Hi JohnW,
Firstly I’d just like to say thanks for your support to the owners of the Dacapo. This is my first posting to DIY audio. I have had my Dacapo & DC since 1996.
A few months ago it failed. I was lucky enough to be looking on the internet and found that other people were having similar problems (god bless the internet!) with their Dacapo’s hence finding you guys and a solution. Cutting a long story short a found a hifi electrical engineer at the end of my street. 6 weeks later and complete rebuild as per JohnW suggestions (including the batteries), I now have the Dacapo & DC back and it’s a beautiful thing. My system is a bit old school (Mephisto CD transport, Trilogy 918 Mk II, Tube Technology Genesis mono blocks, REL Stentor and a pair of ProAc 2.5’s) but I love it.
Now I’m looking for a HDCD filter module can anyone help or know where I could buy one??
Kind regards
Andrew
Firstly I’d just like to say thanks for your support to the owners of the Dacapo. This is my first posting to DIY audio. I have had my Dacapo & DC since 1996.
A few months ago it failed. I was lucky enough to be looking on the internet and found that other people were having similar problems (god bless the internet!) with their Dacapo’s hence finding you guys and a solution. Cutting a long story short a found a hifi electrical engineer at the end of my street. 6 weeks later and complete rebuild as per JohnW suggestions (including the batteries), I now have the Dacapo & DC back and it’s a beautiful thing. My system is a bit old school (Mephisto CD transport, Trilogy 918 Mk II, Tube Technology Genesis mono blocks, REL Stentor and a pair of ProAc 2.5’s) but I love it.
Now I’m looking for a HDCD filter module can anyone help or know where I could buy one??
Kind regards
Andrew
I have a De Capo I bought as spares/repairs as one channel is down.. (prob due to cap leakage).
A previous owner seems to have scraped away the resin from the DAC module in order to trace the problem.
I've always wanted to try the Lampizator valve output stages (please no discussions on whether or not it's a good valve design! That's for other threads..) so could anyone perhaps point to a good place to steal the output from the DAC module? Seems to me to be a good donor for this rather than working through the one channel that's down.
Is the DAC module just that or is there perhaps part of the output stage originating inside the module?
P.S. If I get your attention JohnW, can I ask, did you also design the PT Anniversary PSU? I've a very late design in a PT Litaural style black metal case with silver buttons , designated Rev 0v3 on the board using 12 x AA 1.2v (well, 4 x 3.6v packs) rechargable batteries instead of the usual lead acid cells in a wooden box. Do you know if many of these were made and is it the same as their K-Drive PSU? Looks very similar from photos and very different to the other Anni PSUs..
Cheers in advance,
Nat
A previous owner seems to have scraped away the resin from the DAC module in order to trace the problem.
I've always wanted to try the Lampizator valve output stages (please no discussions on whether or not it's a good valve design! That's for other threads..) so could anyone perhaps point to a good place to steal the output from the DAC module? Seems to me to be a good donor for this rather than working through the one channel that's down.
Is the DAC module just that or is there perhaps part of the output stage originating inside the module?
P.S. If I get your attention JohnW, can I ask, did you also design the PT Anniversary PSU? I've a very late design in a PT Litaural style black metal case with silver buttons , designated Rev 0v3 on the board using 12 x AA 1.2v (well, 4 x 3.6v packs) rechargable batteries instead of the usual lead acid cells in a wooden box. Do you know if many of these were made and is it the same as their K-Drive PSU? Looks very similar from photos and very different to the other Anni PSUs..
Cheers in advance,
Nat
I have a De Capo I bought as spares/repairs as one channel is down.. (prob due to cap leakage).
A previous owner seems to have scraped away the resin from the DAC module in order to trace the problem.
I've always wanted to try the Lampizator valve output stages (please no discussions on whether or not it's a good valve design! That's for other threads..) so could anyone perhaps point to a good place to steal the output from the DAC module? Seems to me to be a good donor for this rather than working through the one channel that's down.
Is the DAC module just that or is there perhaps part of the output stage originating inside the module?
