Re: Diodes
Well, they are what I used in my 67SE. Can't say I really noticed much of a difference (it was subtle enough to have possibly been in my head) and whether they are better than hexfreds is another debate altogether (I've never tried them)..... but if you want Schottkys they are suitable.
Hope this helps a little.
Glenn
micky127 said:
Well, they are what I used in my 67SE. Can't say I really noticed much of a difference (it was subtle enough to have possibly been in my head) and whether they are better than hexfreds is another debate altogether (I've never tried them)..... but if you want Schottkys they are suitable.
Hope this helps a little.
Glenn
marantz mods
Hi, i have tried both 11DQ10 and Hexfred for marantz 67SE but honestly i can not tell the difference considering the HEXFREDs cost three times as much.
I also experienced the same problem with those new VAM1202 coming out from China-only read CDR but not original disc???? BTW has anyone tried Zapfilter installation with Marantz 67? Quan.
Hi, i have tried both 11DQ10 and Hexfred for marantz 67SE but honestly i can not tell the difference considering the HEXFREDs cost three times as much.
I also experienced the same problem with those new VAM1202 coming out from China-only read CDR but not original disc???? BTW has anyone tried Zapfilter installation with Marantz 67? Quan.
Re: marantz mods
Quan - where did you buy from? I used Grandata but was warned by Brent that Nikko (dalbani) are better though I don't think that Grandata would bother to deliberately sabotage them I suppose. I've had 2 bad ones now. About to send it back again.
The first one worked fine but just died after a month. The second would only read 50% of discs, regardless of whether they were CD-R or not, and made horrid noises.
I've got a Zapfilter2 in my 67SE. Still making adjustments but sounds great. I don't recommend it for the faint hearted though. It's not that easy to install in these players as there isn't much spare room. The only place the transformer can go is behind the transport, so the 'arms' of the drawer fit either side of it. The PSU board I bolted to the left-hand side of the case at the rear, and the drawer only just misses the filter caps. The wires have to be considered also. The board itself I bolted to the main PCB above where the HDAMs used to be. I have no space on the the right side of the case as I have a Tent X02 and Tent XO Supply bolted to that. The PSU board and filter board get very hot.
...but it sounds great. It's the first time I've ever heard my system have 'depth' in its soundstage.
I'm still fine-tuning the installation but I'll post some pics if you're interested.
quan said:
Quan - where did you buy from? I used Grandata but was warned by Brent that Nikko (dalbani) are better though I don't think that Grandata would bother to deliberately sabotage them I suppose. I've had 2 bad ones now. About to send it back again.
The first one worked fine but just died after a month. The second would only read 50% of discs, regardless of whether they were CD-R or not, and made horrid noises.
I've got a Zapfilter2 in my 67SE. Still making adjustments but sounds great. I don't recommend it for the faint hearted though. It's not that easy to install in these players as there isn't much spare room. The only place the transformer can go is behind the transport, so the 'arms' of the drawer fit either side of it. The PSU board I bolted to the left-hand side of the case at the rear, and the drawer only just misses the filter caps. The wires have to be considered also. The board itself I bolted to the main PCB above where the HDAMs used to be. I have no space on the the right side of the case as I have a Tent X02 and Tent XO Supply bolted to that. The PSU board and filter board get very hot.
...but it sounds great. It's the first time I've ever heard my system have 'depth' in its soundstage.
I'm still fine-tuning the installation but I'll post some pics if you're interested.
Just noticed you're in Oz, so I guess you used a local supplier.
I bought a VAM1202 a few years ago as a spare, recently installed in my spare 63, and that works flawlessly. QC must've slipped since then.
I bought a VAM1202 a few years ago as a spare, recently installed in my spare 63, and that works flawlessly. QC must've slipped since then.
Diodes
Thank you, Glenn2 - the Schottkys are on their way, but I will need my friend's safe pair of soldering hands to put them in, I think. Then I'll see if my ageing ears can tell any difference.
There is no doubt that if you follow most of the advice on this extraordinary thread some other part(s) of the system become the limiting factor. And you can't tell until you have listened for ages for some of the improvements to properly show themselves.
40 hours or so and very encouraged still
Thank you, Glenn2 - the Schottkys are on their way, but I will need my friend's safe pair of soldering hands to put them in, I think. Then I'll see if my ageing ears can tell any difference.
