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Tube Rolling the Jolida/Black Ice dsd Dac

So I recently purchased the Jolida/Black Ice dsd dac and and a pair of Psvane 12ax7’s.  Played thru about 50 hours and while the soundstage opened up some, in my system detail seemed a little rounded off.  They probably need more hours, and  I recognize these are highly subjective impressions and system dependent, but then a friend gave me a pair of Fisher-era Telefunken’s to play with and I have tons of inner detail, imaging and a wide soundstage.  What I do find, however, is I have turn the volume up further on my passive pre-amp.  I have a pair of 50’s era RCA grey plates coming next week.  Pretty easy to go down the rabbit hole playing with tubes, but that’s half the fun of it.  Curious as to what other tubes Jolida dac owners are using. My system: NuForce STA-200 amp, Luminous Audio pre-amp with Walker mod, Bluesound Node2, and DIY LeCleach horn speakers. Mix of Cullen and Transparent Cables.
renisnceman
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,875 posts
 
Jolida had a much better dac using 6 sn7 and the Sabre pro 38  coming out
with a. Bigger chassis in the spring .  That is what I am waiting for .
for with this current dac ,not even room enough inside to upgrade the coupling capacitors everything is crammed in their which is. Not good 
try turning the volume up and down you can literally hear static through your speakers . Forsure it is robbing detail low quality pots do ,thisis not even as good as the alps pot ,which is ok at best ,no microprocessor ,orresidtive ladder pot .
it should have been bare minimum a Alps pop st least that is relatively clean sounding.the psvane art series tubes at $85 is max I will personally spend 
knowing Thst for for under $1500 something designed by Fosgste is coming out soon and far better .
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,875 posts
 
Regarding fuses the SR orange being currently the best one out there imo.
The Furutech IEC for $25 night and day better gold copper vs junk tinned brass
and buy a $28 box of the Yellow crimp on Furutech slide on bronze,gold terminals ,buy a pair of crimpers or you can use lineman plyers ,vh audio sells the terminals  with the shielded covers ,they slide on nice and tight ,then put in the synergistic fuse and it goes in with the SN writing on the fuses to the left ,towards the Hot or Line,example fuse writing,
RS<<<< this way no guessing ,rule of thumb if ground is on top writing goes backwards like above, if ground on bottom to the right SR  this eliminates experimenting .
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
I misplaced the manual.  Can someone help me get a copy of the wireless set-up directions?
specker
1 posts
 
I called and Jarred walked me through the WiFi setup. It was actually very simple for Apple airplay (I think windows is different) and he was super knowledgeable in helping me understand the product. He did mention being able to upgrade the sound of wanted, but wanted me to listen first and then describe what I would like more or less of... I’m considering trying the orange fuse upgrade as well. 
I did realize after getting it connected that I am able to bypass my bluesound node 2i and use the black ice as an endpoint to my Nuc/Roon Rock. 
I’m running a Nuc/Rock- Node 2i- black ice- Fisher 500b - Altec 604-8k for reference. 
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,875 posts
 
Bypass the volume pot noticeably better ,replace the stock caps as i did withthe excellent VH audio ODam capacitors matched to under .05% per pair , which too gets rid of the molex connector 
WBT input rca, Neotech wire ,and a Furutech IEC input and synergistic orange 🍊 fuse. Great power cord upgrade $199
pangea AC awg 14 sig mk2 using Cardas Clare #1 Copper wire.
for less then $450 im parts totally transforms. This dac .
Liam using pangea. Tubes , Amperex 1950 s  D getter 1960s superb tubes but $$ 300+ .just taking the time here ,night and day 
better will meet or beat any dac under $3 k.
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