|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
72.143.229.145
Nice little upgrade.
Tidies up the harshness I was hearing on some vocal parts and loud complex passages.
Noticing nuances in tones I didn't realize were there.
And I believe I can honestly use the term "blacker background" for the first time in decades. The last time was when I was moving up on the analog end of my set up.
I've been listening for a couple weeks now to material I am very familiar with. The differences are not huge A/B switching in your face. But enough that under $10 in parts plus my labor makes me very happy.
Though a dealer could easily make a case to someone to upgrade to a next level component $$$ based on less of an improvement. I know this because I have been there.
In a couple months I'll tackle the capacitors.
Thank you to all for input on the mod and the recommendation to use Schottky diodes.
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
Follow Ups:
Reviving and old thread as Im doing the same mods now.
This thread is great reference material, thanks.
Re: the rectifier bridger using the Shottkey diodes,
Is there no need for a smoothing capacitor in this rectifier bridge application?
Assuming not, as your happy with the improvement but wanted to check, as a lot of references state need for smoothing cap.
Does it come down to the Speed of the diode, and a fast one you dont need smoothing cap?
Any other thread I've seem modding the 6000 doesn't have a cap across the Rectifier bridge, which is interesting.
Suggests its not needed.
Thanks for any comments.
You do not need a separate smoothing capacitor. Use whatever is stock in the device. Schottky will make any device sound better due to no diode switching noise unlike standard diodes.
and it was one day before the flood kicked my ass out of the basement. On a whim I added an isolation 120vac transformer to power just the digital stuff on my system. I already had a 10 ampere PS Audio to isolate the sources in the system so I placed the simple DIY one after it and played a CD.
Now, I'm fully aware of listening to a new component and making judgements based on 1st impressions, but I was impressed enough to note all the above you mentioned and maybe a bit more. I regret not trying it long long ago. If you happen to give it a try give a report on any result.
I'm still waiting for new carpet in the basement so I have nothing right now.
cheers
I will definitely put that on my list. The nice thing about DIY is the minimal cost to try different things.
Thanks for sharing and sorry to hear about the flood.
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
Good idea, but are the top two diodes in each stack touching each other? At such low voltages, it may not matter.
Ah, good point. They may indeed be touching. I'll see if I can wedge them apart slightly for at least a bit of a gap. I can always resolder or replace too if needed.
Would it be a heat issue?
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
Keep us posted on the mod progress of this transport!
Better capacitors will likely improve things; I would bet
that installing some of the newest discrete 3 terminal
regulator drop in units ( Belleson or Sparko Labs ) would
further improve the sound.
What specific diodes did you install?
I used Vishay SB1H100-E3/73 Schottky diodes. The 1 amp 100 volt diodes were equivalent in spec to the bridge rectifiers I replaced. I did look at some of the Sparkos modules originally. May revisit again down the road.
Hope my original pic showed up? Sometimes I have to reformat them before uploading. I didn't reformat this time.
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
Looks like there are at least 3 regulators on the board...
I suspect that regulators with lower noise and better regulation
( like the Sparko labs ) would improve the performance of the
transport. Case damping might help also (drive case, too).
The Audiolab 6000cdt transport also has a read ahead buffer that is supposed to benefit from the diode upgrade in particular. But I'll admit I'm starting to think of all the other places and components I have that might be worth a look.Yes, besides doing the caps next, damping will eventually follow. I like to listen for a month or so between changes.
Edit: am also taking note regarding the drive case itself. Thank you.
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
Edits: 09/17/21 09/17/21
Where are you getting the information about tweaking the 6000?
Link below of the German site that offers the mod as a kit or you can send the unit in.Not the prettiest site to navigate. Came across it a couple summers ago before I finally purchased the transport later that same year.
I don't see a reference to the read ahead buffer specifically benefitting from the diodes though. So I don't know where I picked that up? I think I more than likely confused the buffer with the servo mechanism. (Edit: Ah, yes, it does mention a benefit to the buffer after all, but as a general power supply upgrade.)
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
Edits: 09/22/21 09/22/21
Now that you have listened to the 6000 for a while, what do you think of it's sonics compared to other transports? I have heard that it is a little on the bright (detailed?) side. What do you think?
I purchased the transport online solely based on reviews. Did not have an opportunity to compare it to any others in person at/or since that time.
I was aware in advance that it may sound slightly bright in some systems but I have a small variety of DIY digital cables on hand that I use that help address different situations.
I ended up using a stranded cable as opposed to a traditional solid core. Oddly the stranded has always worked best for me in the past when I used my older cd players as transports.
The cable took care of the slight brightness and that's how I used it until the warranty expired and I started the mods.
With loosening in our local Covid-19 health restrictions I hope to eventually compare it to other transports.
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
Jonesy:
Did the brightness go down after the diode change? Have you found
some digital cables to sound warmer and less bright than others?
Before the Schottky diodes I found that certain passages of music had a harshness or smear inherent in the recording.
But now the sound is more focused across and depthwise in the soundstage. It wasn't the recording.
I think that smear is more "obvious" or "bright" with high frequencies and less so as you go down through the midrange and bass tones. So when people say "bright", they may not realize all tones may possibly be suffering. Either way, the diodes are an improvement.
Over the years I have found that I prefer certain cables over others in my set up. The cables did help with the overall brightness right from the start.
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
If the diodes made a difference in the sound, it had something to do with the reduced switching noise that they have. Given that, it would not be out of place to assume that high performance & very low noise regulators and better power noise filtering would help the sound of the transport.
Triode Kingdom at DIY Tube thinks you are imagining the Schottky performance. He prefers the 1N4007.
The Schottkys replaced a couple of bridge rectifiers for the power supply on the servo board for the transport. It's possible 1N4007s could have worked just as well or even better in this particular application.
Really happy with the results though.
With Covid-19 restrictions changing all the time, I sure miss being able to get together with others for evaluations.
Though a couple of loonies might skew results even more so, LOL!
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
Conventual to Schottky diodes will improve any electronics. It is same as a solid-state tube.
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: