Mods for the Behringer DCX 2496

seadogs1 · « **on:** 11 Apr 2009, 02:02 pm »

I don't know if I'm posting in the right spot but here goes anyway. Does anyone know who does GREAT mods for the Behringer DCX now that Mike G. isn't doing them anymore? I assume the units can be modded after Brian has added the room and V60 corrections?

TomS · « **Reply #1 on:** 11 Apr 2009, 04:01 pm »

Ward at Pilgham Audio www.pilghamaudio.com can deliver a modified DCX with Jan's analog board, power supply, Oettle clock and regulators, which gets you about 75% of the way there. I think Scott Endler, Rick, Schultz, and others can do the 4396 DACs. Ward is in the Netherlands but that shouldn't be a problem to ship to US.

Tom

lifewithmusic · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 May 2009, 03:14 pm »

Any suggestions for a USA service for full mods?

And while I'm thinking of it, I find it difficult to understand why Behring doesn't do a limited run of the unit with high end parts through out. Perhaps they could do so with pre-orders from a site like this.

TRADERXFAN · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 May 2009, 05:43 pm »

http://www.tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/Behringer_DCX2496_mods.html

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 May 2009, 05:51 pm »

Do any of the fellas here do the mods? Like Modwright or Wayne @ Bolder Cable etc...?
.....Or, are there any DIY threads on how to do it yourself? That would be pretty cool.

Bob

Syrah · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 May 2009, 08:33 pm »

Is the DBX Driverack PA not a step up from the Behringer for just a bit more money? I haven't A/B'ed them, so I'm genuinely asking?

PLMONROE · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 May 2009, 10:24 pm »

Quote from: lifewithmusic on 5 May 2009, 03:14 pm

And while I'm thinking of it, I find it difficult to understand why Behring doesn't do a limited run of the unit with high end parts through out. Perhaps they could do so with pre-orders from a site like this.

Great idea, but sadly I suspect to complete the design engineering, acquire parts, set up assembly, take orders and do all the other mundane aspects of production that they would have to produce a minimum run of 10,000 units just to break even. Besides as best I can tell their interests do not include high end audio. Sigh!

Paul

tbrooke · « **Reply #7 on:** 6 May 2009, 01:32 am »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 5 May 2009, 05:51 pm

Do any of the fellas here do the mods? Like Modwright or Wayne @ Bolder Cable etc...?
.....Or, are there any DIY threads on how to do it yourself? That would be pretty cool.

Bob

Yahoo has a DCX forum with lots of discussion about DCX mods and in the link section is a link for the instructions for the passive output
mod that pilghram Audio sells

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/DCX2496/

TomS · « **Reply #8 on:** 6 May 2009, 02:05 am »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 5 May 2009, 05:51 pm

Do any of the fellas here do the mods? Like Modwright or Wayne @ Bolder Cable etc...?
.....Or, are there any DIY threads on how to do it yourself? That would be pretty cool.

Bob

Bob,

Plenty of long threads on DIYAudio.com for the DCX. I can tell you that modding these to any extreme is not for the faint of heart. I followed Mike Galusha's path and had tremendous support from him, but I can say with certainty I wouldn't try it again. He isn't doing them anymore either. At the least have a spare DCX for when stuff goes wrong as it is a very fragile piece to begin with. The boards are made to be assembled once (with SMT), not desoldered, resoldered and hacked up. Also, mastery in the use of ChipQuik is your friend.

If you're thinking of this for 80hz down, I don't know if the improvements would be worth it, but for high pass outputs, absolutely yes.

mgalusha · « **Reply #9 on:** 6 May 2009, 03:13 am »

If you are going to DIY and don't want a built in volume control and can live with impedance balanced outputs vs full differential (most can even if they don't know it..) there simpler ways than what I used to do. There are two big problems with the stock DCX IMO.

1) Lousy analog section, lots of electrolytic coupling caps and not so hot opamps.

2) The gain structure is wrong for hifi use. The signal levels are meant for pro gear and this reduces the available digital signal, throwing away resolution and increasing noise.

You can mod the I/O board to correct the output gain problems, vastly simplify the output stage, eliminate the output caps and put in much better op amps. 6 LM4562 (or whatever) opamps, 12 SMT resistors and 12 50R leaded resistors and you are in business. This doesn't address the input stage but that can be built on a small piece of strip board for not a lot of money. It is more involved but isn't too bad.

This will address the worst parts of the DCX and is doable for those with some PCB experience. The I/O board is not quite as fragile as the main board but as Tom said, ChipQuik is your friend. If you are going to do SMD rework it's the best $25 you can spend. If you are in the least worried about killing the DCX don't even take off the cover.

If anyone is interested I can write up some guidelines but after that you are on your own. I won't hold anyone's hand as I simply don't have the time. This is of course just one possible mod, there are many others.

As others have mentioned, the Yahoo board has a wealth of information. You may have to dig for it but it is out there. Also check out Gary Pimm's DCX mods, Simple and effective. Gary says it best, "Just say no to the output circuits".

Mike

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #10 on:** 6 May 2009, 11:59 am »

There's some very good information there, thanks Mike, Tom and tbrook.
Regarding the volume control, not interested in that as I'm using the remote PC interface which is fantastic (thanks again to Mike for the info on the RS-232 to USB cables). Eventually (hopefully sooner than later I'll be quad amped and want the DCX to run full range as opposed to the 80Hz and below like I'm using now.
I joined the Yahoo/DCX forum, but the organization of the forum leaves a LOT to be desired, I had a hard enough time navigating it that I gave up soon after joining. Maybe I'll take another look, I'd forgotten about them. I have little fear of cracking it open (maybe I should

), but have zero knowledge of what needs to be swapped/added/removed once I'm in there. Hopefully there's a "step by step for DCX morons" out there.

