Trends Audio TA-10: Modding Potential?

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#661
#663
Hi Dave,

I'd certainly recommend trying the battery. I found it sounded a bit better that the stock PSU, but similar to a good quality Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smps

You can get a surplus SMPS from (say) eBay or your local surplus store for reasonable cash. I got these from eBay UK, but I wouldn't know if it would be economic to ship to the US.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/A-Pair-of-SMP...1QQcmdZViewItem

HTH

Jon
Click to expand...

Thanks!

I guess its worth trying both since I alredy have the battery 😀

My local electronics surplus store has a 4A SMPS for $25 and a large (half the size of a concrete block) 3A linear power supply for $35. Would you still recomment the SMPS?

Dave
 
#665
Davec113 said:


Thanks!

I guess its worth trying both since I alredy have the battery 😀

My local electronics surplus store has a 4A SMPS for $25 and a large (half the size of a concrete block) 3A linear power supply for $35. Would you still recomment the SMPS?

Dave
Click to expand...

I guess you can't edit posts on this forum... the Trends lives, and might even sound better with the new 4A smps, the linear supply was not regulated, so that was out. I'll have to get back the stock ps so I can use it as a reference when judging ps changes. I'm happy the amp is OK! 🙂
 
#666
Need technical support

When I did some Mods on My Ta-10.1, I melted the Big Yellow capacitor
near the Tripath chip with my Iron, I would like to replaced-it but
I really don' t know the part Number and where I can get it...

Note that on the yellow cap. is written this: T1u0J63


Thank for your help

Stephan
 
#668
Re: Need technical support

theghost69 said:
When I did some Mods on My Ta-10.1, I melted the Big Yellow capacitor
Click to expand...

Did you melt it so badly that it does not work? You can melt the outside a bit, put a divet in it and not hurt it.

It's a common polyester cap. Value is 1uF, 63V. (I think). Easy to find.
 
#669
New Power Supplies Rock!

The differences between the 4.1A smps and battery are subtle compared to one another but both are noticably better than the stock ps. The replacement supplies both give the music more dynamics, weight and bass. The battery has a slight edge in delivering a very "clean" sound, more precise bass and a slightly more stable soundstage. Again, this wasn't a night and day difference at all, but enough that I will keep the battery around. I'd guess the difference between the battery and a better smps would be lost on me, but a good smps might be worth not dealing with recharging a battery.

Does anyone belive that using a capacitor with the battery will help?

Dave
 
#670
I switched jumpers and set the TA-10.1 to power amp mode using just the pre-outs of my tube headphone amp and the thing came alive! Wider soundstage, deeper bass, better dynamics. It could even drive Dynaudio 42s at just 11 o'clock. Im convinced just replacing the volume pot is not enough, im going external! Question is which one, admittedly better as my HP amp's pre-out are over the built-in volume control of the TA-10.1, it has lots of room to improve on - detail, resolution, etc. Which is a better option - DACT passive attenuator or TVC? Anyone have experience combining any of the two with the TA-10.1?
 
#671
Re: New Power Supplies Rock!

Davec113 said:
Does anyone belive that using a capacitor with the battery will help?
Click to expand...

I do.

Batteries don't deal well with the RF noise that the Tripath chips generate. So I simply add a film cap and a good electrolytic at the battery. You can just crimp them right into the spade connectors on the battery end of your power cord, it you wish. Works for me!

Also agree that the stock Trends supply can be improved upon and that between a good SMPS and battery the difference is very subtle.
 
#672
Thank you Panomaniac

Hello, Panomaniac,

Thank you for your help, My TA-10.1 still working but the capacitor
is burned badly, anyway I will change it for esthetique purpose, I know
I am a bit Perfect Parano maniac audio freak... Ah, ah,ah.

BTW I really appreciated your contribution on this forum, I did the
Mod 3 on my Trends, the sound at first was bit on the high side but
I think after 50 hours now...is sound better more musical not as
my Naim 10 000$$$ equipement but it is funny to see that this
silver matches box is almost 80% as good at 1.5% of the price.

I have a question for you : If I shield the case with copper sheet, do
you think it will neutralize some nasty RFI or it is negligeable.


Montreal French Audio maniac


Step.Lang:angel:
 
#673
Re: Re: New Power Supplies Rock!

panomaniac said:


Batteries don't deal well with the RF noise that the Tripath chips generate. So I simply add a film cap and a good electrolytic at the battery. You can just crimp them right into the spade connectors on the battery end of your power cord, it you wish. Works for me!
Click to expand...


Thanks, I'll give it a try. What caps would you suggest and are they wired directly to the battery terminals? Sorry, I'm a noob at this sort of thing 😉

Dave
 
#674
I'm very interested in it as well. I'm just running the battery bare right now but I also purchased the Battery Power Supply from Audiomagus and am waiting delivery. I'd probably throw the caps in there when I get a chance. Just need to have an idea regarding values and how to bypass correctly. Thanks in Advance!
 
#675
Trends TA-10.1Mods from Turkey by Gesvages

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#677
panomaniac said:
Need a power supply?

Go here, get this:

BG Micro SMPS

It may not be the best sounding PSU in the world, but it will get you started for cheap. Then you can upgrade later.

BTW, I think that the Skynet 9037 sounds better than the 8080. It's smaller and easier to use, too.
Click to expand...

Do you prefer the XP Power over the 9037? I'm still playing with various options right now.
 
#679
Sjef said:
Has anyone else thought of changing the 0,1uF Ca cap near the Tripath chip. In the TA2024 datasheet this one is called the biascap and it refers the input opamps to ground at pin 16 of the chip. |Since this is the reference on wich the opamp amplifies (buffers in this case) it is directly in the signal path and therefore as important as the input caps.

Just have to find a good quality 0,1uF cap of reasonable size. Anybody any recommendations ? I guess the value of 0,1 uF is not that critical, good as well be a bit bigger as long as the size of the cap isn't much bigger, something like the Obbligato's would be way out of place here.
Click to expand...

I have a stock TA 10.1 that I let burn in for around 80 hours. It sounded good but still a little unrefined. I just swapped the bias cap (Ca) with a Vishay Rodderstein MKT1822 .1uF 5% and it made a nice improvement. Sounds more balanced and dynamic. I think the midrange is more defined and the highs are a little less hot leading to the improvement. Its also out of the case right now which may make a difference but I would say it is worth the couple bucks I sent to Mouser for the cap. Its a lot bigger than the stock cap so I had to bend the pins a little but nothing too difficult.
I'll be swapping in the Vishay's on the input soon too.
 
#680
The MKT1817 or the MKT1826 are the same size as the original caps (5mm). I'm playing with the output filter now using these caps. I noticed that the output filter on the Trends is designed for an 8 ohm load, while the eval. board/datasheet indicates an 6 ohm load. I guess you could tweak the caps to match your speaker if you desire.

I have no idea where to get a hold of a Skynet 9037. Any hints?
 
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