P.S. If I get your attention JohnW, can I ask, did you also design the PT Anniversary PSU? I've a very late design in a PT Litaural style black metal case with silver buttons , designated Rev 0v3 on the board using 12 x AA 1.2v (well, 4 x 3.6v packs) rechargable batteries instead of the usual lead acid cells in a wooden box. Do you know if many of these were made and is it the same as their K-Drive PSU? Looks very similar from photos and very different to the other Anni PSUs..
Cheers in advance,
Nat
A previous owner seems to have scraped away the resin from the DAC module in order to trace the problem.
I've always wanted to try the Lampizator valve output stages (please no discussions on whether or not it's a good valve design! That's for other threads..) so could anyone perhaps point to a good place to steal the output from the DAC module? Seems to me to be a good donor for this rather than working through the one channel that's down.
Is the DAC module just that or is there perhaps part of the output stage originating inside the module?
P.S. If I get your attention JohnW, can I ask, did you also design the PT Anniversary PSU? I've a very late design in a PT Litaural style black metal case with silver buttons , designated Rev 0v3 on the board using 12 x AA 1.2v (well, 4 x 3.6v packs) rechargable batteries instead of the usual lead acid cells in a wooden box. Do you know if many of these were made and is it the same as their K-Drive PSU? Looks very similar from photos and very different to the other Anni PSUs..
Cheers in advance,
Nat
Hi Wishfulaudio,
i may be able to help with the AC card for Dacapo. My old non functioning Dacapo is in storage with some other things and i think that is where the DC card is. It has new caps and is fully functioning. I may also have my DC unit for sale soon(again with all new caps and new batteries) i'm just waiting to see if i can adapt it to work with another unit, if not it will have to go.
If anyone else is interested i have a few other things:
1) Cardinal Unit non functioning original box.
2) Clock lock card.
3) Da capo case/chassis v.good condition original box.
4) 18 bit filter.
5) HDCD filter.
6) Ordinal(needs the two TDA1547 chips changing, which i have new ones of with slotted holders, very tricky soldering work though) will be fully functioning with chips replaced. Unit has also been heavily upgraded by CPT Acoustics.
7) Cardinal remote.
Steven.
Ok. Hope JW can help.
Sold my HDCD filter to Andrew on here. Fully tested and working fine before I sent (left it playing a whole afternoon). He has plugged it into his unit and every so often the sound is cutting out.
His other filter 18 or 20 bit (can't remember which) is working fine. I suggested he could try setting hdcd filter to 24bit and fitting all 3 jumpers on dacapo board to see if any better.
Firstly can someone tell us what all 4 dip switches do and what correct settings were (I know what 16/24bit does and the scaling int/ext is the 6db volume change for no hdcd).
Second JW can you think of anything the Hdcd does that would cause this only to show up with this filter? Maybe a line on PCB on dacapo that could be damaged that would only affect HDCD.
Thanks
John
Sold my HDCD filter to Andrew on here. Fully tested and working fine before I sent (left it playing a whole afternoon). He has plugged it into his unit and every so often the sound is cutting out.
His other filter 18 or 20 bit (can't remember which) is working fine. I suggested he could try setting hdcd filter to 24bit and fitting all 3 jumpers on dacapo board to see if any better.
Firstly can someone tell us what all 4 dip switches do and what correct settings were (I know what 16/24bit does and the scaling int/ext is the 6db volume change for no hdcd).
Second JW can you think of anything the Hdcd does that would cause this only to show up with this filter? Maybe a line on PCB on dacapo that could be damaged that would only affect HDCD.
Thanks
John
Hi,
RE-Fault in Dacapo
I wander if you can help me. I have a DaCapo with HDCD and 1307 which was purchased on 1995. Since few months ago, the gain has dropped suddenly and it has come back few minutes later. The level of drop on the right channel is worse than the left channel. There is no synchronization of drops between left and right. The power supplies were OK and the all connections on the PCB were cleaned . HDCD and 1307 make same problems, so, I believe the filters are OK. I expect the problem is in the DA converter. Is any suggestions?
The DaCapo has been using the part of my reference system for projects. I have been trying to find a similar CD player at the local shops in UK. So far I couldn’t find any. The details of sounds are so poor. So, I have started to consider repairing Dacapo.
