AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Owner's Circles => Bolder Cable Company => Topic started by: Wayne1 on 14 Jul 2011, 12:21 am
-
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=48789)
:wink:
-
I recognize that superb craftsmanship. How sweet that would look between my Ulysses. Only imagine how good it will sound :o
Unless I don't know where to look, any details?
-
Come by Room 1030 at RMAF in October for the formal unveiling.
There will be an entirely new power supply section and a completely different tube output section.
That is all I'm willing to say for now.
-
Thank looks like an EE DAC on roids. :lol:
Wayne, I hope you have an option in the color of the chassis. Hint: black chassis. :thumb:
-
If you want an ebony case, I'm sure Lou would be happy to build you one :lol:
For me, I prefer the look of wood.
-
Don't get me wrong, the wood work is gorgeous. :thumb:
My equipment are all made of aluminum that is why.
-
FrankenMax?
-
That's an EE DAC on roids. :lol:
-
Did she make her debut?
-
I bet Wayne's toaster has mods!!!!
-
Very very interesting indeed. My Lector CDP is getting old. Time for a new Digital front end. My Nervosa is perking.
charles
SMA
-
The project was delayed by the announcement that EE prefers that I do not offer any mods to the EE DAC PLUS. I did not feel it was worth pursuing without being able to offer it for the new DAC.
Since RMAF I have been convinced to continue with the project. The power supplies and output stage can be used with a different DAC section that I am also exploring. Perhaps a next generation version will be available to listen to and RMAF next year.
The power supply is going beyond just separate transformers for analog and digital. The tube and solid state sections will each have their own transformers. All power lines will be fed through Bybee Music rails and Paul Hynes regulators will be used extensively. Film caps will be used in place of electrolytic caps whenever possible.
I'll try to post some pictures as the project progresses. I hope to have this particular unit finished by Christmas.
-
At this point, with all the mods being done, wouldn't it be better to build a new DAC from scratch and market it as such.
This would avoid the ''conflict'' with Bill & Alex.
-
Yes, we need new DAC from Bolder Cable Company.
-
Yes, we need new DAC from Bolder Cable Company.
Such a project is being worked on. It will take some time.
-
The project was delayed by the announcement that EE prefers that I do not offer any mods to the EE DAC PLUS. I did not feel it was worth pursuing without being able to offer it for the new DAC.
Since RMAF I have been convinced to continue with the project. The power supplies and output stage can be used with a different DAC section that I am also exploring. Perhaps a next generation version will be available to listen to and RMAF next year.
The power supply is going beyond just separate transformers for analog and digital. The tube and solid state sections will each have their own transformers. All power lines will be fed through Bybee Music rails and Paul Hynes regulators will be used extensively. Film caps will be used in place of electrolytic caps whenever possible.
I'll try to post some pictures as the project progresses. I hope to have this particular unit finished by Christmas.
Hi Wayne,
Any updates or photos regarding my "dac in the box"?
-
The project is finished. I did not have the time to take any photos before shipping it off to Lou Hinkley to put the final finish on the case. I have asked him for a photo or two before he packs it up.
Many mods and variations were pursued and dropped in the production of this unit.
In the end, what I thought gave the best sound was to use a completely separate section to feed the DAC chip. It has it's own transformer, Stealth rectifiers, smoothing caps, pre-regulator, reservoir caps, Bybee Music Rail, Film cap storage and then multiple Paul Hynes regulators on the main circuit board to feed the DAC chip.
The same sort of design was used for the op-amps. Separate transformer, Stealth rectifiers, smoothing caps, then two Paul Hynes Regulators. One each for the positive and negative voltages. Storage caps, film caps and Bybee Music Rails. The op-amps were changed to custom built LME49990 duals for the I/V section and singles for SS output.
The stock transformer was retained to supply AC to the high voltage and filament only. Paul Hynes regulators were used for those voltages. The K&K CCS modules were used to maintain a constant current into the Pavane output tube.The tube circuit values were changed to lower output impedance and maximize signal flow. Output coupling caps in the tube circuit were changed to Sonicaps with bypasses. Output connectors were changed to WBT Silver NextGen. RCA input is also WBT Silver NextGen. BNC is 75 ohm Canare. XLR is Neutrik silver plated. I did not use the USB or optical inlets as I do not consider them to sound very good at all.
