VTV D300 Digital amp

My VTV D300 with WBT NextGen binding posts arrived a few weeks back.  Before receiving it, I bought a used Lumin U1 Mini with Sbooster upgrade to get LEEDH digital volume control.  My speakers are Zu Audio Soul 6.  The Soul 6 doesn't have traditional crossovers but the supertweeter does use a capacitor.  The 10" driver is driven "full range". 

In my digital based system that is heavily and cleanly power conditioned, the D300 has been very fun for listening.  It'a about as good as my DAC and amp I was prior but at much lower cost.  I've sold the old amp and the DAC is up for sale.  If I were using a preamp, that would also be up for sale. 

Because there is not much of an analog path to upgrade, I find myself looking at enhancing the digital chain.  I've recently took receipt of an Audio GD DI-20HE DDC and this has improved the sound. It also has SPDIF input which allows me to connect my ADC I use for home theatre.  The DI-20HE has a clock input and now I'm waiting for my LHY OCK-1 10MHz clock to ship out.

This past weekend, I completed my first mod to the D300.  I switched out the Neutrik RCA SPDIF connector for a Neutrik BNC SPDIF connector.  I used solid copper Neotech wires with the return wire in helix formation around the signal wire. I crimped my own dupont connectors on the board end and I soldered the other end to the BNC connector.  The BNC connection allows me to remove the BNC-RCA adapters I was using on my SPDIF cable. BTW, the ACSS BNC SPDIF output of the DI-20HE DDC works with the D300.  I was afraid they may not be compatible.  The next mods are replacing the board to board wires and AC input wires with Neotech wires and then replacing the AC inlet with the Furutech FI-09 inlet.  I want to keep all mods reversible but this inlet mod might not allow me to do that. 

I'm liking the BNC mod but because I've made simultaneous changes to the system, I'm not sure what how much this mod is contributing to better sound.  It's not an option on the VTV website but I believe the BNC connection can be installed from the factory if asked. 

Speaking of the website, I've noticed the D300 is out of stock for a few days now.  I hope more are available soon because more folks need to hear this amp. 

This past weekend over the span of two days I upgraded the internals of the amp.  On Friday, I replaced the original EMI/RFI filtered inlet with a Furutech FI-09 G inlet.  I had to drill two holes in the backplate to secure the Furutech to the chassis.  Goodbye warranty. By removing the original filtered inlet, this removed some restriction on the dynamic current.  If you are familiar with Shunyata Research, then you must know about their rule #1 which is to not impede what they call "DTCD" (Dynamic Transfer of Current Delivery).  I have a Shunyata power conditioner so I'm allowing that unit to do the AC noise reduction instead.  I also replaced the the original AC power wires inside the amp with 14ga Neotech Stranded UPOCC copper wires.  I hooked up Furutech FP-09 gold spade connectors to one end of the wires and then I crimped down.  My amp comes with a 12V trigger module so I made sure to connect its wires to the Furutech wires before I crimped down the spade connectors.  Then I screwed down the spade connectors into the Furutech inlet.  The Furutech does not have an On/Off switch so now I use the 12V trigger for On/Off.  On the opposite end of the ground cable I crimped on a ring connector and then connected it to chassis.  I crimped on the pin connectors to the Line and Neutral wires and then I connected the pins inside their connectors to the Hypex board.  Then I had a listen...

The difference was very noticeable.  There was more energy to the music and it was more dynamic.  These are two very important qualities for me.  I also noticed I didn't have to increase the volume as much to get the same level of output from the amp.  Feeling pretty good about these AC power upgrades, come Saturday I moved to replace the DC power wires from the Hypex to the EAS board.  The original wires were 14ga stranded copper and I replaced them with 14ga Neotech Solid UPOCC copper wires.  Because these are solid wires, I had to solder the contact pins to the wires.  After the soldering was done, I inserted the pins to the connectors and then attached the connectors to the boards.  I had another listen.

The DC cable upgrades may have been more impactful than the AC upgrades.  With both the AC upgrades and the DC upgrades I found the soundstage had lifted up slightly higher in elevation.  I've never had this experience before in all my past system upgrades.  I can hear more details and instrument separation is better.  The music had better attack when called for and the sounds "popped" more if you know what I mean.  

Needless to say, I highly recommend these upgrades.  This amp is now on steroids.

I went back to using an RCA SPDIF cable so now my next upgrade is to replace the stock RCA connector and associated wires with a WBT 0210 RCA connector and Neotech Solid UPOCC copper wires.

sirnui,

Way to go....you tweaky dude!

You and I have the only VTV D300 amps in existence (more coming soon). Right now I am working up mods on the Peachtree GaN 1 (brother of D300). I will be doing the same mods to both amps. Please try some better speaker output wire. I will also be offering my binding post bypass system using quarter inch nylon bolts, nuts, flat washers and wingnuts used as a clamp. This is even better than the WBTs but you cannot use banana plugs.....only spades and bare wire. All speaker connectors suck....please use bare wire or tinned bare wire everywhere you can and especially on speaker cables. I have been hardwiring my amp to my speakers for over 35 years!

Thanks for posting your sonic findings.....most people have no idea how simple mods can completely change and improve the sonics of equipment (and the mods you did will have no impact on measurements....none). I have been tweaking since the 70s.......he he....since I am in my 70s.....maybe that is not so long.

Have fun!

I have to disagree. I’ve been modding/tweaking for many years...

I have never heard any audible/musical improvements with any modifications to the power side of any electronics. I have done my mods to simplify the signal flow (removing fuses/switches), upgrading contacts (pure copper), more robust/solid connections (solder), and better wiring (OCC, Triple C). For me, as an engineer, purist, it’s a fun hobby.

If you really need to mod some parts of their equipment for better performance, shame on the OEM.