Furutech FP-704 & Silver Coated Headphones Cable

The cables that comes from the headphones you bought are mostly doing fine to transfer the audio signal from source to the drivers. More over, the higher prices headphones will give you the good quality cables option in their package. They are okay and preferable for ease when using them.

Then for anyone who want improve the sound quality from the beloved headphones for sure will aim to upgrade the cables first. This is the most easy and affordable way to upgrade.

But is it will improved the sound quality?

Well, no need debating about this issue. In this post, I will try the new DIY headphone cable.

DIY The Original Apple 30 Pin Audio Line Out Adapter

Before you started reading this post, I suggest you also read my previous post about when I bought this original Apple AV cable here and also my first attempt to modify it here. Still until today, for myself it is a nostalgic moment to stacking the iPod with the portable amplifier. It is a tempting effort and of course the great way to have a hi end affordable portable music player. But the most difficulty now days is to get the 30 pin Apple compatible adapter. This adapter function is to get the true audio line out from the inside iPod DAC directly, uncolored sound and direct audio line without passing path on digital volume control or amplifier inside the iPod itself. The result for this is the sound more dynamic, crisp, detail though out your ears. In this project, I want the original Apple 30 pin dock, then modify it to have the true audio line out. So here it is.

Deep Clean Process Jamo Cornet 65II Speakers

Today update, I am still working at home. My office extend the working form home period until next week. I do keep positive thinking despite certain job cannot be done at home. But I guess it is quite efficient having everything done remotely and I am used to it. Imagine everyday I am driving to office takes 2 hours back and forth. While at home like this, those 2 hours can be use for something more useful. Like cleaning this 20 years old plus speakers? I bet yes I will do it.

Gainclone Amplifier With Shunt Volume Control

My previous built the Gainclone LM3886 amplifier here is become my main amplifier in home audio setup. I was built this amplifier in hurry so I can start to evaluate the sound quality and testing the sound difference with many kind of DAC. Yet the built result is not very neat. The cables are all around inside the amplifier and need to be tidy up. That is why in this weekend I have a chance to doing re-cabling, also try different approach in the volume control circuit by using the not-popular shunt-volume control instead of common resistance divider volume control. This shunt-volume control using standard potentiometer is the cheaper approach compares to the more expensive ladder type volume control.

DIY Sennheiser HD6XX XLR Balanced Headphones Cables.

This balanced headphones cables is a parallel project with balanced headphones amplifier. Sennheiser HD6XX is a good performance headphones. It really love high power to drive it on it's true potential. This is because the impedance of this Sennheiser HD6XX is 300 ohm. Mostly for this high impedance headphones are use by the professional audio. For sure the power output from most digital audio player cannot drive well this headphones, thus not brings the true potential of this headphones either. That is why this balanced headphones cable for Sennheiser HD6XX project is come in before the amplifier. Approaching by using a balanced cable to Sennheiser HD6XX headphones is to double up the power since both polarity of signal wave are amplified. Another advantage from balanced headphones cable is by nature the noise should be reduced and better compares to the single ended cables.

Gainclone Amplifier Build In 2019

Tube amp, Class-A amp, Tripath amp, Discrete bipolar amp, and it always back again to the Gainclone amplifier. It has a magnet that attract DIY to build it again and again. Gainclone amplifier is so simple and sounds really good. No matter how much you have spent on higher price amplifier, with so much audiophile topology theory inside, thus, building this Gainclone amplifier is still fun. Using this Gainclone amplifier in 2019 still keep up the sound performance to my others amplifier. This post is about the building process of Gainclone LM3886 based amplifier using full aluminium case. Today post has not much written information about this build, it is just a lot of pictures describe by it's own.

STAX SRM-252S Blackgate Capacitor

If you following the components upgrade on the STAX SRM-252S previously here & here, you probably know that the capacitor near the transformer labeled C36 is has critical point to effect the sound quality. That is why I leave it with the standard OEM Sanyo capacitor after I change it to higher grade but the sound comes worse. Then on hand I got this Rubycon Blackgate capacitor. It is a legendary capacitor that still glorify by many audiophile until today. Not harm for me to test this new capacitor once again in the STAX SRM-252S headphones amplifier and what is the result after this upgrade is so curious.

