MSB Link DAC Mods - Hats Off to MSB Tech. Support - Dan W.

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Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ.

MSB Link DAC Mods - Hats Off to MSB Tech. Support

207.225.89.26

I want to start off by saying Hats Off to the people at MSB for being supportive of tweakers like myself. I called there today with questions about specific tweaks inside the Link that I was doing myself - was completely straight up with the guy - and he was happy to answer questions and offer ideas. I want to stress that it is unethical for someone to take the ideas presented here and offered by the people at MSB and try to profit from them. I am NOT condoning such actions at all. Rather, to give information to product owners on how to improve the product for their own interest is very cool.
If any of you have followed my posts and Eric's, you know that the mod was a success. After breaking in, the sound is sweet and magical. Bass is definitely tighter and stronger, detail abounds and vocals absolutely sparkle.
I was warned that increasing the size of the 3300uf filter caps with the stock wallwart power supply is not a good idea. It IS okay with the MSB upgrade PS and I would assume also with the Monolithic HC-2 which I am using also with great success.
The people at MSB seemed to indicate that the things that make the biggest improvement in sound quality are:
1) The resistors around the op-amps and any resistors in the signal path to be replaced with Caddocks.
2) The op-amps themselves. There is a Linear Technologies op-amp (LT1364) that is comparable if not better than the AD827.
3) Replacing bypass caps with good quality films - Wima or better.
4) Replace stock diodes with soft recovery diodes at PS (FREDs). I was told to leave the Digital diodes and other components alone as they are part of a bias circuit.
5) Upgrade voltage regulators.
6) The electrolytic caps around the DAC chip should improve sound, but in practice (according to MSB) don't make that much difference.
7) Remove output 100pf filter caps (C50 & C51 I think - don't quote me)
I also removed the LED cable as Ric at EVS and others have said that LED's mess up the sound. I also feel it would be beneficial to damp the chassis and PCB. I am considering adding a damping strip around the edge of the chassis where the top and bottom pieces meat. Add some sort of damping mounts at the PCB where it bolts to the chassis. Adding mass and/or constrained layer damping to the inside top of the chassis.
This is all I know and have to offer about mods for the Link DAC, but I definitely feel that the mod is not that difficult and the result is excellent. Anyone with experience or ideas to share would be gladly welcomed.
FYI - Ric at EVS says that he has a new version of his Millenium DAC coming out with upsampling for around $800. Ric is a great guy and short of already owning a Link, I would give equal attention to Ric's Millenium DAC.
My hat is off to MSB and EVS - Without the kindred pioneering spirit that they both represent, the market and cost would be driven by the "Big Boys" and their bean counters.
Worth of note in terms of "good guys"
www.decware.com (Great SE amp and subwoofer designs)
www.tweakaudio.com (Ric at EVS)
www.msbtech.com (MSB)
Cheers,
Dan W.

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Topic - MSB Link DAC Mods - Hats Off to MSB Tech. Support - Dan W. 13:03:26 05/22/00 (0)

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