Regards, Tammy
RE-Fault in Dacapo
I wander if you can help me. I have a DaCapo with HDCD and 1307 which was purchased on 1995. Since few months ago, the gain has dropped suddenly and it has come back few minutes later. The level of drop on the right channel is worse than the left channel. There is no synchronization of drops between left and right. The power supplies were OK and the all connections on the PCB were cleaned . HDCD and 1307 make same problems, so, I believe the filters are OK. I expect the problem is in the DA converter. Is any suggestions?
The DaCapo has been using the part of my reference system for projects. I have been trying to find a similar CD player at the local shops in UK. So far I couldn’t find any. The details of sounds are so poor. So, I have started to consider repairing Dacapo.
Regards, Tammy
Fault in Dacapo
Hi,
I have a DaCapo with HDCD and 1307 which was purchased on 1995. Since few months ago, the gain has dropped suddenly and it has come back few minutes later. The level of drop on the right channel is worse than the left channel. There is no synchronization of drops between left and right. The power supplies were OK and all connections on the PCB were cleaned. HDCD and 1307 make same problems, so, I believe the filters are OK. I expect the problem is in the DA converter. Is any suggestions?
The DaCapo has been using the part of my reference system for projects. I have been trying to find a similar CD player at the local shops in UK. So far I couldn’t find any. The details of sounds are so poor. So, I have started to consider repairing Dacapo.
Regards, Tammy
Hi,
I have a DaCapo with HDCD and 1307 which was purchased on 1995. Since few months ago, the gain has dropped suddenly and it has come back few minutes later. The level of drop on the right channel is worse than the left channel. There is no synchronization of drops between left and right. The power supplies were OK and all connections on the PCB were cleaned. HDCD and 1307 make same problems, so, I believe the filters are OK. I expect the problem is in the DA converter. Is any suggestions?
The DaCapo has been using the part of my reference system for projects. I have been trying to find a similar CD player at the local shops in UK. So far I couldn’t find any. The details of sounds are so poor. So, I have started to consider repairing Dacapo.
Regards, Tammy
When? How long to continue waiting?
Hi
Could someone let me know whether the new Dacapo (may be with a new name) of John W is on sale?
I have been followed this post since 2006. Then having been waiting for the new design untill 2009.
There was nothing happen. Being annoyed, I posted my thread in 2009-Please have a look at:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/70107-da-capo-issue-john-w-47.html#post1906960
Now April 2012, (to me nearly 6 years now, to the others may be more than 6 years), some one please tell where is the new product to replace Dacapo?
AFAIK, someone said the new one would be better than Dacapo+battery??!?!?!?
Hi
Could someone let me know whether the new Dacapo (may be with a new name) of John W is on sale?
I have been followed this post since 2006. Then having been waiting for the new design untill 2009.
There was nothing happen. Being annoyed, I posted my thread in 2009-Please have a look at:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/70107-da-capo-issue-john-w-47.html#post1906960
Now April 2012, (to me nearly 6 years now, to the others may be more than 6 years), some one please tell where is the new product to replace Dacapo?
AFAIK, someone said the new one would be better than Dacapo+battery??!?!?!?
John W will tell you that he genuinely believes he has far surpassed that design both with the Audiolab M Dac and the 8200CDQ/DQ. These are both his babies, lock stock and barrel.
8200CDQ - Audiolab
Top of the line version of the Sabre 32 DAC's, brand new filters.
"John is convinced that the 8200CD and 8200CDQ are the finest CD players he has ever designed."
Also here:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/70107-da-capo-issue-john-w-72.html
He will happily tell you so in person too.
Page 72:
"And yes - I very much consider the CD / CDQ to be a Dacapo beater - with lack of digital glare! I have yet to hear any disagreement with this statement – how you not notice the number of Dacapo systems that have come up on EBay recently…"
8200CDQ - Audiolab
Top of the line version of the Sabre 32 DAC's, brand new filters.
"John is convinced that the 8200CD and 8200CDQ are the finest CD players he has ever designed."
