I think there is no such thing as patience when it comes to hobbies. It is only when you can unstick the activity from a fanatical hobby level and get back to `facing reality' status, that patience can exist.

Right, in retrospect, we acquire patience when our wallets run out of juice.

I see very little patience in this forum. That tells me there are plenty of well heeled forumers here.

Unfortunately, a lot of budding audiophiles here have not yet had the benefit of our experience. Hence, they still listen to music in isolation.... But we (hitched ones) have advanced to the higher plane of musical nirvana in unisonance. This is double the enjoyment for the price of one.

BTW back to your thread topic, what DIY project are you working on now? My PSU is almost done. I'll need jazzy to check it out next week before I attempt to power it up. And where is dear dgrebel? Stuck in the midst of exams ah? poor chap.

Didn't you hear? He went to take over our Angkasawan's place in the ISS. He will be running an experiment on how to prevent cold solder joints in a gravity free environment.

I'm looking for a portable USB multimeter which can display and log realtime parameters such as voltage and current. Any suggestions? Is it possible to DIY one?

I've got some equipment where I need to monitor the load on the motors over a run of six-seven hours. Don't want to sit and watch the voltmeter and ampmeter for irregularities. If I can log it in the pc, then I can just call up the statistics and easily see any deviations from norm.

I reckon I can also use it with the completed PSU kit.

Who says I got a problem with my iBasso?

I saw a `data logging' DMM at JP yesterday, going for the handsome price of RM229. It includes an RS232 cable and software! I also checked out a Sanwa PC500....RM600 for the DMM, software plus USB cable add ~RM700 more. Fluke ah...shop people take one look at me and tell me I can't afford it.

I had a few of those too, and found that like you, somehow the batteries always leaked, corroding the terminals and internal parts, leading to an early retirement.......I think because I always forgot to turn the knob back to the "off" position after use. This Sanwa model is ubiquitous in JP, and there are also plenty of cheap imitation Sanwas to be found in every corner there.

However, since there is no analog multimeter which will work with a pc, I guess a DMM is my only option.

Since you and jazzy have inspired me to pick up my soldering iron again, I have been hunting for something to mod too. Looks like I've found my next project. My 14 year old DAC! It has been suffering the jitters lately, and as I now have to iBasso to replace it, I thought maybe worth opening it up to see what's causing the trouble.....


No prizes for guessing which component's the culprit.

What are my upgrade options, if any?

wui223, I feel s.o.b. bad about this...my Audio Alchemy DITB is not going to be for sale. It's part of my history now......this little fella introduced me to digital sound nearly 15 years ago. It didn't quite succeed in luring me away from vinyl, but I still have a fondness for it.

In anycase, I'm sure any new fangled DAC will be better value for money. Patience.

jazzy, your eyes are real sharp...I didn't think anyone would recognise the board, especially since I tried to hide the words in my photo.

So far I've targeted the following items to change:
1. The spoilt capacitor, of course. Maybe all of them anyway.
2. THe OP275GP to a OPA2132 (need some suggestions here!)
3. The clock module.
4. The external PSU. Should I go toroidal?

bsl555, am I heading the right direction? Was thinking of popping over to see you one of these days to take a look at the Linn (if it's still with you).

I'm always a slow coach...so you sure to win lah.

What DAC is yours?

Looks like we're going to have quite a variety of DACs at our next TT session.

bsl555, don't want to impose on you too much....please let me know when would be a suitable time to `drop by'. I'll bring along some of my fav vinyls to see how the upgraded Linn performs so I can compare with mine (to see how bad mine is! ). Saturday morning ok?

I've got the schematics for the AA DITB....maybe you can help me about the reclocking part.....sounds like something totally alien to me at the moment. I thought very easy lah; can just pop over to JP and pick up a replacement crystal.

bsl555, do you mean that even the expensive modules that you mentioned earlier such as LC Audio or Trichord, will still need to be further modded before fitting into the DAC? If there is no space in the enclosure to piggyback the reclocking module, can it be put outside the casing without affecting the performance?

I guess I'll be taking it real slow on my project...don't have much time to spend on it. First thing to replace will be the caps in the PSU section since one of them is kaput anyway. This is the easiest part and just within my current soldering kungfu. At least the DITB can be put back into action again.

Donno lah. Well, bsl555 has recommended Panasonic FCs....so where can I get these? I'm a total novice at sourcing for the better components. My only shopping experience is browsing in JP shops.

If I can get the caps quickly, the DITB should be singing in time for the next TT session. (fingers crossed)

Much thanks for the offer, bsl555....I'll pop over to RS this afternoon and see whether I can get them. Then tomorrow you can swap them for me.

In the meantime, my soldering ability is demoted until further notice.

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Added on November 16, 2007, 11:52 amJust checked online...RS seems to be out of stock of these caps.

Farnell on the other hand has something in stock:
http://my.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.js...requestid=26033
Part Number ECA1VM221

bsl, does this look like the correct replacement part? Original is nichicon 220uF, 16v, 85deg, H9425.

This post has been edited by March05: Nov 16 2007, 11:52 AM

It's 220uF alright....anyway will tell you the latest developments when I come over to your place. The DAC's problems are secondary. Main item on the agenda is the Lingo/LP12 session!

Is it ok to come by at 11.00 am? I'm ready and bursting.....

First of all, bsl555, thanks for another 3 hours of sonic bliss earlier this afternoon!

As far as the Audio Alchemy DAC-in-the-Box is concerned, I think my current plan is to go as far as is possible without changing the casing. That means, per your excellent suggestions, a new external PSU, followed by most of the caps, v. regulators and the opamp to be changed. It's a pity that the most important upgrade - the reclocking module will have to be left out at this point. Main reason being that I would like this unit to still remain visually identifiable as the DITB. If we go all the way, there will be practically nothing left of the original DAC....in which case I might as well put my money in a new modern DAC. And I don't even have a decent CD transport to go with this.

Not to mention that I have to budget another RM1K++ for the mouth watering Hercules II upgrade for my LP12 now...after having tasted the Lingo/LP12 sound. Mmmm, I forsee a new tonearm/MC pickup upgrade after that......$$$$$$ fly fly.

the Linn....gone? Lucky me!!! bsl555, you don't need the Linn lah. Your rig already thrashes a lot of Linn based setups.

Back to the DIY thread....I guess after seeing you do that initial magic on the DITB, I realise I would have murdered it if I had attempted to touch those caps myself...close shave there! So I think it's best to leave this project in your expect hands.

That means I may have to go to the next DIY TT session with empty hands unless someone can suggest something for me to do which lies more within my true apprentice status.....

I've got the 6 pieces of 220uF Panasonic FCs from Farnell due to arrive tomorrow. I'll bring them over to you to check whether they're the right ones ASAP. Other items, I think it'll be simpler if you got them for me....the learning curve on sourcing components is a bit too much for me right now.

I'll pm you about the Hercules thingy.

Oh ya, sifu jazzy939, thanks for your expert support too, and the timely reminder. When I look at her (my PSU, I mean), sitting so pretty on my table (her neons shining lovingly into my eyes), my heart swells with pride...
Ok, I show her off at the TT this Saturday!!!! Got Ms PSU 2007 contest ah?