luvdunhill

yes... for the zapfilter psu, I used Mills resistors, and Nichicon Fine Gold capacitors. Identical values as stock. I believe I used 11DQ10 diodes as well (a fav of mine). Bypassed the 4 x 2 output caps in the Opus, and bypassed the caps after the 1:1 transformer on the CS receiver board (and a bunch of resistors). I left an (optional) single cap there, per the datasheet recommendation before the transformer on the positive input. Wire was indeed the vhaudio wire for signal and then 18ga Auric hook-up for power. I also used some of the newer (somehow cheaper) silver XLR jacks from Neutrik. Part number NC3FD-LX. Finally, I changed the umbilical cable to "non circular hole cutter tech approved" Neotech NES-3004. Added an Otto and another input on the amp.... Then the usual pixie dust and incantations, and a drop of Ray's blood mixed with a fertile chinchilla (this is key). I find it ironic that all of Steve's gear "broke" while we were testing..... fierce_freak: I just had the luxury to listen to gear and play with it. Nobody does this the first time around anyways. Maybe I'll get the Menace and be able to ditch those big resistors one thing I did, probably just because of my OC-nature is re-bias the amp with the lid on using a bunch of clip on probes. There was a good bit of change in the pots, believe it or not. spritzer: isn't the vhaudio wire and the jupiter wire the same thing? I was under the impression it was...

yup, yup, you stole my thunder Also, multidriver systems don't have more complex crossovers, that's sorta the point. Anyways, with regards to wanting an electrostatic sounding speaker, try Vandersteen, Thiel, Green Mountain Audio, Dunlavy, etc. in addition to the usual 'stat suspects.

seriously, I don't understand what you were getting at, perhaps your first comment was supposed to be tongue-in-cheek... regardless, between that and "anyone can build a new speaker" I think you should try your hand at it someday.

just swapped out the diodes... ok, I'm finally happy with it. I'm not going to let Steve go back to the previous version without a good too bad we're having power issues / electrical storms, or I'd let it burn-in all night.

better question should be, what interconnect options does he have? shouldn't that yellow plug be plugged in somewhere?

to make better speakers? seriously, it's not just for looks.... google "line array speaker" if you're interested at all.

I just replaced the filtering with some Mills MRA-5 and Nichicon Fine Gold caps. I tried a bunch of stuff (too much stuff probably) and found this this really added transparency to the Zap, and this sorta hot top end. I have no idea why, but it did. I'm going to let Steve listen to both versions, as it's unclear to me if it's really an "improvement". More like 2 different flavors. By the time I finished messing with it, his rig is now the anti-HD650 rig... So, I'm really wanting to hear his cans on this rig with his AES/EBU source. I think bypassing the output relays in the ZF would be another possible improvement. With my new found love for EI transformers (maybe R-core too, I have 2 custom units on the way) in digital equipment, that would really be the only other thing I could think to do to the DAC...

just curious, has anyone ever run across some pre-assembled Molex KK-compatible cables? It would be quite handy to have a few of those around

well, that's simple. Apply the concept of monoblocks, or balanced drive to a DAC. Here's some Accuphase marketing swag, note the section on MDSD... apply this concept to a non-oversampling DAC chips, and you have my little DAC project http://www.accuphase.com/model/pdf/dp-700_e.pdf

man, I better get on that...

what about some heatshrink and a common hose-clamp?

not all chips have this low SNR, and not all chips sound the same. Case in point, NOS current-output DACs, where paralleling to gain extra current is very common. Also, check out the ecdesigns DACs, as well as the new Accuphase players to see cases where chips are "combined" to gain more resolution, using bit shift registers.

:prettyprincess:

true, unless there were provision made to bypass one or the other, which I alluded to a few posts back. I think a TP DAC could be included in the beta22 easily and it was definitely be a much cheaper option than an external DAC, commercial or DIY.

yup, that looks more like it. WCF? I'm assuming something-cathode-follower?

I'll let Steve chime in, but I've been playing with his Twisted Pear DAC and beta22 for a while now and I'd had that to my short list of things to consider if you want an all-in-one DAC/AMP. It's a no brainer to "build" (the DAC is basically pre-built) and sounds pretty good. I would say that it's a nice compliment to the beta22's sound signature. If you can wait a bit, they have a new DAC coming out that seems from what I've read to be a very nice option. It's called the Buffalo. More info here: http://www.twistedpearaudio.com/

I've you're referring to this schematic: http://www.headwize.com/projects/waarde1_prj.htm doesn't look like my MPX3 SE. I can verify once I open it to add the new caps though.

I had to resort to desperate measures...

I have this one:

good catch. I've been guilty of strapping caps together and in general being too trusting of the sleeve providing insulation equal to the caps working voltage rating.

honestly, I can think of no possible chain of events that would lead me to doubt Alex... it's just that simple.

Man, I forgot to add 4 1000uF/50V Panasonic FM capacitors (P12393-ND) to my last Digikey order... anyone happen to have some on hand, or about to place an order and wouldn't mind shoving 4 parts into an envelope and sending them my way?

now, who will be the first to try them out on Ray's new amp?

definitely possible, and seems like a good solution for you. You could work something out where you had the built-in DAC and then he ability to bypass it and use an external DAC.