The true experimental tweak thread

[marce]

24 minutes ago, Cornan said:

Reading this...

 

 

...makes me wonder why I should´nt try a DC2.1/5.5mm female socket>short wires between positive and negative terminals>ELNA silmic II 1000uF>DC2.1/5.5 male plug pre my Aqvox switch, ISO Regen and Aries Mini? In other words just letting the Gophert supply the regulated voltage and the capacitors to take care of the leakage. Would that actually work and block DC leakage into the device?

 

I hope you all realize that I am thinking out loud here, since my knowledge of capacitors is very limited!

 

What do you mean DC leakage... Caps block DC and pass AC

[Cornan]

2 minutes ago, marce said:

What do you mean DC leakage... Caps block DC and pass AC

 

My main interest is try to block any kind of SMPS leakage or network leakage coming in through the external DC power cables into the powered device. That is really what I am trying to acheive with external voltage regulators. I know very little to none about capacitors, but since I am using two ELNA silmic II 1000uF caps on the input/output of the LM317 voltage regulator by recommendations, my thoughts was really if removing the LM317 and using only the ELNA actually could prove more beneficial due to the absence of an additional voltage regulator? It would´nt surprice me at all if I am on the wrong track, but I do appreciate if you could´nt bring me back to track. Why is the capacitors useful at a DC path? 

[Cornan]

Today I got the two lab-lifting 10x10cm platforms in my mailbox! ?

 

 

Looking good IRL and the blue coloured top and base is made out of aluminium as stated by the specs. Very light weight.

 

I just had to try one under my Intelligent Sound Master Reference 880 ac mains cable. I started to lift up the Brooklyn DAC a bit using a Italian brick and my three Entreg Catfoots feets.

 

 

I positioned one of the platforms directly under the Furutech IEC socket wrapped with a Entreq AC wrap. Difficult to take good picture due to space, but hopefully it shows how it is done.

 

 

A bonus is that the ISO Regen also got a better support with an additional sorbothane cone under it.

I am still waiting for the ESD foam sheets to finalize it, but it really gives a firm support for the IEC which was the whole point. ?

 

I will use the other one to experiment with a bit before I decide a final spot for it. I temporarily try to use it to lift the Entreq Minimus a bit higher from the floor surface to see if it makes an audioble difference or not.

 

 

[Solid-State]

today I replaced the incoming ceramic 47uf capacitors with a 1000uf ELNA Silmic on LT3045 1Ah,
and suddenly all dynamics were there, more 3d, more organic sound, better bass, more details
definitely sounds better,

 

 

[Cornan]

19 minutes ago, TubeMan said:

today I replaced the incoming ceramic 47uf capacitors with a 1000uf ELNA Silmic on LT3045 1Ah,
and suddenly all dynamics were there, more 3d, more organic sound, better bass, more details
definitely sounds better,

 

 

 

Cool! You would'nt have any pictures to show how you've done it? ?

[ted_b]

22 minutes ago, TubeMan said:

today I replaced the incoming ceramic 47uf capacitors with a 1000uf ELNA Silmic on LT3045 1Ah,
and suddenly all dynamics were there, more 3d, more organic sound, better bass, more details
definitely sounds better,

 

 

What made you think those 47uf caps were the bottleneck?  Can I send all my LT3045 boards to you?? 

[Solid-State]

haha that's a secret

[Solid-State]

Just now, ted_b said:

What made you think those 47uf caps were the bottleneck?  Can I send all my LT3045 boards to you?? 

ceramics is not the best capacitors for audio

and they are too small for buffer

 

 

[Solid-State]

3 minutes ago, TubeMan said:

haha that's a secret

I will try tomorrow

[Solid-State]

6 minutes ago, ted_b said:

What made you think those 47uf caps were the bottleneck?  Can I send all my LT3045 boards to you?? 

 

[sandyk]

3 hours ago, TubeMan said:

today I replaced the incoming ceramic 47uf capacitors with a 1000uf ELNA Silmic on LT3045 1Ah,
and suddenly all dynamics were there, more 3d, more organic sound, better bass, more details
definitely sounds better,

 

 

 

 

Surprise, surprise !

 Ceramic capacitors still aren't the best choice for Audio, even the non microphonic types.

Incidentally, the LT3045 Applications Data shows only a measly 4.7uF input capacitor for a single LT3045 and 10uF for parallel LT3045.

 

 

The attached link may be of interest.

http://www.waltjung.org/PDFs/A_RealTime_Signal_Test_For_Capacitor_Quality.pdf

[Cornan]

I decided to make a new attempt without the LT3045's in series this evening. It sounded edgy and harsh in comparence. Much better with the LT3045's in series overall. When I put them back again I dropped the output voltage of the Gopherts a bit from 9v to 8,7v for the IR (LT3045: 8v+7v) and from 7v to 6,7v (LT3045: 6v+5v) giving it an initial 0.7v drop-down instead of 1v. I really expected a decrease in SQ, but it was actually the other way around. A tad more presence, firmer bass and increased 3D was a few noticable improvements I heard. I will keep them this way for sure! ?

[mozes]

My LT3045’s are on the way. I ordered the 1A version, so can I just use them as they are or I have to upgrade caps? Actually I didn’t know that these boards have caps.

[Cornan]

6 minutes ago, mozes said:

My LT3045’s are on the way. I ordered the 1A version, so can I just use them as they are or I have to upgrade caps? Actually I didn’t know that these boards have caps.

