Well, it probably took me about an hour or so - what helps (in all cases) are proper tools - for example removing smd parts with a standard soldering iron is more time consuming and the chance of ruining a traces is certainly greater (guess how I know...🙄).
As for comparison to this new Topping amp - let's put it this way - after the mod I do not feel any need to look for another amp with the same chip inside.....😉
As for comparison to this new Topping amp - let's put it this way - after the mod I do not feel any need to look for another amp with the same chip inside.....😉
These caps are just for DC protection at the input, so no high frequencies or switching stuff going on. And of course good film caps are preferred as coupling caps, but due to their size they are impossible to fit in. Those
Audio Note caps come close, I think.
I am very much looking forward to this modification.. unfortunately my amp was defective, so I agree with reports about the poor quality check.
The replacement got lost in the mail (beware of amazon logistics as postal service!), and after 1-month of writing countless emails to Hifi-Express they finally gave in and sent another new one one, this time with DHL.
Really looking forward to have this amp back, I really miss its sound.
Meanwell power supply is also waiting here... And I am thinking about different op amps, to replace 1612 for the 1656.
Well, I shall never be a fan of smt soldering - my eyes used to be quite a bit better in the past - and - without being too fond of certain stimulants 😉 - steady hands are in shorty supply as well....😱 .... but a fellow board member helped out and now one of my Sabaj amps uses OPA1656....and THAT has been by far the greatest upgrade.
As we did two amps (yours sincerely supplying the tools) - one with replaced input/coupling caps; one standard - it became obvious that the different opamps had the same effect in both amps: a more silent background, more "air" around performers - actually "more" of everything - the changed caps just added more clarity (and remain - IMO - a very worthwhile mod) - but, in my book, this opamp change is a "must" 😉.
As we did two amps (yours sincerely supplying the tools) - one with replaced input/coupling caps; one standard - it became obvious that the different opamps had the same effect in both amps: a more silent background, more "air" around performers - actually "more" of everything - the changed caps just added more clarity (and remain - IMO - a very worthwhile mod) - but, in my book, this opamp change is a "must" 😉.
Exellent return .... for my part also presbyopia complicates my life ... at the same time everything has become tiny ... resistance ... and chips that send heavy with a crazy small size 🙄🤔🙁
I took too much stimulant too ... I'm paying the price ...
I took too much stimulant too ... I'm paying the price ...
I am the owner of the steady hands😉... And I absolutely agree with Dubai2000. Replacing the opamps for opa1656 is by far the biggest upgrade. Everything becomes better, period. The Sabaj sounds very good out of the box, but now it's even better by not a small margin, especially dynamics , soundstage and sheer musicality improved a lot.
Best spent 6€ since a long time...
Best spent 6€ since a long time...
Ok, I finished updating the A20 (so far...).
First I had to repair it, as it was missing some 0402 1uF caps on the end stage. partly my fault, but also discovered missing 2 of them on a place where I hadn't been... (So happy with my microscope ): )
In the meantime I had bought a second A20. And this one sounds much better. According what others said positively, I can now agree with their findings.
Still it is a bit on the thin side and has a plastic curtain. For instance Simple Minds new Gold Dreams is lacking the driving bass.
The first one (broken) had a very thin sound and a ridiculously wide soundstage, After the repair it was sounding the same as the second one.( A warning, do not mess with these 0402's.... )
So now I could start modifying, as I finally received the opa1656's last week,
Already having the Nichicon KZ's for a couple of months laying around, I changed the blockíng caps and the opamps in one take.
Also I put elna caps on the power line of the opamps (and volume control chip, 7,5 V).
The modified amp is playing now, the solder joints and caps to settle in. But clearly this is a big improvement already. The plastic sound is gone, the sound is fuller, New gold dreams sounding now as it should be, with driving basses. More direct, more push, more power, more room.
I will let it play in for a week and see how it develops.
First I had to repair it, as it was missing some 0402 1uF caps on the end stage. partly my fault, but also discovered missing 2 of them on a place where I hadn't been... (So happy with my microscope ): )
In the meantime I had bought a second A20. And this one sounds much better. According what others said positively, I can now agree with their findings.
Still it is a bit on the thin side and has a plastic curtain. For instance Simple Minds new Gold Dreams is lacking the driving bass.
The first one (broken) had a very thin sound and a ridiculously wide soundstage, After the repair it was sounding the same as the second one.( A warning, do not mess with these 0402's.... )
So now I could start modifying, as I finally received the opa1656's last week,
Already having the Nichicon KZ's for a couple of months laying around, I changed the blockíng caps and the opamps in one take.
Also I put elna caps on the power line of the opamps (and volume control chip, 7,5 V).
The modified amp is playing now, the solder joints and caps to settle in. But clearly this is a big improvement already. The plastic sound is gone, the sound is fuller, New gold dreams sounding now as it should be, with driving basses. More direct, more push, more power, more room.
I will let it play in for a week and see how it develops.
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Congrats for soldering those super small 0402 buggers... And I found it interesting what you say, that the second one sounded better than your first one. I've got the same impression, that the second one sounded better right out of the gate, more dynamic, and better bass control.