Also here:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/70107-da-capo-issue-john-w-72.html
He will happily tell you so in person too.
Page 72:
"And yes - I very much consider the CD / CDQ to be a Dacapo beater - with lack of digital glare! I have yet to hear any disagreement with this statement – how you not notice the number of Dacapo systems that have come up on EBay recently…"
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I read a comment he made more recently that was something like: those AudioLab items sounded cold hard and not good to listen to.
There was something over the early impressive number being down graded due to some reason I forgot. I lost interest. How can anyone, even for Chinese money, make a no compromise DAC and analogue stage for a BOM of what I read between the lines was £40 or so? He commented they said no to him adding a 50cent switch to add some features. They did what they could for the target price.
I just spent nearing £80 (UK parts cost) on parts for a low compromise headphone amp with not many parts. And that didn't include a power supply, case or disc spinning mechanism.
What is being referred to is something John talked about a few years ago where he planned to use a 'discrete' DAC of his own to make a new Dacapo, rather than the Sabre chip which came a bit later. After then I seem to recall John said he still had a plan to make a discrete design and sell it to enthusiasts in these threads.
There was something over the early impressive number being down graded due to some reason I forgot. I lost interest. How can anyone, even for Chinese money, make a no compromise DAC and analogue stage for a BOM of what I read between the lines was £40 or so? He commented they said no to him adding a 50cent switch to add some features. They did what they could for the target price.
I just spent nearing £80 (UK parts cost) on parts for a low compromise headphone amp with not many parts. And that didn't include a power supply, case or disc spinning mechanism.
What is being referred to is something John talked about a few years ago where he planned to use a 'discrete' DAC of his own to make a new Dacapo, rather than the Sabre chip which came a bit later. After then I seem to recall John said he still had a plan to make a discrete design and sell it to enthusiasts in these threads.
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Not his own design for Audiolab. He was referring to old school Audiolab designs, totally different from the CDQ. John is hugely proud of the design and the Mdac. Rightly so.
John is not so keen on the large monoblocks apparently designed by Mr self, he says those are cold. He actually likes the Audiolab 8200p amp, which he says sounds sweeter.
S/N over RCA being slightly lower than originally mooted perhaps? Virtually irrelevant but if you want incredibly good S/N ratio (above and way beyond requirements) use the XLR hook up.
heh heh, £40, rubbish.
I have spent money on specific parts like this myself. Comparing your paltry specialist order of parts to mass produced product benefiting from massive economies of scale and (yes lets face it) painfully cheap labour is absurd.
Okay, it would be nice to see this happen, if John feels the market is strong enough to justify the investment. CDQ has been compared favorably technically and subjectively with players three to five times its price. The feature set is extreme useful. Even the headphone amp sounds excellent.
John has been incredibly active on forums regarding the CDQ and Mdac. He strongly recommends the use of high quality transparent loudspeakers. He wants people to hear the units at their best naturally.
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Do you know the actual BOM then? As a rule of thumb, it is, or was, 'retail is 10 times parts cost'. John mentioned £400 retail at one point.
That would have been British Hi-Fi industry rule of thumb though so as these items are Chinese the the margin might be greater? Maybe 20 x BOM? They're in it to make money, the industry that is, that's the whole point. The retailer often takes half the final figure or more so there has to be a massive mark up or the designers and manufacturers wouldn't make anything out of it!
By BOM I mean parts cost and not including labour, shipping, etc.
£80 for a few parts vs. an entire player for maybe £40 even in 'Chinese' money and scale. And you're saying they didn't count the beans and make these items to a cost, necessarily leaving out some quality. Of course they did. And anyway John said it. He did his best to get them to allow him to do as much as he could get them to.
I personally have not heard this range and am not dissing them and can't comment on their value for money or relative quality. I was following this thread for the last few years as I was hoping for a no compromise enthusiast product, ie, something more than eventually arrived. As perhaps were others here.
You appear to be trying hard to 'sell' this Brand. Are you a dealer? I don't care if you are, but do try and keep a balanced view
This is the Do It Yourself Audio forum after all and, as many people here are pretty technically clued up and even working or designing in the industry, sales pitches tend to fall flat
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