Paradisea DAC

tanchiro58 · « **Reply #520 on:** 13 Dec 2007, 05:49 pm »

Fing,

This is a link that has pictures:

The two big yellow caps which has 1.5-2.0mF/250V are the analog output caps.

R Browne · « **Reply #521 on:** 16 Dec 2007, 03:18 pm »

Here's a pic of the Paradisea with the V-Caps referenced above:

anthony a. · « **Reply #522 on:** 16 Dec 2007, 05:33 pm »

hey r browne, i see you own the shigaraki dac. have you compared it with the paradisea dac and if so, any comments about it?

R Browne · « **Reply #523 on:** 16 Dec 2007, 07:12 pm »

I haven't done any analytical A + B comparisons because I find them to be tedious but my casual impression is that the V-Cap modified Paradisea with a Bendix 2C51 tube sounds VERY close to the 47 Labs 4715 Shigaraki DAC. So much so that you would have to do a careful A + B comparison to note any differences which I am sure would be revealed. Keep in mind that this is the original model Paradisea without the newer transformer, caps and op-amp.

The Paradisea at current pricing with the additional cost of the V-Caps and upgraded tube is half the price of the Shigaraki DAC, so it is quite a good value for a roughly comparable piece of equipment. I might also add that the 47 Labs 4716 Shigaraki Transport works very well with the Paradisea.

anthony a. · « **Reply #524 on:** 16 Dec 2007, 07:24 pm »

hmm, very interesting. i guess if its that close, i won't bother to buy one and try it out. what changes to the sound would you say the v caps made to the paradisea?

R Browne · « **Reply #525 on:** 16 Dec 2007, 08:01 pm »

Quote from: R Browne on 26 May 2007, 09:54 pm

I just replaced the stock output coupling caps in my Paradisea DAC with V-Cap OIMP 2.0 uF 250V caps and the change went way beyond that of upgrading the tubes. These caps reportedly take 400 hrs. to fully break in, but my initial impressions with just a few hours on them in the Paradisea are that of a more vivid, colorful and saturated sound with greater speed, dynamics and bass. Individual instruments are now easier to follow. A much more musically involving presentation than before. Time will tell as to what greater improvements will follow. As usual, YMMV, but for me a definite improvement over the stock caps. Info on the V-Cap OIMP can be found at:http://www.v-cap.com/oilcapacitors.html

See above. After 500 hr. burn in it is more refined. It is a bit of a bumpy ride until the 400-500 hr. point. Well worth it in my opinion.

Fing · « **Reply #526 on:** 18 Dec 2007, 01:55 pm »

Thank you Tanchiro58 and R Browne.

Is there any benefit to putting in a much larger value cap? For instance an 6.8uF V-cap? Or would it have bad side effects?

Cheers!

tanchiro58 · « **Reply #527 on:** 18 Dec 2007, 07:00 pm »

Quote from: Fing on 18 Dec 2007, 01:55 pm

Thank you Tanchiro58 and R Browne.

Is there any benefit to putting in a much larger value cap? For instance an 6.8uF V-cap? Or would it have bad side effects?

Cheers!

Fing,

I do not think that there will be bad side effects when replacing the 6.8mF V-cap. I have not tried on my Renaissance II before but I already tried to my Altmann Attraction DAC and BYOB amp. The sound would be opened more but you need to bypass with some other high quality caps to have an effect to high-and midrange and bottom end.

t-head · « **Reply #528 on:** 20 Dec 2007, 04:23 pm »

Hi all,

Does anyone know if a 110v model of the Paradisea+ USB DAC will operate with 220v mains? Thanks.

tea

R Browne · « **Reply #529 on:** 22 Dec 2007, 05:32 am »

The recent listings on Ebay by MHdt Labs for the Paradisea+ USB DAC state: "115/230V power supply selectable from internal PCB jump pins setting."

t-head · « **Reply #530 on:** 22 Dec 2007, 10:17 am »

R Browne,

Thanks. Do you happen to know where these jumpers are located and how to perform this switch? Or anyone else?

Richard

t-head · « **Reply #531 on:** 22 Dec 2007, 03:21 pm »

Found the jumpers on the pcb near the IEC connector. It seems you remove the two jumpers and replace one across pins 2 and 3...

