The "mod your Zhalou" Thread

[d-cee]

i'd like to mention that when i made that comment it was with regard to convenience, cost and SQ relative to convenience and cost

i would love to find out how an Oritek Modded compares to a Zapfiltered Zhaolu head to head with sound quality as the main factor in comparison

 

[fierce_freak]

Me too

 

[Ori]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fierce_freak /img/forum/go_quote.gif Me too

I'm gamed...

If someone with a Zapped Zhaolu (is that called a "ZZ"?) in the Bay Area is interested, I'll go for it. Zap me

if you dare!

Sounds like a great mini-meet!

The OMZ vs. ZZ, that's one clash that will get all the buzzz...

The sad reality for me is that I get to listen to giants only... Except for those occasions when people bring their more modest units to my place and the list is quite long, as the number of marks on my revolver...

Two of those are coming for a shootout today, going for the kill! Would they turn out giant killers or just dead ducks?!

After all that morning fun, I had to choose between my son's band on stage and Davies Hall. I had to go for the latter this time. It's a tough job but somebody has to do it... Live music, baby!

 

[SonicDawg]

Recently I added some dual mono amps to the Zapfilter balanced out, and realized that my source is humming slightly, even in BAL. The hum is not that audible, but when cranking up the volume in the amps I can hear them pretty clearly. What could be the problem? I didn't know that even BAL hums as well?

 

[udo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonicDawg /img/forum/go_quote.gif Recently I added some dual mono amps to the Zapfilter balanced out, and realized that my source is humming slightly, even in BAL. The hum is not that audible, but when cranking up the volume in the amps I can hear them pretty clearly. What could be the problem? I didn't know that even BAL hums as well?

If BAL == balanced then the source (signal) contains hum (it is not injected along the way) or the balancing is faulty.

 

[cotdt]

SonicDawg, can you show an RMAA graph of the noise?

 

[SonicDawg]

I can do a RMAA graph on single end setup, because my soundcard only accepts rca signals, though that means the hum will be very very loud. What I am bothered by right now is balanced hum from the DAC. Though I need to amp it up really high to hear it. Still it limits the level of volume I can listen to

btw, do you think swapping the PSU caps with something of higher capacitance would help with the hum?

 

[udo]

After zapfiltering the D2.5C, and giving the DAC board an improved clock, what else could be done to the D2.5C that is worthwhile?

 

[cotdt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by udo /img/forum/go_quote.gif After zapfiltering the D2.5C, and giving the DAC board an improved clock, what else could be done to the D2.5C that is worthwhile?

upgrading to the D2.5A is the biggest improvement you can get

 

[cotdt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonicDawg /img/forum/go_quote.gif I can do a RMAA graph on single end setup, because my soundcard only accepts rca signals, though that means the hum will be very very loud. What I am bothered by right now is balanced hum from the DAC. Though I need to amp it up really high to hear it. Still it limits the level of volume I can listen to btw, do you think swapping the PSU caps with something of higher capacitance would help with the hum?

strange you're still getting hum. mine is dead silent. if i amplify 1000X with my high gain amp then yes i can hear some white noise (still no hum though), but under normal listening it is dead silent.

 

[Ori]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cotdt /img/forum/go_quote.gif upgrading to the D2.5A is the biggest improvement you can get

I'll second this!
udo: If you haven't already removed the cables to the front panel then it's the next best thing, plus solder the fuse connections of the IEC socket. If you must have both coax and optical inputs then relocate the on-board optical switch on the rear panel.

 

[Epicurean]

I really wonder what it is about the ad chip that everyone likes. Well, at last I'm gonna find out since a D2.0 ad board shipped from Hongkong today! The thing is, I think my current CS4398 + Zapfilter sounds as close to perfect as I have heard for a long time and I can't find any apparent flaws at all in the sound. And interestingly I don't hear the forward midrange presentation that a lot of people have reported and I don't find the treble lacking in 'sparkle' either. I'll post impressions when I get the board.

 

[Epicurean]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ori /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'll second this! udo: If you haven't already removed the cables to the front panel then it's the next best thing, plus solder the fuse connections of the IEC socket. If you must have both coax and optical inputs then relocate the on-board optical switch on the rear panel.

Wouldn't it also be optimal to put the transformers in a completely separate grounded case to avoid any chance of electro-magnetic interference?

 

[Ori]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epicurean /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wouldn't it also be optimal to put the transformers in a completely separate grounded case to avoid any chance of electro-magnetic interference?

Sure, but I think most people would consider that a drastic measure...

I went over the edge in my own esoteric way and removed the processor too...

 

[cotdt]

the best thing i like about the zapfilter is that it is balanced: