[carusoracer]

New player to me. Shanling SCDT200A. I'm looking for past and present owners opinions on mods, tweeks9i.e cables,ic, tubes, and vibration control.

I want to here from owner experiences' regarding the unit and how to cost effectively make it sound better aa

Any help appreciated

[Gordy]

The only tubes I tried were the WE396a's which were a real nice kick up. TVad had some 396's for sale at a great price and a link was posted by JoshK for others so, you might want to check out the Paradisea dac threads for more info on other tubes that could be tried...

Enjoy!

[R_burke]

Tube change out is easiest and perhaps cheapest.  Either WE 396As or some good JAN 5670s

[Occam]

Here is what Underwood HIFI recommends -
http://www.underwoodhifi.com/mod_shanling.html

Its a relatively standard upgrade of the power supply, opamps, coupling and ps decoupling caps. IMO, you'd be better off by replacing the mediocre OPA2604s with OPA2107s (Underwood swaps the 2604s for  2 brown dogged adapters (2xOPA627s on a daughter card), but frankly you'd get the great majority of those specific benefits with the simpler straight swap for 2107s. As far as the rest you get for the $1200 Level 1 upgrade, from my experiences, you'd be better off spending 1/3 as much on a PSAudio Duet powerconditioner for your whole sysem.

FWIW,
Paul

[carusoracer]

Thanks for the replies. I'm sill trying to figure out how the heck to get the Tube protectors off. The screw head keeps spinning but it does not come off? Maybe not firm enough...

I like the idea of tube swapping aa

I read about the Underwood mods. How difficult is it to put in the Hexfreds and Vishays? Also are the OpAmps mentioned above the same values as the model in listed. I had not heard of that one.

I also read about unplugging various connections or bypassing. Is this only on the earlier units? Mine is a 200A. Someone simply unplugged the Analogue socket. Also the digital volume control and plugged in elsewhere in the board?

I really would like to to have the Blackgates installed. Are there any reputable modders out there that would do just o few of these items instead of packages?

A lot of questions but I hope forum members can assist as I know a few people before me have had these units.

Thanks

[Gordy]

It's been a while, IIRC the tube protector screws were a 2.5m allen head, maybe a 2m.  Only the top ring will come off but, that does allow enough of a grip to remove the tubes.

I did the cable swap you're talking about, it only affects one of the two outputs, can't remember which, but it did help a bit.  PM me and I can probably jog some brain cells... 

Happy Thanksgiving all!!!