owning this same dac and stumbling across your topic made me curious. the one thing i have experienced is that the bass is not tight. the word that comes to mind is "cloudy". so how would a novice actually do what you did, assuming i could figure out how to take the cover off?! |
First step is to order four of these RAM diodes from Kyle at Reference Audio Mods. I have sent you an email so we can continue with your mod once you have these RAM diodes. |
I would like to get the info also.
Thanks |
I would be interested in this also.
Thank you. |
Would it be safe to assume the same for the DAC 1? |
Bob, if you just got the DAC-2, how could you possibly hear such a dramatic difference from changing the diodes? This may be a great idea. But wait until it breaks in. It changes DRAMATICALLY!
There are other things that make a big difference that won't void your warranted like trying new power and USB cables.
|
One of the first mods for most audio gear is changing the diodes to "soft recovery" diodes to reduce noises. This is a common practice for modders. You can get these diodes from partsconnextion or stores like that. |
My previous post was for JAG not bob. I would like to edit it but it is being screened for approval.
Thanks |
If you view my system, you will see the mod done to the DAC-2 and you will notice that each of these RAM diodes are four soft Soft Recovery & Super Fast Diodes connected in parallel to give the ultimate performance. I believe they are 1 amp ea with a total of 4 amps per RAM diode. To know more about the RAM diodes, contact Kyle at Reference Audio Mods.
Siranthony, regardless when you do this mod, before or after the DAC has been broken in, you will hear a dramatic difference.
2bgeorge, changing your stock diodes in most audio gear to these RAM diodes will have a substantial improvement. |
To all of you that are thinking of changing your fuse to a HiFi-tunning fuse. I can save you the trouble of taking the cover off to see what amp fuse you need. this DAC-2 has a 2.5A.
I just order one for my DAC-2 from the link below.
http://www.revolutionpower.com/p/HiFi-Tuning+Fuses+-+Small+Supreme+FAST+Blow+F/354/ |
How much are these diodes?
I guess it's safe to assume a similar result from replacing the diodes in a cd player. Correct? |
JagD.,
What result did you achieve, if any, replacing the fuse? Thx.
Neal |
Neal, it was significant in cleaner highs, increased resolution, more palpable mids, and tighter bass. |
Jag,
Any reason for stacking the 1amp diodes instead of using a 4amps in each of the 4 slots.
Also, is the 2.5 amp fuse a short one or a long one?
Thanks,
Don |
Thanks, Jag. Interesting. I may give it a try. Wonder if fuse replacement voids the warranty.
Neal |
Don, the link i added takes you to the page where i order the fuse. it is the short fuse. about stacking the 1A diodes is supposably work better then just one 4 amp according to Kyles knowledge on doing mods. |
I have just sent off the DAC-2 to Reference Audio Mods for the second and last mod that will be done to this DAC-2.
Listed below will be the mods.
1.Ultraclock by Audio Consulting
2.Audio Consulting copper transformers with custom I/V stage and buffer. This will include transformers, I/V custom opamps assembly, buffer chips, Audio Consulting wire
3.Rubycon caps
4.WBT NextGen RCA's
These mods will make this DAC-2 "world class" and not just a reference level dac. To view these items by Audio Consulting, goto Reference Audio Mods on the bttm of the home page. |
Has anyone followed the modding advice by Jagdynamics and if so, were the results similar?
What is the cost to do the worldclass mod? If the work is sent out to Audio Consulting, will the result be warranted for some reasonable time period. |
Jagdynamics, if you or anyone else here would like a few of these "exotic diodes" Soft Recovery/Super Fast Diodes. I made hundreds of these for Reference Audio Mods and sell them for $25 each. He didn't invent them nor did I, I just manufactured them much cleaner. As a 30 year veteran jeweler. I do know how to solder using less solder=better silver contact does sound best.
thanks |
I'm going a different path. I've modded some of the caps on the dac and analogue pcb's. The stock diodes are already fast diodes and there are snubbers across them to reduce ringing so there should be little to be gained by swapping them out.
The output stage does use a TL072 op-amp which has a jfet input but I'm yet to fully investigate the role that this device plays in the analogue stage. (Note: Good performance can be obtained from this op-amp by bootstrapping the supplies or feeding from a low Z source to mitigate the non linear input capacitance)
I also intend to reduce the earth inductance between the DAC and PSU pcb's which are connected via a long pinned connector strip.
Thus far, upgrading the 10000uF 6.3V caps on the DAC pcb to Cerafine's + adding Wima mkt decoupling caps in the analogue supply has made a substantial improvement. My next mod is to upgrade the 78XX/79XX regulators that feed the analogue stage. |