There is no doubt that if you follow most of the advice on this extraordinary thread some other part(s) of the system become the limiting factor. And you can't tell until you have listened for ages for some of the improvements to properly show themselves.
40 hours or so and very encouraged still
Re: Diodes
Definitely. I found schottky diodes to provide a sweeter, less grainy top end.
Soldered in my transistors last night for my discrete passive filter and buffer (Ray and Jaap to thank for the design!) Just need to buy the resistors and sort out some regulators and then I can test it.
Simon
micky127 said:
Definitely. I found schottky diodes to provide a sweeter, less grainy top end.
Soldered in my transistors last night for my discrete passive filter and buffer (Ray and Jaap to thank for the design!) Just need to buy the resistors and sort out some regulators and then I can test it.
Simon
Attachments
Re: Re: Diodes
Hey Simon, finally going discrete eh? About time! 😀
Just spent a few hours listening to this circuit in my SA8400: sweeet!
I hope you like it.
Regards,
Ray
SimontY said:
Hey Simon, finally going discrete eh? About time! 😀
Just spent a few hours listening to this circuit in my SA8400: sweeet!
I hope you like it.
Regards,
Ray
marantz 67se mods
Hi Glenn2, i would be definitely interested on how you instal the Zapfilter in the marantz. My zapfiltered currently residing inthe Zhaolu 2.5DAC which sounds lovely -i think better than the Benchmark head to head. The picture guide would be greatly appreciated
With regard to the VAM 1202, i currently have a strange problem which no one seems to be able to explain. I have recently installed Kwak clock onto the marantz 67 and the machine now only play CDR disc and with original disc either not recognising it or when it plays there a static like noise and the transport is really noisy. I have no idea how to track down the problem, have tried a new Vam 1202-only read CDR,putting back the original cdm12.1 then it sometimesread sometimes not and sometimes give a staitc like noise when it is playing
Any suggestions? Quan.
Hi Glenn2, i would be definitely interested on how you instal the Zapfilter in the marantz. My zapfiltered currently residing inthe Zhaolu 2.5DAC which sounds lovely -i think better than the Benchmark head to head. The picture guide would be greatly appreciated
With regard to the VAM 1202, i currently have a strange problem which no one seems to be able to explain. I have recently installed Kwak clock onto the marantz 67 and the machine now only play CDR disc and with original disc either not recognising it or when it plays there a static like noise and the transport is really noisy. I have no idea how to track down the problem, have tried a new Vam 1202-only read CDR,putting back the original cdm12.1 then it sometimesread sometimes not and sometimes give a staitc like noise when it is playing
Any suggestions? Quan.
Re: Re: Re: Diodes
Hi Ray, yes I've only been talking about it for a year! 🙄
Waiting for a cheque to clear then I will order those 2w Kiwame resistors. Probably normal 78xx/79xx regs for now but I might use those Tent Shunt ones in the future. They're the cheapest nice regs I've seen anywhere.
Can't wait to hear it, I know it'll be great.
Simon
6h5c said:
Hi Ray, yes I've only been talking about it for a year! 🙄
Waiting for a cheque to clear then I will order those 2w Kiwame resistors. Probably normal 78xx/79xx regs for now but I might use those Tent Shunt ones in the future. They're the cheapest nice regs I've seen anywhere.
Can't wait to hear it, I know it'll be great.
Simon
Re: marantz 67se mods
The Zapfilter doesn't really do much filtering (most DACs do not need as much as an SM5872 with raw pwm output so it would be foolish if it did). The CS or AD chip in your Zhaolou has much less ultrasonic noise on its output. You should think of the Zapfilter as a balanced differential to single-ended converter (like the transistor bit of Ray's circuit) with a bit of extra filtering thrown in. It's 2nd-order and a quite high in frequency I think.
With this DAC it really needs a bit of passive filtering between the DAC and the Zapfilter. I'm currently using the RCRCR (2nd-order) that was already there between the DAC and the first op-amp but this gives a slight roll-off. I'm playing with filter sims at the moment to gives something similar to what Ray used (3rd-order).
With the Zapfilter2 you get very strong, dynamic and powerful bass so any roll-off is not welcome. There's a distinct shift in emphasis when A-Bing between my zapped 67SE and a stock 63 which I use as a reality check (not surprising really).
But as I said I'm still tweaking at this stage.
