. The fortunate point is that it is flat and square with thick strong glass. You may not easily damage it for sure

Now when you pulled it off, you will see the steel plate that is screwed toward the chassis with 4 Torx screws.

1/Just remove them and then the battery packs

2/pull off the Wifi antenna like Dx220, pull off the screen ribbon connector, then lift off the tab of the ribbon power button and pull out to disconnect

3/ Now you need to remove the amp module
In order to remove the amp module, you will need to follow these steps

A/ pull out the golden volume knob, just use a strong grips and slowly pulling it out

B/ The golden rings on the output are glued toward the chassis which acts as a retainer for the amp board. You will need to push it out using a paper clip or tweezers. After pulling out all of the golden blings, you will unscrew all the internal screws that connect the board to the chassis. Organize it so you know what goes where for assembly

C/ after all screws and connection tabs are disconnected, use your fingers (only) to push the amp board toward the volume know and separate it away from the main board. Do not use any tool as a slip down toward the screen will damage the screen mirror back and you will end up with a damaged screen

D/ after separations, lift it off gently and push it back inward so it can be easily taken off. This will remove the charger circuitry together.

Now, you will have this board, which you will work on to apply MaxW modifications. The Blue wires are Power Supplies wires, 3 of them, +8V Ground -8V. If you upgrade them, they are similar to Powercord upgrade. Stock cables is OCC. You will need to desolder with pump and have materials of choices. If you opt to replace them, make sure you follow the Printed silk screen so to not mess up the polarity (very important, they are directional, wrong polarity will fry things VEE-AGround-VCC) The black wires are only there to communicate charging status and possibly protections etc...not really matter

Now, the Amp board. There are 2 ways to apply W mod. The first one is to enhance the output coupling on the signals lines. Again, you can use Bipolar or polar capacitors, remember the marked end on the SMD caps on the board is +

or you can apply a further enhanced output from both active lines and ground references


Again, with 4 caps BiCap, the space will be limited, and depends on your preferences and choice of capacitor, you may end up with either 2 or 4 caps in additional

This is a simpler mod than EX mod as it retains all the Ibasso components and upgrading the Powercord with additional BiCap of choices. I have opted for both and can attest that either A or B directions will be an improvements


This will improve the dynamic, bass slams, textures and soundstage. The 2 BiCap will retain the most of Max house sound while improving textures, details and dynamic where as the 4 BiCap will further alternate the sound further from Max house sound into the choice of your capacitors. It could be more musical or more neutral and detail oriented, depends on your choice of electrolytic, MLCC, or Organic Polymer.

Remember to apply a lot of Flux as the ground plane can dissipate heat quickly and so, crank up your iron temps! These 4 holes are through to the other side with ground plane, so it will be harder to solder on

I call this the MaXW and by the choices of BiCap used. You can call it MaxW1 or MaxW2 with 1 indicate the 2 additional caps and 2 for all 4 caps

If you would love to have meatier timbres density, also consider replacing the 3 main capacitors with Nichicon Organic Polymer 470uf/16V
PLS1C471MD01. These are larger and taller with wider legs spaces. It takes a bit of efforts but it will fit just fine

 

[Lohb]

Anyone in the UK that has done the amp 8 mods and can upgrade my backup stock card 8, please PM me on a price inc. materials.
Thanks !

 

[purk]

I own one of @ Whitigr other MaXW and it is an outstanding player. Whitigr sent his MaXW and I compared it to my stock MAX and the improvements are very obvious. No more slightly grainier treble. Bass is pronounced and both macro and micro dynamic are improved. Tonal balanced is slightly warmer. Soundstage is slightly less wide but has better depth cues. I love it this!