DVD Player audio performance mods

[akshayjha]

Hi,

I did a few modifications on my old DVD player Pioneer DV-366 and the results are absolutely amazing.

Here's some info on the mods:

1. The o/p opamp is replaced by OPA2107 in lieu of the stock 4560
2. OPA2107 works best with a dual supply and thus a dedicated +-12V power supply has been incorporated.
3. The power supply is decoupled at the opamp with additional filter capacitors.
4. The o/p capacitors have been replaced by film capacitor in lieu of the original electrolytic capacitors.
5. The LPF circuit components have been replaced with better components viz: disc capacitors instead of the original stock smd capacitors.

The improvements:
1. bass is deeper and more controlled, vocals are clearer, highs crisp.
2. The sound is more resolved and the sound stage has improved substantially.

Anybody from Mumbai interested in trying out these mods is most welcome to drop in at my place with their DVD players for an AB test.

Cheers

 

[akshayjha]

Yup, DAC is next on the list, PCM1794A looks interesting, any suggestions?

 

[grubyhalo]

Hi,

I did a few modifications on my old DVD player Pioneer DV-366 and the results are absolutely amazing.

Here's some info on the mods:

1. The o/p opamp is replaced by OPA2107 in lieu of the stock 4560
2. OPA2107 works best with a dual supply and thus a dedicated +-12V power supply has been incorporated.
3. The power supply is decoupled at the opamp with additional filter capacitors.
4. The o/p capacitors have been replaced by film capacitor in lieu of the original electrolytic capacitors.
5. The LPF circuit components have been replaced with better components viz: disc capacitors instead of the original stock smd capacitors.

The improvements:
1. bass is deeper and more controlled, vocals are clearer, highs crisp.
2. The sound is more resolved and the sound stage has improved substantially.

Anybody from Mumbai interested in trying out these mods is most welcome to drop in at my place with their DVD players for an AB test.

Cheers

Sounds interesting. Did you follow any project on the Internet on what to change or did you just 'know' what to change? Did you do any mechanical/physical mods to the player like damping, etc.?

 

[murali_n]

Hai Akshay,

Congrats man, pl post photos.

N.Murali

 

[akshayjha]

Sounds interesting. Did you follow any project on the Internet on what to change or did you just 'know' what to change? Did you do any mechanical/physical mods to the player like damping, etc.?

I knew what to change and I have not used any internet project for the same. No Mechanical/physical mods.

Cheers.

 

[grubyhalo]

I knew what to change and I have not used any internet project for the same. No Mechanical/physical mods.

Cheers.

Ah I see. Thanks!

 

[akshayjha]

Hai Akshay,

Congrats man, pl post photos.

N.Murali

Here are a few pics.

 

[spirovious]

Thats nice, what is that extra connection in pic 2?

 

[akshayjha]

ESS9022 The problem is not much data is available as it's under NDA permanently. You can also try to snag a Buffalo if your budget is high enough, but fitting it in may be painful. Apparently (and I am not under NDA or privy to details) the 9022 offers most of the performance at a much lower price and complexity.

Good luck.

Hey, Thanks for the info. I was considering developing a PCM1794A based stand-alone DAC with dedicated power supplies for the logic, digital and analog stages. Have you had any experiences with the 179x DACs. I was also considering the PCM1792A which is software controlled, so would require more work on the control front using a uC.

Regards.

 

[akshayjha]

Thats nice, what is that extra connection in pic 2?

The extra connection is the -ve power supply. RC4560/80 is the original chip which works at +12VDC-0VDC. However, OPA2107 should have a minimum supply of +-10V(mentioned in the data sheet of the chip). So an additional regulated -12V supply is connected separately to the chip. The real test is the sound...

Cheers.

 

[akshayjha]

Just a small note:

I checked a few philips and samsung service manuals. All seem to have similar o/p circuitry. It would work great on those as well.

 

[murali_n]

Hai akshay,

I have a Pioneer 686 DVD which has 4560 in the output, but hesitant for a mod as it is a SMD chip, jittery of soldering as it may spoil the board.

N.Murali

 

[akshayjha]

Hai akshay,

I have a Pioneer 686 DVD which has 4560 in the output, but hesitant for a mod as it is a SMD chip, jittery of soldering as it may spoil the board.

N.Murali

Trust me it is worth the effort. You should give it a try. Are you using it for SACD playback??

 

[grubyhalo]

Hai akshay,

I have a Pioneer 686 DVD which has 4560 in the output, but hesitant for a mod as it is a SMD chip, jittery of soldering as it may spoil the board.

N.Murali

Looks like I have the same model and you guys are tempting me!

 

[akshayjha]

Hai akshay,

I have a Pioneer 686 DVD which has 4560 in the output, but hesitant for a mod as it is a SMD chip, jittery of soldering as it may spoil the board.

N.Murali

You would need a 35W soldering iron to remove the chip from the board. You could then use a low power smd soldering iron to solder the new chip onto the board. (Use ample flux paste). The critical part is to make sure you cut the required paths properly without damaging adjacent pcb tracks. For this u can use a sharpened blue rod, 3mm dia or so (using it like a pencil gives good control and a very neat cut).

As I said, the result is absolutely smashing :yahoo::yahoo: Definitely worth the effort....

 

[kapvin]

Looks like I have the same model and you guys are tempting me!

+1. I have the same model too.

and any improvement over the current multichannel output would really encourage me to bolster my meagre SA-CD collection.

@Akshayjha, where did you source your opamp from?

thanks

 

[murali_n]

Trust me it is worth the effort. You should give it a try. Are you using it for SACD playback??

You would need a 35W soldering iron to remove the chip from the board. You could then use a low power smd soldering iron to solder the new chip onto the board. (Use ample flux paste). The critical part is to make sure you cut the required paths properly without damaging adjacent pcb tracks. For this u can use a sharpened blue rod, 3mm dia or so (using it like a pencil gives good control and a very neat cut).

As I said, the result is absolutely smashing :yahoo::yahoo: Definitely worth the effort....

Hai Akshay,

I have previously modded my Marantz CDP 48 with 4562 output opamp replacing the stock 4560, the results were good. That was done with SMD and Browndog adapters. But for my Pioneer the board hosts a 4560 SMD Chip, thats why I am a bit hesitant, but let me give a try.

I don't use my Pio for audio, but only for video.

What Op-Amp chips do you suggest for replacement.

N.Murali

 

[murali_n]

Hai all,

Pl go thro this piece of info , may be useful for modders:

Audio Reviews: Flavors of Audio Op-Amps

N.Murali

 

[akshayjha]

+1. I have the same model too.

@Akshayjha, where did you source your opamp from?

thanks

Farnell India: Farnell India | Farnell India - world-leading distributor of electronic and maintenance, repair and operations products.

 

[akshayjha]

TIP:
(1) Add 220uF/16 directly to the PSU pins of the 2107 and also 0.1uF Film (MKP).

I have connected 47uF/16 across each of the PS terminals and ground. Across the power supply pins 220uf/35v would be more like it. {the rail to rail is 24V}. There are 0.1 SMDs at both PS pins.

TIP:
(2) Bias the 2107's outputs into Class-A by 6mA - 7.5mA using 1% metal-film resistors. The improvement is substantial. The effect is in clearer mids with a much richer tone with better extension in the highs and for the overall resolution for complex music passages. The music is more liquid. And the 'ebb & flow with the tail of the music' can be followed more easily.
(have done it in the past to 2107 & results are outstanding...) {the 2107 is a cousin of 627/637}

Sounds interesting. Will try it out. 1.5K should do the job I guess (12V/8ma)

Regards.