(Using the Zapfilter also frees up the analogue winding of the transformer - I'm now using this for the DAC only).
quan said:
The Zapfilter doesn't really do much filtering (most DACs do not need as much as an SM5872 with raw pwm output so it would be foolish if it did). The CS or AD chip in your Zhaolou has much less ultrasonic noise on its output. You should think of the Zapfilter as a balanced differential to single-ended converter (like the transistor bit of Ray's circuit) with a bit of extra filtering thrown in. It's 2nd-order and a quite high in frequency I think.
With this DAC it really needs a bit of passive filtering between the DAC and the Zapfilter. I'm currently using the RCRCR (2nd-order) that was already there between the DAC and the first op-amp but this gives a slight roll-off. I'm playing with filter sims at the moment to gives something similar to what Ray used (3rd-order).
With the Zapfilter2 you get very strong, dynamic and powerful bass so any roll-off is not welcome. There's a distinct shift in emphasis when A-Bing between my zapped 67SE and a stock 63 which I use as a reality check (not surprising really).
But as I said I'm still tweaking at this stage.
(Using the Zapfilter also frees up the analogue winding of the transformer - I'm now using this for the DAC only).
Also, if you hold PLAY and STOP as you switch the player on you go into service mode. If you then press PLAY you go into normal usage but with diagnostic error codes.
These are listed in the service manual. When you get a refusal to play a disc, what code do you get?
If this has only happened since using the Kwak Clock this would seem to be the problem. Did you use Elso's PCB or your own?
These are listed in the service manual. When you get a refusal to play a disc, what code do you get?
If this has only happened since using the Kwak Clock this would seem to be the problem. Did you use Elso's PCB or your own?
Sounds like you're happy Glenn. Why do you need all the filtering? Can you hear problems without it? Can it make your power amp unstable?
I will use the CD63 transformer to power my board, as it's a decent one (KI: toroid).
Simon
I will use the CD63 transformer to power my board, as it's a decent one (KI: toroid).
Simon
About time you got on with it Simon!!
I've not modded my cd player for ages now. Been on with other (unfortunately) more expensive upgrades elsewhere.
I'm still waiting for the BG FK for the main smoothing for the discrete pcb.
Brent
I've not modded my cd player for ages now. Been on with other (unfortunately) more expensive upgrades elsewhere.
I'm still waiting for the BG FK for the main smoothing for the discrete pcb.
Brent
Indeed it is, indeed it is... Will be able to show it off at this diy-geek-convention next month, should be fun.
Why don't you treat everyone to a system pic Brenton?
Why don't you treat everyone to a system pic Brenton?
I will as soon as I can remember my image shack password and login 😡
Waiting for email off them
Brent
Waiting for email off them
Brent
SimontY said:
Somebody stuck a Zapfilter (mk1 though I think not mk2) into a 63KI and got audible background noise. They had to reconnect it after the first RC to get rid of it.
I connected after the RCRC and get no noise whatsoever, but there is an ever-so-slight roll-off which I can see when I model the circuit. In the stock filter, the second stage has a slight peak to counteract this rolloff.
I believe unltrasonic noise can cause all sorts of internodulation distortions due to non-linear behaviour of your amp at these frequencies. Maybe also tweeter damage? Dunno.
I'm only feeding a common-or-garden PM66-KI at the moment, which doesn't seem to object to anything.
My modded PM66KI amp is running a pair of ATC SCM40 that are rated at 50 - 300 Watt and 85db efficency and the amp runs them with no probs - ok its beefed up a bit but shows how good they are
Brent
Brent
Ahh, so various reasons Glenn. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
What sort of power supply and regulation does the Zap filter use? Anything fancy? I know it's got its own toroid...
What sort of power supply and regulation does the Zap filter use? Anything fancy? I know it's got its own toroid...
SimontY said:
You get three things:
1) A toroid, cant remember the VA but it looks bigger than the one in a 63KI. It has two 15V secondaries.
2) A psu board. Connects the mains, then to the tx and back, has fuse, schottky rectifiers, filter caps, and 5W series resistors. These get extremely hot. No regulation on this board.. A ribbon connects this to the filter board.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
3) The filter board itself. Has the main filter circuit, shunt regulators, dc servos, o/p relays.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Series resistors! Interesting way to go. No regs either - very interesting! I see most parts on the audio board are SMD. And it uses silver mica caps. I bet Ray's one is at least as good. But 600x more effort. Can't wait to listen!!