Geshelli J2S DAC and Sparkos SS2590 - YES!

[Emilar]

SMSL DL200 has an onboard power supply. Geshelli DACs do not. As such, Sparkos voltage regulator upgrades do not apply. If one is using a third party power supply (.i.e. discrete LPS), then it is a possibility.

I use a box of the same form factor under the dac for the power supply. There is always room for an additional plug on the back of the dac to get the V+, V-, and Ground into the dac enclosure.
Can be done with every dac.

Klaus

 

[Elegiac]

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[Emilar]

.

Pics or it didn't happen.

I am not home at the moment
but since you are such a pleasant person that only thinks the best of people I give you the pics from the test phase.

As you can see converting soic to dip can be done in an unconventionel but easy way.

Here is the test with the onboard supply.

Here are the Sparkos regs in test 2
Evevtually the V+ V- and Ground will enter the dac via the rca plugs as I will not use single ended out. If I wanted to keep rca I would install two additional rca plugs for the Job.
I am a Diyer for over 25 years and stuff like this is very common for me. Actually this is the first dac with a case since about 20 years.
I usually only work with boards that I modify till I reach the sonics I want.

Klaus

 

[Patswalker]

So I went and did what I have read a lot of people doing. I got some of the new Burson V7 Classic opamps and put them on one slot and have that sending out to one of the outputs of my J2S and I have the Sparkos SS2590 in the other output. The Bursons are going out to my Erish 3 pro and the SS2590 are going out to my Archel 3 pro. Previously I had SS2590 going out to both my E3 pro and A3 pro and it was amazing. But I feel like I hadn't realized just how amazing the design of the J2S 4499 was until I paired the SS2590 and the V7 Classic as separate output flavors. It's wild. It's quite literally having the J2S 4499 but with two sound signatures with zero DSP. I just can't express my gratitude enough for Geshelli Labs for making a dac this great and this flexible at this price. It's incredible. I listen to this stack every day but today its just one of those days wehre it sll sounds so so so right.

I've got my J3 coming in on Monday and Whoowhee am I excited. I'm curious to see how similar and different they are!

Geshelli Labs + Sparkos Labs + Burson V7 Classic is really all I need and want on my desk. Its just such a tremendous value at such an amazing price in a world where so many people charge so so so so so so much more. I'm not new to Geshelli Sprkos or Burson. I've had many models from all three companies over the years. Today is just one of those days where I'm using my gear I use on the daily and find so much gratitude for what all these companies are doing and decided to lather that grattitude all over you all. Seriously. It's just the best. So much happy.

My glorious stack of music goodness...

 

[activestatic]

Is it worth getting the J3 if I already have the J2S with SS2590 on both my RCA and XLR outputs?

 

[Patswalker]

Is it worth getting the J3 if I already have the J2S with SS2590 on both my RCA and XLR outputs?

From what I have seen there is a nee onboard and external power supply and something new about the usb as well. What it is about the USB that is new I don't know, it was mentioned in one of their videos. I'm not smart enough to know what the change to the usb would do but usually better power supplies lower the noise floor which in turn creates better separation between notes and soundstage. I can't say if that's the case with the J3, I don't have mine yet. But when I upgraded the external power supply for my J2s it sounded better. Was it game changing better? No. Was it better, for me, yes. So I imagine it will be just a better version of what we already love in the J2s. If it's worth it, that's for you to answer. You get to make those choices.

To me it is worth is because I can have a Jnog dac with different opamps. One goes to my headphones and one to my speaker set up. I can switch them back and forth if I want.

 

[Elegiac]

.

I am not home at the moment
but since you are such a pleasant person that only thinks the best of people I give you the pics from the test phase.

As you can see converting soic to dip can be done in an unconventionel but easy way.

Here is the test with the onboard supply.

Here are the Sparkos regs in test 2
Evevtually the V+ V- and Ground will enter the dac via the rca plugs as I will not use single ended out. If I wanted to keep rca I would install two additional rca plugs for the Job.
I am a Diyer for over 25 years and stuff like this is very common for me. Actually this is the first dac with a case since about 20 years.
I usually only work with boards that I modify till I reach the sonics I want.

Klaus

And you are very kind to show us your handiwork. I think that sort of thing is beyond a lot of us.

 

[JerseyD]

And you are very kind to show us your handiwork. I think that sort of thing is beyond a lot of us.

Swapping out the op-amps is a simple operation requiring no tools other than an allen wrench to open up the outer case. I am an absolute beginner when it comes to this stuff and I had no trouble (aside from my older J2S not having enough room for the ss2590 without sanding the 2590 down a bit).

 

[Emilar]

As I said in the Holo Cyan2 thread, the idea is to take all this to a cellphone repair shop and let them do it. They work with way smaller parts so it is easy for them to do this sort of thing.
This is the Geshelli thread and since Geshelli has Dip sockets it's even doable if you are not into diy.

 

[Elegiac]

I do go to a local electrical repairs shop when I want some wires done, but it has to be something I understand... I don't understand the ins and outs of completely changing the style of power supply for the DAC.

 

[Patswalker]

I heart Geshelli. J3 is really cool. VERY much enjoying it. it lives in my office on my desk in this stack while the J2s with Sparkos SS2590 lives in my living room. I love love LOVE the j2s with 2590 on speakers. And the buttons on the j3 are a damn godsend. And lastly, the board is laid out on the j3 so that we can fit SS2590 on all 3 opamp slots with no need for any opamp extensions or risers. Massive difference in user friendly way buttons and opamp board, good but slight difference to me in the sound. I would not say it is a NEED, more like a high want if all you want is better sound. I absolutely think it is a necessity NEED NEED of an upgrade for the buttons and new opamp board. Well played Geshelli.

 

[JerseyD]

Just for fun, I swapped out the SS2590 (on the single-ended J2S output) to a Burson V7 Vivid. Initial reaction is that it is not a step down, but sideways with a different flavor. The V7V adds more treble sparkle, but still has the separation and layering that I love the SS2590 for. One’s preference will surely be determined by the rest of the chain, and whether the extra treble is a welcome change or not. The SS2590 may sound a bit more refined, but not quite as much fun. I can see using both over time, whenever I need a change.

 

[TedB]

The SS2590 may sound a bit more refined, but not quite as much fun. I can see using both over time, whenever I need a change.

My experience was similar, and I iterated this in my Burson review discussions. The V7V I found to be a bit more "energetic" and with the most frontal depth, the V7C to be "warmer" and more relaxed, and the SS2590 being more "studio" with a Grand Canyon soundstage. The better the resolution and imaging capability of the hardware, the more pronounced these differences become.

 

[JerseyD]

My experience was similar, and I iterated this in my Burson review discussions. The V7V I found to be a bit more "energetic" and with the most frontal depth, the V7C to be "warmer" and more relaxed, and the SS2590 being more "studio" with a Grand Canyon soundstage. The better the resolution and imaging capability of the hardware, the more pronounced these differences become.

After a couple weeks with the V7V, swapped back to the SS2590 to gain some perspective. Now I am of the mind that the SS2590 is superior. There is more separation, resolution and clarity, and I find that if I want to, I can amp up the "fun" factor with a little more volume

 

[ttys0]

The SS2590s really are something special. I had a J2S with Burson V7Vs, and thought that was an exceptional sound. To be fair, my thoughts about the J2S + Burson V7Vs haven't changed. However, I did just get the J3, and dropped SS2590s in it, and the SS2590s really do add some specialness to pretty much everything I've listened to. The headphone amp is the same, a Geshelli E3, so it's SS2590s all the way down for me now, just like turtles.