Topic: Musical Fidelity Trivista DAC21 and A3.2 Dual Mono Integ Amp Mods series

[odyopayl]

I just want to share Mods done on my MF Trivista 21 Tube DAC. Based on Mike Fitzpatrick Mods:



I use Metal Can (Better than PDIP)  LME49720HA = LM4562HA  using Browndog Adapator.
NOTE: LME49720HA is the improved version of the LM4562HA



Output Coupling Film Caps using Obbligato replacing NP Electrolytic:



Attached to Browndog:


High Quality IC Socket also replaced some cheapo bypass caps 104 (0.1uf)



Stock OpAmp:


New OpAmp:


Need to bypass Power Supply Caps:



Back side:


0.1uf WIMA MKP4 Caps:
I'm not sure if there is problem with my Iron or just the WBT Soldering Leads? They are not that shiny.......



Before:


After:




As of now need burn-in for 100hours I am hoping for improvements...............
Running on a continuous play of XLO Reference Recordings CD using No. 9 track (System Burn-in)

Next In Line for Mods:

[qguy]

pre question...was the use of 630v vs 63 was dictated by availability of the cap ?

[edwin]

pre question...was the use of 630v vs 63 was dictated by availability of the cap ?

Yes they were dictated by the Obbligatos. They don't have 63v. Oblbligatos are a very good alternative for Mundorf Supremes.

[edwin]

Nice mod.

For sure there will be improvement. Be patient though as those obbligatos will take a bit of time to break-in. Experience from me is about 100hrs.

Here was the mod i did on my Valab DAC using the Obbligatos for the output. The Valab is non oversampling using 8X TDA1543 chip.

Before:


After: Replace power cats to Nichicon FW and caps in the digital section to Oscons.

[qguy]

Whats the reason why Obbligato and Mundorf dont make smaller voltage caps ?

[odyopayl]

Nice mod.

For sure there will be improvement. Be patient though as those obbligatos will take a bit of time to break-in. Experience from me is about 100hrs.

Here was the mod i did on my Valab DAC using the Obbligatos for the output. The Valab is non oversampling using 8X TDA1543 chip.

Before:


After: Replace power cats to Nichicon FW and caps in the digital section to Oscons.

Nice one. Did you bypass the Obbligato Caps? I want to do the bypass. However, I don't have available 0.01uf. I am hesitant to try 0.1uF.
Oscons are Perfect for Digital section and the Nichicon Gold are Perfect alternative to BlackGate caps`

[odyopayl]

Whats the reason why Obbligato and Mundorf dont make smaller voltage caps ?

To make the Cost High!!!!
Kidding aside might be for Universal use, actually High end Mundorf  are rated 1200V.
They might be primarily used in Tube Amps which cater Higher Voltage.

[odyopayl]

More than 48 hours of none stop playing. I'm not sure if my burn in process is working. The CD player is playing on a repeat mode connected via digital connection on the DAC. Both CD and DAC is On. However, the amp OFF. Is this correct?

[Digities]

More than 48 hours of none stop playing. I'm not sure if my burn in process is working. The CD player is playing on a repeat mode connected via digital connection on the DAC. Both CD and DAC is On. However, the amp OFF. Is this correct?

yeah. that should work .

btw, that should sound pretty good. i have a nicely modded xonar - all cerafine/silmic caps and clarity cap esa output caps. 49722 opamps with 4562 buffer. sounds pretty good . i can only imagine how yours sounds as that is a modded expensive dac .

[qguy]

That should work, but I would use a cheap CD/DVD  player

More than 48 hours of none stop playing. I'm not sure if my burn in process is working. The CD player is playing on a repeat mode connected via digital connection on the DAC. Both CD and DAC is On. However, the amp OFF. Is this correct?

[edwin]

More than 48 hours of none stop playing. I'm not sure if my burn in process is working. The CD player is playing on a repeat mode connected via digital connection on the DAC. Both CD and DAC is On. However, the amp OFF. Is this correct?

Yup, this is correct. You just need to pass signal to your DAC. No need to "ON" your amp.

[odyopayl]

yeah. that should work .

btw, that should sound pretty good. i have a nicely modded xonar - all cerafine/silmic caps and clarity cap esa output caps. 49722 opamps with 4562 buffer. sounds pretty good . i can only imagine how yours sounds as that is a modded expensive dac .

