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DAC Opamp Upgrade

I'm considering upgrading the Opamps in my MusicHall 25.3 DAC. Burson Media from Australia seems to make a good fit. Anyone has any experience doing this and what was the outcome ? I have replaced the original tube with a 1965 Mullard 6922 and I feel that was an improvement. 
zipiv
zipiv OP
8 posts
 
Auxinput,

Thank you very much for your all your info. In my continued research I had also come across Sparko's and they certainly got my attention. Upon reading about your impression that too much Class A along the line might get things too warm I got a little concerned. I have a Cary SLP 98 preamp and 2 TAD 1000's ( Class A up to 10 watts then AB ) using a quad of KT 88's each. My speakers are Vienna Acoustic Strauss. Having said and based on my current sound I feel I have plenty of warmth and tubey action going on. I  have emailed with Burson and Sparko's and I can try either product 30 days for a full refund so thats great. I also ordered 2 XLR to RCA adapters that will be arriving today so I can play some with the outputs. The obvious question arises though...when do you stop dumping money into what I see as a low to mid hifi component ?. Here on A-gon there is a Cary DAC 100t going for $875 which to me seems like a good deal. However who doesn't love a good bout of tinkertitis. Which DAC(s) did you use for your opamp rolling if I may ask ?

Thanks again.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
I am using an Emotiva XDA-2 DAC, but at this point I have completely rebuilt almost everything in the DAC, except for resistors.  All electrolytic capacitors have been upgraded.  Voltage regulators have been changed to Sparkos discrete regulators.  Film-on-foil negative feedback caps.  etc.etc.  It is pretty much a $1500+ DAC now.
initforthemusic
282 posts
 
Hi zipiv,

I've had a positive experience with Burson upgrades. I had an old Rotel RCD-991 which I couldn't listen to, (I have 7 spinners). After doing some research about 3 or 4 year ago I took the player to CVE (Melbourne, Aust.)who do the Burson mods/upgrades. They replaced the Op-Amps/Clock/Crystal. The improvement was staggering. I can now listen and enjoy the Rotel. All up it cost me $350, which I considered a bargain.
zipiv OP
8 posts
 
I will be trying this for sure. Traveling at the moment but will give it a go when I get home and report back with my findings.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 

I just replaced the Dexa output buffer op amps with some remaining Sparkos I still have. So now I have all Sparkos in both DAC and preamp. (3 stages in DAC and 2 stages in preamp). The sound is now the best I have heard it. I think it may need just a little bit more snap, but 5 stages of Sparkos definitely sounds great!

One thing I would advise, if you had the ability :

http://s824.photobucket.com/user/ainami/media/electronics/AD797_Sparkos.jpg.html

I have found that soldering a 47uf Nichicon Muse (50V) plus a 0.1uf MKP directly to the +/- power pins of the op amp significantly improves the sound quality. It gives more punch, smoother response, and removes the frizzy highs. It just sounds better.

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