I'm currently investigating the possibilities of improving the analogue audio coming from the multichannel board in my OPPO-203.
I've already fitted a linear power supply and an upgraded mainboard clock to the system, benefiting the DAC on the multichannel board.
I've come to the conclusion that a great way to start improving the board would be replacing the voltage regulators, capacitors and opamps.
See the below pictures for a great overlook of the board in its original state, and which components I aim to change.
All the green components are likely to be changed, the red components will stay, where the red square is the DAC (AK4458VN) and the other red capacitors can be changed, but they need to be replaced with the exact same values.
I'm not a firm believer that capacitors will yield such a big sound improvement, but more rather the opamps and then perhaps the voltage regulators, the capacitors might be able to improve the noise level.
What do you guys think?
Any do's, dont's?
I searched the internet for a bit and found out about audio buffer boards, they seem to apply a gain on the input and/or output stage to increase dynamics, could these be used here somewhere?
I'll have access to a digital microscope and a great soldering iron, I'm an electrician so I know my way around things, but not too good with electronics and SMD-devices and audio circuits in general.
Which components would be worthwhile replacing, which components affect the perceivable audio improvement the most?
The analogue board will be connected straight to an Emotiva XPA-3 Gen 3, feeding my needs for both music and home theater, the OPPO-203 is able to decode FLAC, DSD256, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA.
A fun project I think, what's your take on it?
Cheers!
I've already fitted a linear power supply and an upgraded mainboard clock to the system, benefiting the DAC on the multichannel board.
I've come to the conclusion that a great way to start improving the board would be replacing the voltage regulators, capacitors and opamps.
See the below pictures for a great overlook of the board in its original state, and which components I aim to change.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
All the green components are likely to be changed, the red components will stay, where the red square is the DAC (AK4458VN) and the other red capacitors can be changed, but they need to be replaced with the exact same values.
I'm not a firm believer that capacitors will yield such a big sound improvement, but more rather the opamps and then perhaps the voltage regulators, the capacitors might be able to improve the noise level.
What do you guys think?
Any do's, dont's?
I searched the internet for a bit and found out about audio buffer boards, they seem to apply a gain on the input and/or output stage to increase dynamics, could these be used here somewhere?
I'll have access to a digital microscope and a great soldering iron, I'm an electrician so I know my way around things, but not too good with electronics and SMD-devices and audio circuits in general.
Which components would be worthwhile replacing, which components affect the perceivable audio improvement the most?
The analogue board will be connected straight to an Emotiva XPA-3 Gen 3, feeding my needs for both music and home theater, the OPPO-203 is able to decode FLAC, DSD256, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA.
A fun project I think, what's your take on it?
Cheers!
Last edited: