What's the trick in disassembling the Sabaj D4?

[viivo]

I know it's not a popular or well-known DAC so I'm not hopeful of finding an answer. An hour of searching led nowhere so this is my only other option.

I'd like to replace the 3.5mm input with a 6.35mm jack so I no longer need the huge bulky adapter. Basically, with the rear panel off, the PCB can be pulled out only slightly before a ribbon cable at the front stops it. I see no way of either removing the front or disconnecting the cable so the board can be removed. Anybody know anything about this?

 

[NA Blur]

Give us a couple pics please.

 

[viivo]

Best I can do with a phone.

The bottom is also solid with no mounting points, covered or otherwise. I know that slot on the front looks like it opens, but it just contains some LEDs for the ambient lighting and appears to be purely aesthetic. I pried on it hard enough to hear the creaking of things that are supposed to stay adhered to one another and stopped before it snapped.

 

[NA Blur]

Should be able to unscrew all of the back screws and the one in the front?? Then the board and innards should begin to slide out.

When it is stuck can you not release the ribbon cable clip?

 

[viivo]

There are no screws in the front.

 

[viivo]

Here's with the back off. I thought maybe I had missed some screws inside at the front, but I see nothing.

 

[NA Blur]

Is there no slack in the ribbon cable? It looks like it’s just folded and perhaps sticking on something inside.

 

[tomb]

I see a screw to the far left in the last photo. Looks to me like they assembled it, then glued the plastic insert on the front. That's why you can't get it apart. Look carefully at the inside of the front plate. If that is a screw, you'll have to figure out a way to remove that plastic plate in front before you can dis-assemble it.

 

[NA Blur]

Any luck?

 

[viivo]

Any luck?

I'm afraid not. The thing on the inner front isn't a screw. I think the only way is to disconnect the ribbon cable by pulling out the PCB, which might then reveal the method to remove the front panel. I just don't want to damage anything as I really like the DAC.