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Tascam DA-3000 mod

96.248.68.41
Posted on May 21, 2017 at 17:59:43
Dave Garretson
Audiophile

Posts: 2448
Joined: June 14, 2005
 I took a significant step forward with this ADC by replacing the LM7812 and LM7912 +/-12V regulators on the power supply board with Belleson SPZ78 and SPZ79 parts. Tascam has not been forthcoming with schematics, but this section of the power supply appears to be the main rail for both ADC and DAC in the unit. DSD128 vinyl rips now sound completely convincing. The DAC section is also much improved. Anyone with modest soldering skills can do it. The result is close enough to archival quality.

 

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RE: Tascam DA-3000 mod, posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:35:31
rrob
Audiophile

Posts: 762
Location: Kansas
Joined: February 7, 2010
 Can you post pictures?

 

Thanks Dave, posted on May 21, 2017 at 19:57:53
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 10117
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007
 I upgraded the 7818 regulator in my Graham Slee Reflex phono stage about four years ago, to results similar to yours. (link to "review" below)

As noted in subsequent posts, this Belleson regulator has given me a greater improvement than any wire (interconnect, speaker, or power cord) upgrade I've ever made.

Good to hear you had such good results as well.


 

RE: Tascam DA-3000 mod, posted on May 21, 2017 at 20:23:10
flood2
Audiophile

Posts: 2558
Joined: January 11, 2011
 The ADC and DAC devices do not work directly off the 12V rails - they work off much lower voltages and there are separate supplies required for the digital section which are separate to the analogue section - for example the PCM4202 operates from a +5V supply for the analogue section and a +3.3V supply for the digital section. Power supply decoupling and filtering is required to be close to the ICs so the 12V rails are somewhat removed from the actual device being powered.
If you really want to make a big difference to the "voicing" then you need to focus on the signal path components on the input to the ADC and the output of the DAC, although IMO Tascam have already done a very good job.


Regards Anthony

"Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.." Keats

 

RE: Tascam DA-3000 mod, posted on May 22, 2017 at 02:26:12
Dave Garretson
Audiophile

Posts: 2448
Joined: June 14, 2005
 It is good to improve both stages in circuits with multiple stages of regulation. But in this unit the down-regulation is performed by small surface-mount devices on crowded PCBs in a shallow chassis that discourages DIY. The main three-pin bipolar regs on the power board are easily replaced with lower noise pieces, and the modification makes a startling improvement.

 

RE: Tascam DA-3000 mod, posted on May 22, 2017 at 02:50:09
Dave Garretson
Audiophile

Posts: 2448
Joined: June 14, 2005
 I'll try to take pix this week. Belleson's newer style SPZ series is compact and fits perfectly. The only consideration is that you need to add a shoulder washer to the screw that attaches the TO-220 tab in order to prevent the tab from grounding through the heat sink.

 

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