I was inspired by Audiogon and other mods done in the net. I tried to listen after 48 hours, very promising the Bass is blooming low. However, still the Highs and mids are still like having a blanket on my speakers I'll wait for at least 200hours...

[odyopayl]

That should work, but I would use a cheap CD/DVD  player

Good Idea, will replaced the player tonight.

[odyopayl]

Yup, this is correct. You just need to pass signal to your DAC. No need to "ON" your amp.

Thanks Edwin, took time for this obbligato to burn-in.

[odyopayl]

Modding is addictive my next project:
My Dual Mono MF A3.2

[edwin]

Modding is addictive my next project:
My Dual Mono MF A3.2

Bro, i think the first item to upgrade here is the powersupply caps and rectifier diodes. I could recommend the Nichicon KG and IXYS fast recovery bridge diodes from Michael Percy.

http://www.percyaudio.com/Catalog.pdf

[ATJr.]

Whats the reason why Obbligato and Mundorf dont make smaller voltage caps ?

economics......

[odyopayl]

Bro, i think the first item to upgrade here is the powersupply caps and rectifier diodes. I could recommend the Nichicon KG and IXYS fast recovery bridge diodes from Michael Percy.

http://www.percyaudio.com/Catalog.pdf

Wow, the heat sink is already detached to the board? It seems that the easiest way is to replaced Power Caps and the diodes! Thanks for the link I will bookmark it!

[odyopayl]

economics......

 

[qguy]

Edwin,

Whats the reason why upgrade the power supply first ?

[JojoD818]

Edwin,

Whats the reason why upgrade the power supply first ?

If I may. Because it is the most meaningful of all upgrades. Power is everything, without it your amp is just a huge paper weight. In an ideal world, power in is equal to power out, so garbage in is also equal to garbage out. Bad psu = bad amp.

[JojoD818]

And if I may add, it doesn't matter if it has a multitude of constant current sources, cascodes, current mirrors, or those super dooper galactic opamps and what not for a solid state amp, or a tube rectifier for a tube amp, or even an smps or linear power supply for a t-amp, the power supply is still the most annoying, most expensive, most sonically influential part of the amp. And yet it is the most unattended part of the amp too, unfortunately.

For the most part, the power supply is what differentiates the sonic characteristics between a tube amp, from a solid state amp to a digital amp.

[qguy]

Thanks jojod...or curse you    ang laki ng caps ng amp ko 22000uF at 80V , bypass na lang muna hehehe

[JojoD818]

Thanks jojod...or curse you    ang laki ng caps ng amp ko 22000uF at 80V , bypass na lang muna hehehe

Welcome... well it's every amp's curse actually. Why upgrade them if they're still good? But if not, it may very well be a very good investment on your part especially if you are planning on keeping the amp for a long time. 

[qguy]

odyopayl,

Whats the specs ng filter caps ng MF mo ?  They look a bit small based on the photos, pwede cguro mundorf dyan 


JojoD,

if the caps leak or fail, will the amp just simply refuse to turn on or will it power up and eventually take a few other parts along with it when it fails ?

[JojoD818]

odyopayl,

Whats the specs ng filter caps ng MF mo ?  They look a bit small based on the photos, pwede cguro mundorf dyan 


JojoD,

if the caps leak or fail, will the amp just simply refuse to turn on or will it power up and eventually take a few other parts along with it when it fails ?

It will still power up and play... along with some nasty hum and distortion.

[odyopayl]

Master Jojo thanks for the Information. For the Power Amp yes indeed the power supply dictates how good is the amp is by simply looking on the size of the transformer and the caps (Power Supply).

[odyopayl]

odyopayl,

Whats the specs ng filter caps ng MF mo ?  They look a bit small based on the photos, pwede cguro mundorf dyan 

I will take an actual picture later, yes Mundorf or Elna will replace all the Jamicon on the PS

[qguy]

nakita ko yung nichicon KG, 22000 at 80v.. ANG LAKI NYA, Di na beer can size, Champagne bottle diameter na siya !!!

[odyopayl]

nakita ko yung nichicon KG, 22000 at 80v.. ANG LAKI NYA, Di na beer can size, Champagne bottle diameter na siya !!!

locally lang? Nakita mo ba ito Duelund caps bigger than Cups saan mo kaya ito isasaksak sa AMP?