trodas
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Originally Posted by trodas /img/forum/go_quote.gif Black Gate Audio Capacitors http://www.partsconnexion.com/catalo...ctrolytic.html |
Originally Posted by trodas /img/forum/go_quote.gif unknown123 - mate, I got 26 years of soldering experience. Quess what was the first thing I did? I practice exchanging opamp on old Audigy (1) card. If you did not use extremly sharp micro cutter and if you move it just a little bit while cutting - say good-bye to the X-Fi. Unless you manage to connect the pad to the rest of the card again. It is not impossible, unless it go straight down into layer-connecting hole, I did worser repairs, but like I say, I solder actively for 26 years now, soon 27... "Rookie who thinks he can do anything" probably end up buying a new X-Fi card. michell - Different caps are there for different purposes. Use audio grade caps (like Black Gate or Elna RSF) where is audio going and use low-ESR caps where is voltage filering going on (Samxon, Rubycon, Nichicon, Panasonic). I think it will be quite unpopular in this thread, but using a known good audio cap for voltage filtering (eg. instead of C177 - a stock 220uF 16V Jamicon) for the main X-Fi chip, where the audio is in pure digital form and then claiming that the audio get imporoved, is insane at best. It is true, however, that the TPS54352 voltage regulator is not designed to work with very low-ESR cap like Os-con polymers or Samxon GA/GC or Ruby MCZ or Nichicon HZ and such. http://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/tps54352 But thazt still does not made change the pure digital state of audio there into analog one, that would benefit from Black Gate cap. The audio get converted from digital to analog audio form in DAC, witch is the Cirrus Logic CS4382 thing for the X-Fi Fatal1ty and from there is wise to use audio caps to pass thru the audio, yet still double check for the cap purpose. http://www.cirrus.com/en/pubs/proDat.../CS4382_F1.pdf I mean - Jamicons are 1) known bad caps that will degenerate over time and even fail miserably 2) they are NOT audio grade caps, so it is killing your audio too 3) they are NOT low-ESR caps, good for voltage filering Creative use Jamicons everywhere. For a good example, take a look at recommended TPS54352 circuit and notice that on the voltage imput TI recommend at least 100uF low-ESR elyte and at least 10uF ceramic cap soldered as close to the chip, as possible. This Creative did, but the imput elyte is a 22uF only (!!!) Jamicon crap - C172. It would be foolish to not improve the capacity to what it should be (at least) and also to use a audio grade cap there. I used a 150uF 6.3V Nichicon HE there. A good cap for this position. For the audio passing, well, I would recommend Elna RSF caps. In places where is even need to be a cap. There are many examples that it is not need everywhere... |
Originally Posted by trodas /img/forum/go_quote.gif unknown123 - mate, I got 26 years of soldering experience. Quess what was the first thing I did? I practice exchanging opamp on old Audigy (1) card. If you did not use extremly sharp micro cutter and if you move it just a little bit while cutting - say good-bye to the X-Fi. Unless you manage to connect the pad to the rest of the card again. It is not impossible, unless it go straight down into layer-connecting hole, I did worser repairs, but like I say, I solder actively for 26 years now, soon 27... "Rookie who thinks he can do anything" probably end up buying a new X-Fi card. |
There are probably 20-30 on the board but half of them are coupling capacitors which you want to short anyway. I beleive you short almost a dozen capacitors if you do the surround channels and certain others, so in reality you're only replacing a dozen or so capacitors. |
you want to short the 16 capacitors closest to each of the 4 opamps. |
Originally Posted by trodas /img/forum/go_quote.gif "...I think it will be quite unpopular in this thread, but using a known good audio cap for voltage filtering (eg. instead of C177 - a stock 220uF 16V Jamicon) for the main X-Fi chip, where the audio is in pure digital form and then claiming that the audio get imporoved, is insane at best..." |
Originally Posted by trodas /img/forum/go_quote.gif "...It is true, however, that the TPS54352 voltage regulator is not designed to work with very low-ESR cap like Os-con polymers or Samxon GA/GC or Ruby MCZ or Nichicon HZ and such. http://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/tps54352 But thazt still does not made change the pure digital state of audio there into analog one, that would benefit from Black Gate cap..." |
Originally Posted by unknown123 /img/forum/go_quote.gif "...until I noticed one of the areas that you solder the pins of the opamp to fell off (while removing the old one), and the solder wont hold to that area. "... so I'm screwed right? I've convinced myself to have the "live and learn" mentality, but its still frustrating. |
using a known good audio cap for voltage filtering (eg. instead of C177 - a stock 220uF 16V Jamicon) for the main X-Fi chip, where the audio is in pure digital form and then claiming that the audio get imporoved, is insane at best... old news - latest evidence by Catx: |
It is true, however, that the TPS54352 voltage regulator is not designed to work with very low-ESR cap like Os-con polymers or Samxon GA/GC or Ruby MCZ or Nichicon HZ and such. http://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/tps54352 But thazt still does not made change the pure digital state of audio there into analog one, that would benefit from Black Gate cap... |
Not correct. - limitation is the inductor value Creative selected for the stock capacitor type. - this applies to both SB0460 (Music, Fatality, etc.) and SB0550 (Elite) |
SB0460 Annotated Parts Reference Picture |
Creative Diagnostics 4.0 Test Log Detected device: SB X-Fi [CF00] Tested device:SB X-Fi [CF00] 02/09/2008 05:00:19PM Drivers Tests Pass 02/09/2008 05:00:22PM Windows Multimedia Tests Pass 02/09/2008 05:00:23PM DirectSound Tests Pass |