The Zishan dsd's corner

[DBaldock9]

What is the easiest mod to make Zishan AK4497 "friendly" to low z IEMs?

If they use a Single-Ended connection, install an op-amp that has internal short circuit protection in the socket, and jumper across the output series resistors.
.
Next step would be to install better output series capacitors.

 

[Merlin-PT]

@HeyManslowdown97
I saw there were audio solutions with raspberry pi, but I didn't tried them.
Buying the hot air station in amazon can be a good option if it ships from your country, so you don't have to pay customs tax and have warranty.

 

[HeyManslowdown97]

@HeyManslowdown97
I saw there were audio solutions with raspberry pi, but I didn't tried them.
Buying the hot air station in amazon can be a good option if it ships from your country, so you don't have to pay customs tax and have warranty.

No such problem in the States with those things b/c it’s a consumer-based economy that hedges on ”consumer confidence” exponental growfh. Americans would have a heart attack if they suddenly started requiring such things unless it’s healthcare than it’s a complicated fragmented system and a “Privilege” to have. The 2 on one station is more of a matter of life and death that you don't need millions to have access too. Lol.

The iron/hot air station is most likely made in China in fact Amazon has gotten into a bit of hot water with products sold directly from China that sell IP but it isn’t being enforced only Trump’s tweets and ”oppostional research” into Bezos personal affairs is (that’s another oxymoron/loophole/ contradiction here) You don’t become the richest man in the world by following the rules. That’s for sucker like the working man. Let’s be real

Just a side note: The ”beef” is that Bezo’s owns the WaPo and they report on Trump’s corruptions and scandals that's bad for the ”Trump” brand. (yes it's like a soap opera here with tabloids and personal vendettas)

But I digress the iron/hot station is pro grade but most likely not made from the best materials, which goes to like 150 dollar version of the exact same Professional stations. It’s all about the marketing and what audience they are targeting might look at AliExpress for the exact same iron made in China and “designed in the US”

 

[HeyManslowdown97]

Real straight forward question just got my Aluminum Caps the short wire is the negative and the long one is the positive or vice versa?

Does it matter how it’s soldered on the board as long as it the two wires make a proper connection?

Ah Crap I need a multimeter. Ugh, this hobby is a money pit but a good distraction from the Mundane every day life lol.


Also, do I have to cut the longer wire I‘d like to keep and just make connect with the smaller to give more leeway in movement of the caps on the location they sit on the board. I actually just thought about it you can probably solder wire to the caps to have more to place on the board with a little more room when it’s closed.

Also what is that connection called at the base that connects the Dac to the GPU ARM. I’d like to extended it out so to create more spacing and also those metal rods to I can make them bigger and screw the boards together flush.

Most likely I’m gonna make it bigger so I’m saying goodbye to the original casting.

Back-in-the-days we had to carry around Discman/Walkman with limited physical music to carry so making it bigger is no big deal for me!


The struggle was real! Lol

Updated: asked my one question via internet query; Capacitors negative charge are on the stripe side of the tube.

 

[HeyManslowdown97]

Merlin- I did some digging in regards to a Raspberry Pi Ak4497 and learned the issue is that nobody has attempted it because the Raspberry Pi has power issues so on a logistical level it makes no sense.

However, a Arduino PCB the diy has been successful in making Ak4490 Dual Mono true balanced player. That's two channel running on dedicated to one channel only! Better processing with true balance.

Not sure if you are familiar with Github but it’s a bunch of hackers/programs that opensource their code. Even Microsoft has posted on the forum to help fix patches, etc now they own it (such is life).

I did happened to find code based on Rockbox that’s got all the bells and whistles like playlist, etc however it’s not designed for the Zishan Dsd Pro only the Z1 and Z2 with no lcd.

If those to Zishan models use same processors I don’t see why it wouldn’t work on the Zishan Dsd Pro. However, I would imagine that it’s would have some kinks it.

So as a safety precaution it might be wise to see how to reinstall the existing firmware that way if it doesn’t work you can go back to the default firmware.

What I would is is put it on a micro sd and see if there’s a setting to “update” the firmware if not it will have to be done manually somehow.

