The thing with TCXO modding is that it's not soldering in the part, but getting it to perform.

One has to do testing at room temperature with an accurate bench power supply and oscilloscope, take reading, do the math and calculate the probable drift the TCXO will experience during it's operation inside the DAC (probably around 38 to 42C) and then calibrate it using the screw terminal. It's attention to detail and care on the modder's part that makes complex mods sing.

TCXOs are sometimes preffered to other off board clocks like the LC Audio clock due to the simple fact that using wires may degrade the performance of the DAC more than it helps it. Plus it's a helluva easier to install . Weight the pros and cons, then install.

I've recently worked with alot of VCOs and TCXOs in time and hold circuits with my current major subject being on amps and noise reduction, and the chief thing they teach us is that everything has a weakness, application is the key to success rather than the part, why install an OPA627 when you can use a cheap NE5533 with a filter network?

in other word..let pro do the job (empire23 )

Received Moon yesterday, replace OPA627 in DAC managed to spent about 1.5 hrs with it this morning. Not really exciting yet, hope get better in next 2 weeks.

Pro -
Transparent , Clear

Con -
No dynamic enough, feel very constraints (a bit gentle)

System Setup -
CD63SE -> DAC (Moon) -> NAD 319 -> Mission 771E + Cambridge SoundWork passive S/W

i think moon is more to the warm site ....

I reckon the Moon is the total opposite of the OPA627. The Earth is a compromise between the two.

Since Moon is acted as external HDAM and the CD63SE also come with the Marantz - HDAM. I'm still doubt whether this MOON can give musical improvement to my system.

Someone selling used Zero selling Rm350 only, anyone game?
http://hifi4sale.blogspot.com/2008/10/zero-dac-used.html

since now u not using the ur CD63 analog stage .... i think u try n see hehehe me plan for earth i scared moon is too dull n too warm due original CD63 are slow n warm already but i will bypass original CD63 HDAM n replace with Earth

---

Added on October 17, 2008, 1:20 pmi know this owner .... heheheh he told me early he sell this Zero he got few CDP for sale also

This post has been edited by abel: Oct 17 2008, 01:23 PM

Abel did u snip the two 22pf cap near the RCA out, so far, only Chua & GodLuxS did the cap snipping. Just wonder how this will impact the S/Q.

I suggest u dont snip the cap ... the highs will be more transparent, which i think wont suit your listening favor ...

To be honest, I found that the MOON not quite sounds like tubish, abit too clean to be!

God u r rite, Moon no tube feel at all to me, just clean and very obedient type I reckon. more likely I will switch back to opa627 if there isn't any sign of improvement after 2-3 weeks burn in. or perhaps get another spare zero for opamp swapping, anyway RM400 not a big hobby investment.

I don't suggest snipping them, they're either the ground loop breakers or Zobel networks (latter extremely unlikely). If they're the ground loop breakers, you aren't doing the DAC a favour.

Just stick in some silver Mica or CG0 to replace the standard caps there.

Perhaps I am very naive to ground loop breakers. What does it do. What is the reason behind replacing the stock cap with the silver mica ?

due to my lack lack of knowledge, pls see how I install the RCA plug.



also empy,

can i know if the following cap were removed on purpose or there is other cap below the board.



This post has been edited by ccschua: Oct 18 2008, 12:33 AM

just plug in the moon and listen to some of my favorite songs..
and wat i get is "WOW" i like the initial listening, it suits my listning taste over the previous LT1364..

MY CD63 mod already bypass the original HDAM soon replace with EARTH or SUN or MOON stil dunno who can borrow me to test hehehe
currently i using LT1358


This post has been edited by abel: Oct 18 2008, 05:07 PM

How does the sound like after the bypass? ...

PS: It's me GodLuvSxS .... wrongly posted using GF's id

This post has been edited by SandyPiggy: Oct 18 2008, 08:37 PM

sound more open n transparent and got detail bass are more solid n deeper , i disable mute function but one thing when off the cdp must lower the amp volume if not got buzzing sound

This post has been edited by abel: Oct 18 2008, 08:45 PM

So the moon does sound " cheap" ?

What is next, God ?

@Abel, Can we mod earth to all other CDPs , or just CD63.

This post has been edited by SKY 1809: Oct 18 2008, 09:49 PM

yeah just check ur original can support for audio-gd opamp


This post has been edited by abel: Oct 18 2008, 09:58 PM

Ground loop breakers breaks ground loop. A typical ground loop (a symptom of bad grounding) injects 50-60Hz of noise into the ground. This is bad because you'll hear humming on the output. A ground loop breaker rids these issues. The capacitor there is to shunt all the possible noises away. Replacing it with a better cap that has a lower impedance on that frequency helps further. A good cap is needed here to make sure you suppress all the noise.