Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? - Gary B. - Tweakers' Asylum

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Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX?

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In Reply to: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? posted by rcuello on July 29, 2000 at 14:39:59:

I'm not sure if you are into home construction, but if you are, Audio Amateur magazine had an article about upgrading the DITB in Issue 4/1994 and 1/1996. Its rather complicated, adding an extra circuit board that dejitters the signal coming into the DITB and upgrades the power supply. They also recommend changing the I-V converter to an AD811. I think they still sell the circuit board. They also suggest adding a separate regulator for the analog and digital sections or at the very least upgrading the on board regulators to higher grade parts.
I built this and am using it with good results. In addition to the changes suggested in the article, I did the following:
---added surface mount decoupling caps at the pins of the critical digital components
---added a few series surface mount resistors in critical digital lines to prevent ringing
---changed the output filter to a passive LC filter
---added a discrete output buffer
---added an input pulse transformer
A lot of these things were inspired by an article written by Pete Goudreau on rec.audio.high-end about upgrading a Parts Connection DAC a few years back.
If you do this, you need to find a new cabinet and it becomes a major, major project.
If you were looking for the biggest bang for the smallest investment in time, I'd suggest doing the following:
1)If you are handy with a soldering iron, try the SMD capacitor and resistor trick. That makes a big difference for very little time/effort.
2)Improve/beef up the external power supply and upgrade the onboard regulators to linear technology parts.
3)Change the I-V converter to an AD811 or some better part.
Good luck!
---Gary

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? - rcuello 14:39:59 07/29/00 (12)

Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? - Gary B. 05:02:02 07/30/00 (0)

Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? - Analogon 16:39:42 07/29/00 (10)

Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? - ccd 17:44:59 07/29/00 (9)

Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? - Analogon 23:53:57 07/29/00 (8)

Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? - JimL 04:14:07 07/31/00 (2)

Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? - Analogon 14:45:25 08/03/00 (1)

Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? - JimL 03:51:12 08/04/00 (0)

Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? - ccd 06:48:03 07/30/00 (4)

Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? - Analogon 09:08:32 07/30/00 (3)

Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? - ccd 15:22:48 07/30/00 (0)

Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? Thanks!! - rcuello 12:30:34 07/30/00 (1)

Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? Plenty!! - BFitz 21:54:28 07/30/00 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: Tweaks for DAC-in-the-BOX? - Gary B. 05:02:02 07/30/00 (0)

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