SDTrans384 mod discussion thread

[Bunpei]

... What brand, values & bypass, greatly affects the sound. My last tweak was focus on SdTrans cause my original thoughts was since Im already supplying very low noise discrete regs, sound should be great but when I started to play with PS caps, omg how could it be, the sound improve vastly, I was really really surprise that this could happen on digital side. Moral of story, just because you’ve got low noise regs it doesn’t mean that mains noise will not break through. ...

Yes, everything matters in our cases!
In my case, new rectifier approaches have brought significant SQ improvements. Please refer this thread led by Mr. Ozawa and Bunpei.
Applying GaN transistor as a replacement of SiC rectifier

 

[Bunpei]

My set up Bunpei

Oh, are you connecting your SDTrans384 to TDA1541A DAC adopting an I2S signal interface?

 

[sumotan]

Yes Bunpei hence for dac side my focus is all on the supplies that supports the function of the TDA. I don’t listen to hi res files cause I’ve auditioned a number of hi res dac & frankly its’s not day & nite to my ears even from brands like DCS.

Cheers

 

[sumotan]

After reading the Gan as rectifiers it intriques me Bunpei. Makes me wonder how much better it is when compared to schottky diode/rc approach with C being bypass with BG N caps. The N in small value work wonders as bypass in main PS.

Cheers

 

[insatiable]

Hello Bunpei,

I see from your photo that the two FPGA chips are covered with some kind of stickers...
What are they? and what do they do?

Thank you

 

[Bunpei]

Hi, insatiable!

That is a finemet tape.
https://www.amazon.co.jp/ファインメットテープ-SHIELD-MS-FR-加工品-幅9mm-両面テープ付き/dp/B017I8XI82/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?__mk_ja_JP=カタカナ&qid=1535550685&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=ファインメット+テープ&dpPl=1&dpID=41jXJAY60tL&ref=plSrch

Finemet is a nanocrystalline soft magnetic material.

Nanocrystalline Soft Magnetic Material FINEMET^(R) | Hitachi Metals

I believe this material absorbs high-frequency electronic radiation very well.

Bunpei