'when in doubt, go back and read the pcb'...

tea

emac · « **Reply #532 on:** 7 Jan 2008, 03:29 am »

Just wanted to pass along what I've found from modding my Constantine DAC further, since it applies to the Paradisea as well. Basically, my conclusion is the the MHDT Labs film and foil caps are not so hot. I've been replacing all of these caps (not just the output ones) with 1.0 and 0.1 microfarad metal film caps from Radio Shack. These caps have gotten pretty good reviews (especially for their price), and they are a step up from the MHDT Labs caps. I've been going one or two caps at a time, and with each one there is an incremental improvement. Very interesting. I figured there would be an improvement by changing the output caps, but not by swapping out the other caps in the circuit. Not arguing with the results though.

David2021 · « **Reply #533 on:** 9 Jan 2008, 02:27 am »

Hi and I need some help?

I just received the Paradisea+. I have it hook-up through the USB port of my computer and into the USB on the DAC. The lights stay on yellow and green and also the tube is on. The DAC is then going into my powered Auduioengine speakers. I am not getting any sound out of the DAC/Speakers. Sometimes the computer recognizes the DAC and other times it does not.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I will be using ITunes and I have Windows XP

Thanks,
David

GHM · « **Reply #534 on:** 9 Jan 2008, 02:55 am »

Not a good idea to run the Dac directly into powered speakers. You need a preamp of some sort. I understand the fondness for Itunes , but you are shooting yourself in the foot running it in windows. Best to use Foobar. You can go in the preferences in foobar and select the USB Dac as output. Even better use ASIO4all.

TomS · « **Reply #535 on:** 9 Jan 2008, 02:59 am »

Quote from: GHM on 9 Jan 2008, 02:55 am

Not a good idea to run the Dac directly into powered speakers. You need a preamp of some sort. I understand the fondness for Itunes , but you are shooting yourself in the foot running it in windows. Best to use Foobar. You can go in the preferences in foobar and select the USB Dac as output. Even better use ASIO4all.

The DAC should run fine into the Audioengine speakers since they do have a volume control that is part of the internal integrated amp. Problem sounds like drivers on the Windoze side.

GHM · « **Reply #536 on:** 9 Jan 2008, 03:11 am »

Quote from: TomS on 9 Jan 2008, 02:59 am

Quote from: GHM on 9 Jan 2008, 02:55 am
Not a good idea to run the Dac directly into powered speakers. You need a preamp of some sort. I understand the fondness for Itunes , but you are shooting yourself in the foot running it in windows. Best to use Foobar. You can go in the preferences in foobar and select the USB Dac as output. Even better use ASIO4all.
The DAC should run fine into the Audioengine speakers since they do have a volume control that is part of the internal integrated amp. Problem sounds like drivers on the Windoze side.

Thanks for the info. Wasn't aware these speakers have a volume control on them...I've seen guys trying to use the Paradisea directly into amplifiers using a digital volume control inside a media player..not a good idea.

TomS · « **Reply #537 on:** 9 Jan 2008, 03:18 am »

Quote from: GHM on 9 Jan 2008, 03:11 am

Quote from: TomS on 9 Jan 2008, 02:59 am
Quote from: GHM on 9 Jan 2008, 02:55 am
Not a good idea to run the Dac directly into powered speakers. You need a preamp of some sort. I understand the fondness for Itunes , but you are shooting yourself in the foot running it in windows. Best to use Foobar. You can go in the preferences in foobar and select the USB Dac as output. Even better use ASIO4all.
The DAC should run fine into the Audioengine speakers since they do have a volume control that is part of the internal integrated amp. Problem sounds like drivers on the Windoze side.

Thanks for the info. Wasn't aware these speakers have a volume control on them...I've seen guys trying to use the Paradisea directly into amplifiers using a digital volume control inside a media player..not a good idea.

Yep, good point. You start losing resolution fast.

David2021 · « **Reply #538 on:** 10 Jan 2008, 12:20 am »

Thanks for all the input. I got it working and it's a great sound!
Windows gave me 3 upgrades and when I started back-up the sound came through just fine and spectacular. Got to love those AudioEngine speakers!

Thanks again,
David

TomS · « **Reply #539 on:** 10 Jan 2008, 12:23 am »

Quote from: David2021 on 10 Jan 2008, 12:20 am

Thanks for all the input. I got it working and it's a great sound!
Windows gave me 3 upgrades and when I started back-up the sound came through just fine and spectacular. Got to love those AudioEngine speakers!

Thanks again,
David

Glad you got it solved. I bought a set for my daughter at college. She and her roommates stream to an airport express hooked to the back. iTunes from everyone's PC's and they can drop their iPods in a dock on top if they want. They love the AE5's. In her words, "they rock!" Tom