Xonar ST/STX mods...

[Coris]

It is a quite long time now I`ve started to mod my Xonar STX. Now is finish this work. The result: you will not believe it (DIY...)
For those interest in this task, I open this thread...

Some pictures to follow...

[zman01]

Look fwd to pictures and description. Bring it on...!

[audiodany]

Hi coris
I believe you about astounding results on modding the Essence ST/STX because it's my same experience.
Here you'll find two links of my mod ( in Italian, I'm sorry) for a simple step and an extreme one
Asus Xonar ESSENCE ST/STX Parte prima: | Forum -X- NextHardware
Asus Xonar ESSENCE ST/STX Parte Seconda: l'upgrade estremo | Forum -X- NextHardware
I think with google translate could be easy to read

[Coris]

Originally Posted by audiodany

Hi coris
I believe you about astounding results on modding the Essence ST/STX because it's my same experience.
Here you'll find two links of my mod ( in Italian, I'm sorry) for a simple step and an extreme one
Asus Xonar ESSENCE ST/STX Parte prima: | Forum -X- NextHardware
Asus Xonar ESSENCE ST/STX Parte Seconda: l'upgrade estremo | Forum -X- NextHardware
I think with google translate could be easy to read

Thanks for the links. It is a little bit difficult to read the translation (not so accurate with Google translate), but one can get an impression about. For my self is not so much to help, because I have already done it. But could be useful for the new ones....

My pictures about those mods will come, but I think not really at once... Those pictures need a little work around for be actually useful in this respect. As my time will permit, I will start to work on this...

For those who want to try change the oscillator: I will suggest to use two solder irons in the same time on both solder points of the old standard oscillator. But for a good mod in this area, one have to remove too the rest of the components involve in this stage. It is about the two capacitors to GND an the resistor between. I`m not so sure if that the traces will remain intact after de-soldering of those components. So the best solution is to lift up the pin of the processor for solder the output pin of the new oscillator directly to that lifted pin. If one decide to chose to lift up that pin, then is no need to remove all the adjacent component for the old oscillator. As a tool for do it this operation, one can use an needle with a bended peak. Lift up that pin in one movement, and let it so afterwords. If you will try to bend that pin one more time, or to much in opposite direction, it is very possible that the pin will broke and everything is definitively lost.
This is a very delicate operation, but the result is immediate and a high positive one.

My complete description of this operation and something else one can find here (Con): Xonar harware mods brainbit | Unified Xonar Drivers

[Coris]

Some of the promises pictures about external/dedicated PSU mod, for the final opamp stage (+/-15v)

[Kuze]

Originally Posted by Coris

For those who want to try change the oscillator: I will suggest to use two solder irons....

I used a needle instead, wedge a needle under the corner of whichever side you're about to de-solder and while de-soldering gently push upwards with the needle... real breeze.

Keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing your guides.

-Alpha

[Coris]

Originally Posted by Kuze

I used a needle instead, wedge a needle under the corner of whichever side you're about to de-solder and while de-soldering gently push upwards with the needle... real breeze.

Keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing your guides.

-Alpha

Yes, is another good method... They are few ways to do the work... In the case of that oscillator is not any problem if the traces will be destroyed...

[Coris]

some more pictures...

[Coris]

Here is how it looks now my STX... The final modified STX.

[Kuze]

Good lord man! lolz lolz lolz.