Full Linear Battery Powered STAX Headphones Amplifier

In the middle of nowhere, I am wondering how is the fully linear power supply impact would be in audio system. The best approach is by using battery as the power supply instead of any related to AC electricity wall outlet. On hand I got the STAX SRM-252S the headphones amplifier. You can follow my previous mod here. This STAX SRM-252S with 12 volt power input and combo with the headphones SR-L300 will be more suitable for this experimental project for fully linear amplifier.

DIY Oyaide WM Line Out Dock Connector Kit

This is the Oyaide WM Line Out Dock kit from Japan manufacture specialist on hi quality connector. The WM port use by most Sony DAP can transfer the true line output signal to feed the amplifier. This kit require soldering skill for the SMD resistor and terminal leads. Warning: this project is not for beginner.

Simple Component Upgrade STAX SRM-252S Headphones Amplifier - Part 3

The previous part, I do the upgrade only on the power line capacitor. The effect is not audible improve. That is why in this part 3, I do a little components modification on the signal path and value increase at the secondary high voltage power supply section caps. The main goal in this upgrade is to improve dynamic range, clarity and widening the sound stage.

Simple Component Upgrade STAX SRM-252S Headphones Amplifier - Part 2

The first mod cannot be said successful. The sound quality weirdly become dull. I can assume that the Elna Silmic capacitor not yet burn-in, but I cannot wait any longer. I should find out what does really matters in the previous components changes.

Simple Component Upgrade STAX SRM-252S Headphones Amplifier - Part 1

STAX SRM-252S amp and the headphones SR-L300 is an entry level in STAX line up. They have more beefy line up above that with the price tag very surprisingly expensive. And this STAX SRM-252S is actually a very good amp, but can this improve? We know that mostly in entry level product, the manufacture usually cut some corner in the components. If they are improve, how is the result?

Schiit Magni 3 Hum Noise Problem Cures

I test all headphones either with my CMOY amp or this Schiit Magni 3 amp. They have their own advantages but for sound wise, I could not agree more for the Schiit Magni 3 amp is superior against the CMOY.

Sadly but true, I don't know why this Schiit Magni unit comes with hum noise after several minute operate. This happen even with the volume knob fully down and no input present. More over, if the gain switch set to the high position, the humm noise become more audible. Fortunately I already get this problem solved. Let's take a look.

Gainclone LM3886 Parts List

I bought this tiny PCB for my next project, the gainclone LM3886. This PCB is design by our local DIY'ers. It is a worth PCB to buy since they are bundled with the Dale SMD resistors.

Revisiting Tripath TA2024 +DAC Amplifier

Today, I take another photo of my current update of the Tripath TA2024 amplifier combo with the DAC TDA1543. You probably may know that from the last upgrade is actually few weeks ago here and here, I put the Pass H2 generator pre-amp along with some upgrade on the DAC capacitor. So here is the recent update.

Revisiting LG DVD Player DV-440 For Audio

In 2016, I have review LG DVD Player DV-440 and the result is very positive. This DVD player has better in audio quality compares to the others. Especially compares to the over-hype Pioneer DV-373S, the analog audio output from this LG is far better. Since I already have the external DAC, in this post I will try to answer about, do the digital audio out sound different? Let's find out.

Revisiting The Sony Playstation SCPH-1002

The Sony Playstation SCPH-1002 I got here is the first model for UK market. This unit power by 220 volt AC input same as my country wall voltage rating. I've using it for years and it is have an issue at the lens unit since 2 years ago. I am now using DVD player with separate DIY DAC and satisfy with them already. But some how, I really want to revive this Sony to back to life again.

DIY Portable FM Radio (Part 3) 3 Volt Amplifier

One things in mind when build a simple amplifier is by using an IC. It is very reliable and don't bother in too much complicated circuit like discrete transistor amplifier. It is not wrong, but not right either when you are planning for small 3 volt battery powered amplifier for this radio project. This IC amplifier could not working properly with this 3 volt battery.

DIY Portable FM Radio (Part 2) Potentiometer Tuning

I continue my post here about making the FM radio front end. The AFC out from it need to be connect to the FM modulator. In this project I using the very popular IC, it is LA1260. I also using the common potentiometer for radio frequency tuning instead of variable capacitor just like many commercial radio have.

DIY Portable FM Radio (Part 1) Tuner Front End

It is started when I have spare time in home and try to figure out what is on my storage box. I usually throw my ex. DIY project to this big cardboard box. I think I will not use it, or I just explore something related to electronic device then put it in the box for future need.

Sometimes like this day, I open up again the box and it is kind of nostalgic moments. So this is what I found.