I am still waiting for a letter from Hificollective with some caps... And it is actually a good idea to replace the capacitors close to the opamps. In my experience they have a significant influence to the sound, especially in input stages.
I am still waiting for a letter from Hificollective with some caps... And it is actually a good idea to replace the capacitors close to the opamps. In my experience they have a significant influence to the sound, especially in input stages.
Yes, I am really glad that I managed it to get these on the board. Ruined a pad, but fortunately I also received the 0603 1uF cog caps last week, so placed a 0603 instead there, Without the microscope and a really fine soldering tip I just was unable to do this.
The sound difference will be missing 0402's probably, as I said in my case. After the repair the amps sounded the same to me. So I guess the 0402 are not only hard for us to place... Saw it on other threads also, bought amps with missing or misplaced small caps. With the naked eye, you won't notice a missing such small caps that easily.
Used some SMD oscon's on a another amp before, real low esr etc. but the sound was bad. Also that plastic sound. I took them out very quickly then and replaced them with pana's FM there.
After reading different threads about capacitors I choose the KZ's as being the most revealing cap's for blocking. Price is reasonable.
To answer the question of this thread, yes, it's worth the modification effort. But it is not an easy amp to modify, with these flat cables to put out and in again every time. Also the pad's and traces are ruined rather quickly, compared to other amps I played with (FX502 for instance).
We can conclude that the MA12070 is a great chip. But the end result being dependent on the implementation (as always).
To do
I am wondering how much of the transparency is lost by the NJW1194, using a resistor ladder. What can we do there?
Also the big caps on the end amp still have to be exchanged, being underrated it threatens the endurance of the amp. I still run it at 24V, instead of 26V that is supposed to be better sounding.
Adding some capacitance on places like the AVDD of the MA12070 (but not on the 0402's!!). Does it make also such a difference as on the TPA3251?
Also on my list is to exchange the cables inside. Already looked for these connectors, but these particular ones seem not to be available at Mouser.
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Hi amigos for info ;
new Sabaj A8 balanced available soon :
http://www.sabaj.com.cn/en/productshow.asp?id=87
Icepower Modules not fan..... hummmm to follow )
new Sabaj A8 balanced available soon :
http://www.sabaj.com.cn/en/productshow.asp?id=87
Icepower Modules not fan..... hummmm to follow )
Personally not an interesting amp for me - I'd rather wait for the new Merus chip - though OTOH - the A20 sounds now so good and has enough power (now that I have activeated my current speakers) that there is no need for anything else.
What I'd rather see is THEM upgrading the opamps - makes life kind of easier for some of us....🤣.
What I'd rather see is THEM upgrading the opamps - makes life kind of easier for some of us....🤣.
L
I already have a 125ax2 ... but I much prefer the Sabaj A20a ...Hi amigos for info ;
new Sabaj A8 balanced available soon :
http://www.sabaj.com.cn/en/productshow.asp?id=87
Icepower Modules not fan..... hummmm to follow )
To my knowledge all ICE amps are cooled by natural convection ...
That would be a shame .. for having chosen this name. 🙄 🤔😳
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I have an ICEPower 1200AS2 amp and it does get pretty warm. It draws 35 watts idle, nothing icy about it really
(the 1200AS2 does sound better than the SABAJ by the way)
(the 1200AS2 does sound better than the SABAJ by the way)
Maybe, the one I have not tried ... Only 80% efficiency ... 35 watts without solicitation ... not surprisingly, it's still a 1.2 kw amp ... Not at all comparable to the little Sabaj ...
I looked for further optimizations of the pre-amp, as I still noticed some haziness I didn't like.
My recommendation is to replace both the 100uF besides the NJW1194. These are connected to the internal opamps. I used 100uF FM.
Also I added a fast film cap over the + and - 7,5V power rail.
I am very happy with this result 🙂. Sound became much clearer, and more powerfull.
Now I can start thinking about modifying the end-amp
My recommendation is to replace both the 100uF besides the NJW1194. These are connected to the internal opamps. I used 100uF FM.
Also I added a fast film cap over the + and - 7,5V power rail.
I am very happy with this result 🙂. Sound became much clearer, and more powerfull.
Now I can start thinking about modifying the end-amp
Update
I hear recording noise now, where I didn't hear any noise before. Also I notice details in, for instance, The Spirit of Eden of Talk Talk, I haven't heard before.
Damien Rice: the voices get separated now.
I have to order 100uF KZ's, as the FM's although they are really good, can become a bit aggressive as the sound is becoming more and more realistic and powerful. Mouse won't have them before March...🙁.
Still overall the amp is still leaning towards the highs. This must be solved in the end-amp.
I hear recording noise now, where I didn't hear any noise before. Also I notice details in, for instance, The Spirit of Eden of Talk Talk, I haven't heard before.
Damien Rice: the voices get separated now.
I have to order 100uF KZ's, as the FM's although they are really good, can become a bit aggressive as the sound is becoming more and more realistic and powerful. Mouse won't have them before March...🙁.
Still overall the amp is still leaning towards the highs. This must be solved in the end-amp.
Could you please share some pictures of your mod ? Would be nice to see
Happy new year bro )