Diamond MX300 mods

Discussion in 'Soundcards, Speakers HiFI & File formats' started by NapalmV5, Feb 29, 2008.

  1. NapalmV5

    NapalmV5 Member Guru

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    thanks to linux this sound card still rox 10 years later

    i got opa4132 and black gate nx

    [​IMG]

    what else can i do? clock/crystal?

    any better general purpose amplifier than 2N 3906/2N 4403?
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2008
  2. NapalmV5

    NapalmV5 Member Guru

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    ive fully recapped to blackgate nx all 14 caps

    all 10uF changed to 47uF
    [​IMG]

    im speechless..

    this thing turned into.. true monster sound.. never sounded this amazing

    it actually sounds better than prelude/meridian :3eyes:

    well i guess ill have to fully recap my xm/prelude now..
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2008
  3. FNK

    FNK Guest

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    So this old card sound good without newer technologies and recent drivers?
     
  4. NapalmV5

    NapalmV5 Member Guru

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    yep it beats my xmeridian/prelude @ clarity/purity.. abomination!!

    the capacitance and the quality of the caps on the xmeridian/prelude is so inadequate its not funny..

    then again cant expect more from mass production..
     

  5. Postalisback

    Postalisback Ancient Guru

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    That's pretty impressive, so modding the caps on a prelude would produce much better sound?
     
  6. NapalmV5

    NapalmV5 Member Guru

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    indeed.. just the power caps alone provide better deeper more responsive bass
     
  7. Tom F

    Tom F Ancient Guru

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    Really? That's strange because unless you're driving phones directly you shouldn't have any current flowing...so as long as the caps aren't running out of steam on the supply anyway it shouldn't make a difference?

    Correct me if I'm wrong?
     
  8. NapalmV5

    NapalmV5 Member Guru

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    Tom, you lost me @ "shouldn't have any current flowing"

    what do you mean?

    i was referring to cap replacement
     
  9. Tom F

    Tom F Ancient Guru

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    Well, I'm assuming you're driving the input of an amp of some kind, i.e. speakers or headphones or whatever?

    If this is the case, the 'input impedance' should be extremely high, so no significant current should be flowing through the outputs of the soundcard - which ought to mean that the spec of the caps shouldn't be affecting the bass response...

    I'm not doubting your findings, clearly you've tried it and it works for you, but I'm just trying to understand why?
     
  10. NapalmV5

    NapalmV5 Member Guru

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    Tom, no amp.. just powered subs

    ive replaced the 6.3V 470uF NX with 10V 1500uF NX

    [​IMG]

    tremendous improvement over the 470uf

    next mod: replace opamp OPA4132 to LME49740 (quad LM4562 equiv)
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2008

  11. XeonX2

    XeonX2 Member Guru

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    i still don't get how like you said "The Sound is better compared to a prelude/meridian" =/ if thats the case why would we all bother to buy a new sound card if old sound cards can sound better with just one or two high quality components?
     
  12. Keitosha

    Keitosha Ancient Guru

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    But...... does it work in Vista (64)? :backfire: Or XP even? Hhmm? ;)
     
  13. NapalmV5

    NapalmV5 Member Guru

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    gimmie pure sound card or gimmie death!
     
  14. NapalmV5

    NapalmV5 Member Guru

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    grenades?! oh yeh?!?! :rpg: :rpg: :rpg: lol

    works ok on winxp though the linux drivers are better

    as for vista i could care less.. though i wouldnt be surprised if there will be drivers for vista
     
  15. FNK

    FNK Guest

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    Scuse me for my stupidness, but what are the "caps"?
    The big red thing?
     

  16. Postalisback

    Postalisback Ancient Guru

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    Capacitors, look on the first picture and notice all the silver capacitors, now look at the next pictures and they are black, that is what he has changed :)
     
  17. Tom F

    Tom F Ancient Guru

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    I still don't understand why a big capacitor will make a difference? I'm all for playing with this stuff, but I'm relucatant to do it unless I know why it makes a difference.

    Can you measure the response on it or something?
     
  18. Keitosha

    Keitosha Ancient Guru

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    As long you are enjoying your sound. That's the most important thing, being content with what you have. ;)
     
  19. NapalmV5

    NapalmV5 Member Guru

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    Postalisback - thanks
    yeh the 13x 10uF replaced to 47uF NX caps
    the 470uF nichicon stock now @ 1500uF NX

    Tom F - sorry i dont have the necessary degrees to answer the why Q :)
    please do not attempt the mods based on mine

    Keitosha - cant put it better than that..
    indeed i finally got a worthy sound card for linux
     
  20. Keitosha

    Keitosha Ancient Guru

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    Indeed. I'm not in the position to criticize you.

    If all current (and future) mobo's would still have ISA ports, i would still use my SB AWE64 Gold. :)
     

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