Lastly, I’ve actually heard that some dual ak4490 players sound fantastic! I suspect that a Chinese company like Zishan will attempt at making a Dual Ak4497 Mono this year priced at the same as the original when it first came out so it may be wise to wait and just do some minor upgrades on this existing one so there no need to panic into action. it’s better to time the market right and be proactive

 

[Ivan TT]

WARNING!
All zishans use protection scheme in their firmware
Attempt to read firmware or install unofficial builds will make returning to the original firmware impossible and is likely to brick the device for good.
FYI

 

[Merlin-PT]

Merlin- I did some digging in regards to a Raspberry Pi Ak4497 and learned the issue is that nobody has attempted it because the Raspberry Pi has power issues so on a logistical level it makes no sense.

However, a Arduino PCB the diy has been successful in making Ak4490 Dual Mono true balanced player. That's two channel running on dedicated to one channel only! Better processing with true balance.

Not sure if you are familiar with Github but it’s a bunch of hackers/programs that opensource their code. Even Microsoft has posted on the forum to help fix patches, etc now they own it (such is life).

I did happened to find code based on Rockbox that’s got all the bells and whistles like playlist, etc however it’s not designed for the Zishan Dsd Pro only the Z1 and Z2 with no lcd.

If those to Zishan models use same processors I don’t see why it wouldn’t work on the Zishan Dsd Pro. However, I would imagine that it’s would have some kinks it.

So as a safety precaution it might be wise to see how to reinstall the existing firmware that way if it doesn’t work you can go back to the default firmware.

What I would is is put it on a micro sd and see if there’s a setting to “update” the firmware if not it will have to be done manually somehow.

Lastly, I’ve actually heard that some dual ak4490 players sound fantastic! I suspect that a Chinese company like Zishan will attempt at making a Dual Ak4497 Mono this year priced at the same as the original when it first came out so it may be wise to wait and just do some minor upgrades on this existing one so there no need to panic into action. it’s better to time the market right and be proactive

Yes, that github project are the links I posted in the previous msg, but because you can't go back to the original firmware in zishan, I suggested you could try it with an arduino board and external I2C dac in the same post and it allows to use an oled screen.

See here the polarity that the white line marks, it's not the same for all caps:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_types#Polarity_marking

 

[HeyManslowdown97]

WARNING!
All zishans use protection scheme in their firmware
Attempt to read firmware or install unofficial builds will make returning to the original firmware impossible and is likely to brick the device for good.
FYI

Ha! Blasphemy. It just doesn’t work it’s locked I tried it and NOTHING of the Sort happened my player works perfectly still! Aka “Protected”

The warning was a bit hyberbolic, Ivan. What isnt hyperbolic are the Russian sites that “claim” to have the Zishan upgrade firmware when security warnings pop up if you hover the mouse over the link. (Google it, Zishan Dsd Firmware and all top searches are with .ru are shady)

You can find the firmware for Z1, Z2, Z3 easily but it doesn’t recognize it (because it’s protected) and there are threads that have put rockbox on it and reinstall the firmware back to the stock but they don’t use Rockbox b/c it’s set at 44 16 bit only Rockbox is the firmware that the “protected scheme” was built on the Zishan.

If it’s on Github you can trust it unless someone puts a virus on it which does happen.

Why is protected most likely has to do with keeps it locked and stable; that’s all and bit of an oxymoron from a state run company (All Chinese companies are required by law to have 35% ownership by the Chinese government) that steals IP and puts fake parts on it product.

What is a fair warning is any work you try to do on Zishan Board with zero experience like me. It’s a challenge and unforgiving! I installed 4 Nichicon Fine Gold capacitors and accidently rip one of the terminal pads likely I was able to solder it in another positive terminal and it got stereo but it’s only a patch, I’ll have to fix the pad because I’m worried about blowing the cap and it might explode. You won’t die but it’s unstable. I don’t like being unsafe.

The Wright Brothers fixed bicycles for a living took the first flight for all Mankind. Elon Musk is making electric cars against an industry that has over 120 years experience.