 

I have the LT3045's as is with the included (and soldered) caps. Yes, you can use them as they are. My 1A versions for Aries Mini is on the way as well. ?

[mozes]

28 minutes ago, Cornan said:

 

I have the LT3045's as is with the included (and soldered) caps. Yes, you can use them as they are. My 1A versions for Aries Mini is on the way as well. ?

Thanks, I doubt they will improve upon the LPS-1 but will try and see. If not then will try them on my lithium batteries.

[Cornan]

6 minutes ago, mozes said:

Thanks, I doubt they will improve uppn the LPS-1 but will try and see. If not then will try them on my lithium batteries.

 

Don't doubt before you try them! ? Try them both in singles and series before you rule them out, since there are certain advantages using single LT3045 as well. I will soon enough make a bigger comparison with LT3045's, LM317, shunt regulators and ELNA silmic II's in the mix to see what comes out of it. However, the LT3045's in series is surely a step-up in my perticular setup. Who knows where it ends-up though? ?

[Cornan]

Here is a quote from Alex at ALT Hi-Fi regarding shunt regulators that might interest someone:

 

"the strength of shunt regulators is that they minimise the influence between different schematic sections. This is possible because of the constant current consumption of the shunt regulators (their consumption is equal to the sum of current trough the load plus the current through the regulation transistors. And the sum is always constant and equal to the current on which is set the Constant Current Source in the front of schematic). This way, if you use shunt regulators for local decoupling of thedifferent schematic's sections, they will draw constant currents all the time and hence won't hamper the other schematic sections connected to the same power supply (prior to the shunts)."

 

This is partly why I am interested to try shunt regulators as an alternative option to LT3045's in series, since I am focused to minimize interfearences between devices.

[sandyk]

58 minutes ago, Cornan said:

This way, if you use shunt regulators for local decoupling of thedifferent schematic's sections, they will draw constant currents all the time and hence won't hamper the other schematic sections connected to the same power supply (prior to the shunts)."

 

 

In  other words, the Shunt Regulator should compensate for any changes in Current drawn by the device being powered, thus there should be no changes reflected back into other devices via the main power supply.

It's a little like using a high current Zener Diode for stabilisation purposes, but much more effective.

 

The JLH PSU add-on does similar, by generating a correction current in opposition to voltage ripple and momentary changes in voltage via the power supply. It has a typical standby current of around 16mA for correction (modulation)  purposes.

This is way less than most Shunt Regulators, and there is no voltage drop through it, so you don't need to start off with a higher voltage supply as with a typical Shunt Regulator, or generate quite a bit more heat.

[Solid-State]

9 hours ago, sandyk said:

 

 

Surprise, surprise !

 Ceramic capacitors still aren't the best choice for Audio, even the non microphonic types.

Incidentally, the LT3045 Applications Data shows only a measly 4.7uF input capacitor for a single LT3045 and 10uF for parallel LT3045.

 

 

The attached link may be of interest.

http://www.waltjung.org/PDFs/A_RealTime_Signal_Test_For_Capacitor_Quality.pdf

BOM (Bill of Materials) LT3045 x1 : IC, Low Noise Power Solution, Linear Technology – United States T495D476K025ATE250 x 1: Cap Tant Solid 47uF 25V D CASE 10%,Kemet – Japan   GRM31CR71E106KA12L x2 : Cap Ceramic 10uF 25V X7R 10% SMD 1206, Murata – Japan  GRM31MR71E475KA88L x1 : Cap Ceramic 4.7uF 25V X7R 10% SMD 1206, Murata – Japan CRCW0603xxxxFKEA x1: Res Thick Film 0603 1% 0.1W(1/10W) ±100ppm, Vishay – USA   the 47uf has the input voltage with a multimeter,

 

 

[sandyk]

1 hour ago, TubeMan said:

the 47uf has the input voltage with a multimeter,

 

In which case, the Vendor is not sticking with the Application Guidelines.

[Solid-State]

exactly,

[sandyk]

21 minutes ago, TubeMan said:

exactly,

 

Which in this case is probably a good thing, as he has most likely LISTENED to the sound of the V.R.  and decided to replace the Input capacitor with something that results in a more balanced sound overall.

[tapatrick]

2 hours ago, TubeMan said:

BOM (Bill of Materials) LT3045 x1 : IC, Low Noise Power Solution, Linear Technology – United States T495D476K025ATE250 x 1: Cap Tant Solid 47uF 25V D CASE 10%,Kemet – Japan   GRM31CR71E106KA12L x2 : Cap Ceramic 10uF 25V X7R 10% SMD 1206, Murata – Japan  GRM31MR71E475KA88L x1 : Cap Ceramic 4.7uF 25V X7R 10% SMD 1206, Murata – Japan CRCW0603xxxxFKEA x1: Res Thick Film 0603 1% 0.1W(1/10W) ±100ppm, Vishay – USA   the 47uf has the input voltage with a multimeter,

 

 

Thanks both @Tubeman & @ Sandyk for the advice. Will try these tweaks out when I find time(!)

[Cornan]

Here is a music tip in lack of new experiments.

 

Billie Eilish - dont smile at me

https://tidal.com/album/77045351

 

 

I just love her voice. Just listen to this video and you´ll probably understand why!  

 

 

 

 

 

[Cornan]

Here is another great female voice with a voice like angel.

 

Morgan Saint- 17 HERO

https://tidal.com/album/79685877