Thanks for the info guys,

Those links and clues should be enough to get me started in my search.

Great thread. Thanks to Seadogs1 for starting it.

Bob

sendler · « **Reply #11 on:** 7 May 2009, 02:43 am »

Quote from: Syrah on 5 May 2009, 08:33 pm

Is the DBX Driverack PA not a step up from the Behringer for just a bit more money? I haven't A/B'ed them, so I'm genuinely asking?

.
I had a DriveRack PA for a couple weeks before I got into the DCX but sold it as the sonics weren't very good compared to my other dacs at the time. It has a thick, opaque kind of sound. It only accepts analog in and the input level was very low due to the high, pro level output so it might sound better with some attenuation preceding the amps but as it was used when I had it the DCX sounds better.

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #12 on:** 7 May 2009, 09:14 am »

Quote from: sendler on 7 May 2009, 02:43 am

Quote from: Syrah on 5 May 2009, 08:33 pm
Is the DBX Driverack PA not a step up from the Behringer for just a bit more money? I haven't A/B'ed them, so I'm genuinely asking?
.
I had a DriveRack PA for a couple weeks before I got into the DCX but sold it as the sonics weren't very good compared to my other dacs at the time. It has a thick, opaque kind of sound. It only accepts analog in and the input level was very low due to the high, pro level output so it might sound better with some attenuation preceding the amps but as it was used when I had it the DCX sounds better.

Hmmm... Clayton Shaw of Emerald Physics offers the DBX PX as a $400 upgrade over the Behringer DCX 2496 supplied with the new CS3:
http://www.emeraldphysics.com/products/page14/page14.html

I wonder now if it sounds any better than the DBX Driverack PA, Scott, because I was on the point of selling a DCX 2496 which was intended to perform a sub/satellite hi/lo pass function in favor of the dbX unit based on the presumption that it's high pass output would sound better, and it had that nifty auto calibration function and mic, to boot.

Syrah · « **Reply #13 on:** 7 May 2009, 12:49 pm »

The PA can be picked up for about $400. I think the PX is basically the PA, but with fewer functions. I could be wrong. Again, I've never A/B'ed it with the Behringer, but I've heard many say the DBX is superior. I wonder if the DBX has any mod potential. The DBX has a voltage button for input and output voltage adjustment.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #14 on:** 7 May 2009, 01:22 pm »

Everything has mod potential. The real question is how well the boards are built and what is the layout like? The DCX is built very inexpensively, uses low quality parts in the analog and power supply sections. It is a bear to work on as one wrong slip can destroy it.

If someone wishes to send me a DBX unit, I would be happy to evaluate for what kind of mods could be done to it and the cost.

JLM · « **Reply #15 on:** 7 May 2009, 02:16 pm »

Scott Endler does DEQ2496 and DCX2496 mods:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze4c5pt/id14.html

sendler · « **Reply #16 on:** 7 May 2009, 02:58 pm »

The Driverack PX isn't really a crossover, more of an EQ with some sort of high pass and a pair of sub outs, with features similar to the Behringer DEQ but no digital in/ out.
.
.

Quote from: Syrah on 7 May 2009, 12:49 pm

The PA can be picked up for about $400. I think the PX is basically the PA, but with fewer functions. I could be wrong. Again, I've never A/B'ed it with the Behringer, but I've heard many say the DBX is superior. I wonder if the DBX has any mod potential. The DBX has a voltage button for input and output voltage adjustment.

When reading reviews and comparisons about Behringer gear keep in mind that most of the people writing them are Pro Audio types. And, Pro Audio types hate Behringer because it got it's start as a company by selling a direct clone of a beloved Mackey mixer for 1/3 the price. That, and the cheap construction isn't as road worthy for someone who wants to throw a piece of gear out of the back of a van night after night. For home use, the Behringer stuff such as a DEQ running digital in/ out is a no brainer for the price and if you get one that works for more than a couple of days it will keep on working.

doug s. · « **Reply #17 on:** 7 May 2009, 08:04 pm »

somewhat off-topic, but i wish someone did AFFORDABLE mods to the deqx units...

doug s.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #18 on:** 7 May 2009, 09:46 pm »

DIY Doug. aa

John Casler · « **Reply #19 on:** 7 May 2009, 11:48 pm »

Quote from: sendler on 7 May 2009, 02:58 pm

When reading reviews and comparisons about Behringer gear keep in mind that most of the people writing them are Pro Audio types. And, Pro Audio types hate Behringer because it got it's start as a company by selling a direct clone of a beloved Mackey mixer for 1/3 the price. That, and the cheap construction isn't as road worthy for someone who wants to throw a piece of gear out of the back of a van night after night. For home use, the Behringer stuff such as a DEQ running digital in/ out is a no brainer for the price and if you get one that works for more than a couple of days it will keep on working.

Scott,

For VMPS users of the DCX2496 does "your" mod facilitate the following CONNECTION CHAIN?

Digital Sources>Digital Switcher>Digital input on the DCX2496>Analog Out to a 6 channel Preamp>Preamp Outs to the AMPS

This would totally "bypass" the ADC input of the DCX2496 and only depend on the DAC quality on the ANALOG OUTS.

Am I reading it correctly that you use a Better DAC (ak4395 chip) on the OUTS?

If so, this set up model seems to be the most pure and eliminates all the very expensive (and in "analog in" scenarios wastefull) preamps and DACs that have their analog signal quality "re-converted" to digital by the analog inputs of the DCX2496.

So are you saying you're pleased with the ak4395 chip and that it is the equivalent or better of the DAC1?