Don’t be ruled by fear because you won’t get anything when you are scared to make a calculated decision. It’s a just a diy music player not a matter of life and death. the experience of going through it are priceless regardless of the outcome. It’s important to have fun and learn something that’s my take anyway. And remember you gonna make mistakes and have setback no doubt. It’s a process not a destination. Nobody start off like an Ivan.

 

[Ivan TT]

Happy to offer new home and tender loving care to any damaged Zishans, by the way. Postage on me, of course.
Just a reminder

 

[Themilkman46290]

Happy to offer new home and tender loving care to any damaged Zishans, by the way. Postage on me, of course.
Just a reminder

I have been keeping you in mind as i try not to ruin my dsd, anything happens and you can definitely have mine

 

[Ivan TT]

I have been keeping you in mind as i try not to ruin my dsd, anything happens and you can definitely have mine

Don't try TOO hard though, I'm happy to NOT to have your's (or anyone elses) because they are not ruined but work perfectly fine and give hours of sonic joy and ecstasy!

 

[kookaudio]

What is the easiest mod to make Zishan AK4497 "friendly" to low z IEMs?

You can use an impedance adpter, like a 80ohm one.

 

[HeyManslowdown97]

Yes, that github project are the links I posted in the previous msg, but because you can't go back to the original firmware in zishan, I suggested you could try it with an arduino board and external I2C dac in the same post and it allows to use an oled screen.

See here the polarity that the white line marks, it's not the same for all caps:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_types#Polarity_marking

Merlin- I did read up on the capacitor basically the aluminum cans give off the most power but have a shorter life span and the ceramic are the longest lasting but not as power as the aluminum and also a space saver which is a great choice for Zishan limited real estate. It’s like a European city with no skyscrapers.

Ended putting real Nichicon Fine Gold and it “amped” up the op amp sound (literally). Now I don’t have to jack up the volume and I know what you meant about keeping at 18-ish.

Sound: it’s sounds fantastic and I’m still waiting on Audio Note capacitors for the 3.5 so it will sound even better.

The dual balanced Opa2017 that powers the Opa627 really drives burr-brown soundstage and honestly they broke the mold with Opa627-its perfect. What you hear is how the mix sitting in front of a Orchestra. It’s like the effects like crossfade go through one into brain and out the other ear. Vocals sit spaciously inside you head as the rest of the soundstage is coming to in both at aurally both vertically and horizontally.

I got my rig protocol completed so what I’ll eventually do is scheme the exact diagram and order from a board here or in shipped from EU.

Updating the firmware:

Well in order to get the firmware and specs I want I’ll have to drop a octa-core processor as a motherboard. I was it was as easy as opa amp rolling taking the Max II but it’s a little more complicated than that. I’ll have to study the actually board and then figure the circuitry to see what required.

That will lead to a developing an open source prompts and icon folders and what not but at the same if I get the octa core motherboard running fully operational I can run Android or Linux which is pretty rad! So I’ll be able to download more music apps like Eqs, etc

The thing that concerns me most (among the figure out the circuitry/mapping it) is the power being evenly distributed to both semiconductor octa-core and ak4497eq both are essentially GPUs that require a lot of juice because it’s a lot of computation. I'm thinking 6 rams what at least 2.4 ghz???

I eventually wanna have a Dual Ak4497 Mono Channel but I’ll just have to unti Zishan develops as DIY version and go through this same process but by then I’ll know what do better. My soldering skills suck but with a better board it will be easier. The Zishan Dsd board is unforgiving especially to beginners so if miss it up the o only thing of value is ak4497eq so I’ll take it off and donate it the rest to Ivan’s Zishan Sanctuary where all great cheap Chinese boards find their final resting place in ecstasy ;P

 

[Merlin-PT]

Sometimes, less is better

 

[HeyManslowdown97]

I want to know how they did it! Once you learn something you got a skill for life!

https://www.moon-audio.com/astell-kern-a-ultima-sp1000m-music-player-dap-gold.html

The upsamping conversion, jitter and bit-to-bit is really hard and I ain’t gonna even attempt it and the gold plate stuff is marketing.

In the meantime, I’ll be loving the sound coming from my Zishan with real components for a while.

And You were right they essentially locked you out of the firmware, it cuz they are spying on all of us! That’s my (conspiracy) theory lol