AC inlet, fuse and fuse holder are all ACME Audio Silver Plated, Cryo-Treated. The power supplies are all point to point wired on 1/8" thick PCB material. Wiring in power supply is all NITRO. Output wiring is cryo-treated solid core copper. Digital input wiring for BNC and Coax is 75 ohm coax.
This represents about as far as I care to go with the EE MiniMax DAC. It should end up sounding exceptional after extended break-in.
-
Wow! Can I breath now. :thumb:
Good job Wayne!
-
:o
Holy crap! When is it coming to my house for a visit ;)
-
The Hyper modded EE DAC is sold and on it's way to New England after Lou gets through updating the finish and adding some additional RFI shielding.
The main circuit board also received all the "normal" Level 1 EE DAC mods. ALL the capacitors were upgraded. Additional caps were added as bypass.
The case Lou built has a separate, isolated base that all the circuit boards were mounted to. This base is completely separate from the main case. The boards are now pretty much free from any mechanical vibration from the outside environment.
-
I've got to have one of these.
-
Here is a shot of the DAC in my rack
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=55599)
brj has gone out of town for a couple of weeks. While he is gone he has lent me his Pass Labs XA-30.5 amp. It has all the power that the Daedalus Athenas need. The pre-amp is a Hagerman Clarinet I built some time ago.
The sound with the Hyper modded DAC is fabulous. A great deal of space between all the notes. The recording venue is more obvious in good recordings. It truly brings to life the difference between redbook and 24/96 recordings.
I'll try to take a few shots of the innards in a bit.
Here is a bit closer shot of the case.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=55598)
-
Looking good Wayne! :thumb:
-
Do you have an estimated cost yet?
Will it still depend on finding an older Minimax or is there continuing availability through the distributor?
-
Nice!
Great combination with all the components looks like. Congrats Wayne!
-
Do you have an estimated cost yet?
Lots and lots :wink:
This was a one off, custom unit. There will be no more like this. The EE MiniMax DAC is no longer available in the US. If you own one or buy one used and want something like this level, we can talk. Lou might be willing to build another case, maybe. I can say the parts cost keeps going up. For something like this one, figure well north of $4k for my end of things. That is not including the DAC or the case.
Here are some more poor photos.
This is the back panel. Analog outputs and coax input are WBT NextGen Silver. BNC is Canare 75 ohm and XLR is Neutrik silver. AC inlet, fuse holder and fuse are all ACME Audio silver plated and cryo-treated.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=55609)
Here is what the EE DAC board looks like after a few Hynes regulators are added, caps changed, new op-amps and a few things done to the tube circuit.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=55610)
-
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=55611)
Here is a fuzzy shot of the whole shebang. The additional board at the back of the case has the transformer, pre-regulator circuit and Bybee Music Rail that feeds the four Hynes regulators used to send power the the DAC chip. The board on the left side has another transformer just for feeding the op-amps. Two Hynes regulators feed a positive and negative Bybee Music Rail
The other transformer is the stock unit to provide the high voltage to the tube, through a Hynes regulator, the filament voltage through the last Hynes regulator and 5 volts to operate the relays.
-
Wow Wayne! That is one good looking DAC :o Would have liked to heard that one...Nice Work.
-
:drool: Can't manage any other comment.
-
This is a glorious DAC in a league of it's own. I may be headed in another direction and wanted to check and see if any of you guys were interested in purchasing this from me. I haven't thought about a price, but it would be negotiable. Mint condition and one of a kind. PM me anytime. Thanks.
-
I just wanted to give a quick thanks to Wayne and Audiogoober for this extraordinary DAC. I've been enjoying this for the last couple months and can't get over how nice it sounds...I'm in AWE! :thumb:
-
I just wanted to give a quick thanks to Wayne and Audiogoober for this extraordinary DAC. I've been enjoying this for the last couple months and can't get over how nice it sounds...I'm in AWE! :thumb:
Hi guys!
Hello everyone.
I need help with the tube buffer (circuit or proekt) for connecting CD-players and audio amplifiers with LM3886.
So please give suggestion for tube buffer or line stage (schematics) for may CD player and may audio amplifier with LM3886.
Tube can be 12AX7 or ECC88 (6DJ8).
thank you and cheers!
-
I just wanted to give a quick thanks to Wayne and Audiogoober for this extraordinary DAC. I've been enjoying this for the last couple months and can't get over how nice it sounds...I'm in AWE! :thumb:
Glad you like it....enjoy!!