Sparkos SS3602 Dual Discrete Op Amp on Toppings D30 -- some impressions & comments
(At this point, it was only evaluated on planar speakers. Some cheapo cans helped me also. However, another person will be getting this same unit to compare directly with his own [still] stock D30and on good cans.)
Several weeks ago I decided that the super-bargain Toppings D30 sounded good enough as to deserve some tweaking effort. If compared on the full performance count, the stock D30 was no match for some of my other DAC options. However, it did give even my best ones a bit of a scare at times. It was, "sweet" and, in a manner of speaking, almost like simply comparing different concert halls (no 2 halls sound exactly the same even with the very same orchestra playing).
Importantly, the stock D30 managed to keep me listening to music for a few hours in a row which, for a $100 DAC unit is amazing. That's even when one may perceive its weaknesses. The stock D30 does not easily offend; those of you who already have it will probably agree. Furthermore, it seemed to have some more SQ upside potential. Intrigued, I went for it -- at least for the low-hanging fruit...an op amp roll of dice.
At about $70US, the
Sparkos SS3602 discrete op amp seemed like a natural to try for this. It has the required SQ improvement credentials. In addition, it only needs some extra current -- thereby not taxing the PS section. Finally, it would fit in original case. So, I took the plunge.
The work required to do this was minimal (suitable both for those "in the know" and for those willing to dive in ). Happily, the results were about what was expected vs other playback & DAC options I use (though none are "top-tier"). Before mods, the D30 was often bested by either my old Oppo BDP-83, my Light Harmonic Geek Out 1000 or my Oppo 105.
Yet, after the mods, the
Sparkos SS3602 turned the D30 into a little beast that has gained much prowess without losing its original sweet composure. As a result, no single piece of DAC here is always better than it is. At worst, it divides honors more often than not. At best, one knows there are always "wanted things" that it can do better than any.
In the end, this gizmo+gizmo mod can elicit from my small planar speakers not only great sound. Just as "better" DAC units can, it will make my planar speakers sing dynamically (even punching slam where planars are not "supposed" to) and deliver a sumptuously engaging soundscape. It will help to project an ample sound stage that will often deliver 3D element positioning. It will extract from disks and files -- and then deliver -- the SQ differences between DSD and PCM material, and between recording attributes. And, if my cheap cans are to be believed, a lot of this and more may come across decent headphones, as well.
I'll be happy to elaborate if someone needs details. For now here are a few pictures.
Unmodded. Note that my board had Elna electrolytic caps ONLY for the op amp, the other electrolytic caps were cheapo X-Caps or something. This is unlike other D30 I've seen, which have Elna's everywhere. So, I later replaced the cheapo 'lytics - there's just 4 of them. (But these Elna's stayed )
Sizing the Spakos vs the stock opamp on day one. In the end, once finally inserted, the bottom board of the Sparkos wound up resting on the 2 Wima caps.
