FiiO K11 disassembly - modding

Hello ! Just bought K11 dac/headphones amp, here is board photo with some measurements. There are 18 regulators, with 2 independed amps for 4.4mm phones. First of all I don't like polymer caps in analog circuit, and already swiped one op amp to opa1656. Maybe the pictures will be useful for someone to repair

1_k11.jpg
2_k11.jpg
 
First of all, I think it will be good to make linear power supply. What do you think about it needed to be regulated or not with such amount of regulators onboard ? Maybe powerfull transformer 9V, diode bridge and 4700uF will be enough for it ?
 
Of course this should be an amount not exceeding the cost of the device itself, but I'm don't thinking seriosly about this, it is a hobby so it is not important about money. I expect this can sounds better, amount of better at this time is hard to measure ))
Now I'm thinking about choosing a power supply, have three interesting variants: Base On STUDER 900 Circuit Power Supply, S35-MKII Fully Discrete HIFI Linear Power Supply or board with 4pcs LT3045 in parallel
 
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Hello! I have Fiio K11 R2R, the same DAC/AMP combo except, obviously, DAC part, analog part is almost identical. And yes, I`m totally agree about using some normal power supply with this device because there is clear difference in sounding comparing to stock PSU.
Hmm, couple of Nichicon ES caps and four of WIMA caps in audio signal circuit, nice nice) What capacitance you`ve used there?
 
Found that USB controller SA9312 uses passive crystal 12Mhz (in 4pin case). Pin 1 - XTO, pin 3 - XTI
Seems to me it will be better to put here good quality active crystal with output to XTI, this controller makes MCLK and in fact a half or more of work in making audio in whole DAC if using USB.

Any improvement in using a better PS?
IMO better PS is always better if you don't care about it price.
 
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try to cut external MCLK and put active crystal to CS43198 for use it's internal PLL
according to datasheet seems it is impossible in this case because of PLL configuring by external software contol. But I've tried to put active crystal and yes, improving of sound is audible, it is more denser and larger/deeper soundstage (tested with bookshelf speakers). Now tested with Kyocera 12Mhz, soon will put here NDK NSC5083D 24.576M
PLL plays big role in such USB transport devices.
 
So, controller can work with some different clocks according to datasheet, but it is configured in firmware so we can't change 12MHz here. I used Kyocera KC3225
This is small guide to swipe crystal to active crystal (it's out to XI controller pin) only for people who understand what it is and what they do. Be carefull, near glass BGA chip. Big 4R7 restistance (i just have it in such big case) makes RC filter for PLL supply pin, it can be done without it and without cutting too and even without placing 47R at crystal output (and cutting line under it between 3 pin out an XI input)
 

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