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Any electronic modders here at Audiogon?

I'm wondering if there are any electronics modders in here like myself. I would like to hear what you've modified and any good related stories.

I'll start it off with a recent example of a project I just finished a few weeks ago:

First: A little background - I had a PS Audio GCC-100 I had bought off of Audiogon several years ago, but it "died", so I put it in storage where it stayed until about a month ago. Then another amp (a Jungson DA-200IA) I bought here also went bad. 

Shortly after the Jungson died, I saw an ad here on the 'Gon for a PS Audio like my old one that said "just returned from PS Audio with new Gain Cells". This caused me to think that maybe the 2 ICEPower modules inside mine might still be good. Sure enough, they were perfectly fine.

So I set about making what I jokingly call a Jungson ICE amp, where I strip the Jungson innards clean, but save the front panel with the large VU meters, and use the ICE modules and turn the unit into a power amp. Works great, even though the power lever is much lower than the old Jungson. But not a problem, as I don't play it that loud anyway.

Anyone else here have any other good modding stories like that?
joeylawn36111
4krow
80 posts
 
Typically, I stick to either tube equipment and some of the integrated circuits for upgrades and mods.
  I also use the FR300 de-soldering gun. My only complaint is that there is as much cleaning involved as with using de-solder braid, except that it is cleaning out the heat tube of the gun and not cleaning excess flux off the circuit board.
  Many designs out there try to get away with the cheapest setup that will work, and that is where I try to improve at least the component quality.
 Vibration isolation and shielding are also important to me. So far, I have tried copper foil tape and lead sheeting that is very thin. Seems that the lead is most effective.
bigkidz
3,444 posts
 
I stopped doing mods to my components and began building my own.  I was kind of taken back years ago by all the people modifying CDPs preamp and amps, etc. and the prices that they were charging.  I also was disappointed by seeing very little high end parts in many high priced components I repaired.  Things like cheap volume controls, cheap caps and basic resistors.  I first built a preamp because that is where I thought I could improve my system.  I actually installed a switch that I could switch between resistors to hear how each one changed the sound by a simply a turn of a switch.  People came over and told me that there is no way they would hear a difference but as I turned the dial they asked, what did you just do and then told me the differences they heard.  I learned so much from swapping out different parts and how they changed the sound,  improving voltage regulation, rectification, current limiters, volume controls, etc.  Heck even the chassis has an impact on the sound.  It was an eye opening experience and I am still learning more each day.

Happy Listening.

 
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
5,080 posts
 
I mod innocent drivers into Walsh radiators.  I can't afford a pair of German Physiks so I amuse myself with a different sort of complexity...

I got a laugh from Samsung's byline from their Academy Awards commercials, and decided 'Yup, that's about right...."

"Do what you can't."

...and it's good cheap fun. ;)
4krow
80 posts
 
Gotta admit, for the amount of effort, there is nothing like building your own set of speakers. I have been through a few of them over the years. All in all, they usually outperform my expectations, but not always.
  Recently, I added bass drivers to a set of speakers that I built a few years ago. The result was pretty great. Somehow, the match made for good music, and that is pretty much hit or miss unless you have the proper diagnostic tools at your disposal.
erik_squires
16,851 posts
 
+1 4krow

Seriously. Especially when it comes to users trading amps and cables to try to get the tonal qualities they want, nothing beats your own speakers and crossovers.

Every day I listen to the best sounding loudspeakers in the world. Not because they are better than any one else's but because they sound exactly like what I want. It is the difference between going to a restaurant and ordering food, and cooking yourself and having it come out just right for you.

Except perhaps room acoustics.

Between the speakers and the room acoustics, I have more than enough to tinker with, adjust, and make right. If I don't like the tonal balance, or whatever I change the crossover, or the room damping. Done.

My biggest obstacle really is affording an apartment with a room conducive to proper speaker placement. :)


Best,


E
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